"the alkonost" Painting

I consider my exploration of stop-motion animation to be a synthesis and culmination of my interest in mixed and multi-media art. I have an affinity and appreciation for drawing, painting, collage, sculpture, and photography as stand alone mediums that have the ability to enchant , challenge and inspire the viewer. However, I am primarily interested in using the medium of photography to create self-fabricated scenes and characters that explore storytelling in a visual way… As a little girl, I was completely obsessed with The Grimm Brothers Fairy Tales. Their collection of old folk tales and illustrations scared and captivated me with its dark mix of mystery, magic, willfulness and peril. Animals, mythical creatures, plants, trees and even objects took on anthropomorphic qualities helping and/or disrupting the plot line of the mortal protagonists. It is my highest goal to produce artwork that can begin to touch upon and perhaps play with the timeless intrigue of these fairytale themes, and perhaps question the implied moral lessons therein. A more subtle layer of meaning is infused into the themes of my work, as I am interested in exploring the psychological topics of trauma, psychosis, emotional pain, desire, addiction, relationship, and the transformational power of personal reflection. I was introduced to the work of The Quay Brothers and Nathalie Djurberg, while studying under Melanie Walker at the University of Colorado. I will be forever grateful to Melanie for introducing me to the artistic possibilities of stop-motion animation. I believe that these seemingly childish mediums of fantasy and animation can effectively start a dialogue about the current moral issues, and existential questions that we face as modern humans.