I have been an artist my entire life and have always believed in the use of accessible materials as part of the instinctive process of creating art. When I was young and could not afford to buy paints I turned to cutting up the magazines and newspapers lying around in my studio and gluing them to a canvas. It was revealed to me only later, how much history preceded this natural progression of using everyday materials as a valuable means of expression.
Collage as an art form has been in practice for many years. When Picasso began plastering pieces of wallpaper to canvas, he would never imagine the computer or its effect on collage that would take this medium to new heights 100 years later. Combining small pictures as the elements for color and texture within a larger picture, my work uses the same technical elements to conceive a portrait without the use of computers as a guide. Each piece of paper is cut by hand and placed individually onto the working surface, picked meticulously for its color and shape. I spend many hours simply digging for the materials that best fit the canvas, searching for the perfect match.
Likewise, for the past ten years I have been working exclusively with paper as an art form. It is within this medium that I forged a strong connection between my artwork and the passionate patronage of animal lovers. Moreover, I find great joy in using materials that have been put to waste and constructing something new and special from the process.
The starting point of my work invariably begins with a photograph. When I begin, I take the photo and use it as a model, comparable to a blueprint drawing. I study the image and focus on the details and subtle nuances of the mouth and eyes that make every animal unique. The relationship between the owners and their pet is special and I look forward to mirroring that affection in my work.
My own dog, Buster and I live and work in San Francisco California and enjoy music, good food, and being active.