north passage Painting

oil stick on paper. This piece was from a recent residency at Surel's Place in Boise, ID where I created a body work I titled Space(s). SPACE(S): We are all interconnected and part of a larger collective, or, as John Donne describes in his enduring poem, No Man Is an Island, instead we are ‘a piece of the continent.’ We create spaces and safe havens from the harsh world around us. From personal spaces to those embracing family and community, it is paramount to our survival to construct a contained environment of sorts. In the 21st century we have taken it one step further with our use of technology, spending much time in the digital realm, and sometimes hiding behind our online-selves. These ‘spaces’ we create provide protection, but also isolation. My work explores those necessities needed to keep us protected and alive, but also close us off from the world around us.Currently I’m exploring this theme with a series of oil stick drawings, which I approach as a printmaker; working in multiple layers and textures to establish a surface with a 'history.' The idea behind this method of working is influenced by my experience and training as a printmaker, working in a very step-by-step and controlled manner. It also references urban landscapes. Buildings, walls and spaces get new coats of paint and material over the course of their lifespan, most often without removing what is underneath. As the layers peel away and degenerate over time, the history of the space starts to reveal itself. Unfortunately pictures do not do these pieces justice. The beauty for me is in the textures within the layers you have to experience in person. Shoot me an email or message if you want to see more detailed pictures!