About

The Blossom series is an invitation to think of the beauty of the mundane, the banal moments of our life that we see but often discard. This series provides a moment to reflect. Composed of various materials and collages, the work is intuitive and pulls from assorted memories and photos collected throughout my life. Colour, smells, and nature are a big part of the work's inspiration. An assemblage of collages and still life from those photos is used as a starting point; then, I add to it as the painting becomes alive.

 

The process of painting starts on the ground on a loose canvas. I kneel and pour layers of wet paint mixed with pastel and medium onto the canvas that I rotate throughout the application. Different textures are applied intuitively at this stage, like using cardboard or tile floor, as it sets the mood for the foreground. I feel nearer to the work as it is physically demanding to work in this way. I'm not aware of what I'm doing until after its dries, and I'm guided to the next step. Then the canvas is pinned to the wall, and the collage, paint, and mixed media application starts. The bowl, vase, birds and cats were recurring figures in the series. For me, the bowl and vase symbolize fullness, the birds are a carrier of the soul and represent support, and the cat represents my satire. Blossom is a journey into beauty.