“As a lifelong photographer, I have taken thousands of images. The act of cutting apart my photographs to create collages was a natural progression. As I continued making collages, my source materials expanded from art and photography books, to early and mid-century magazines, to fashion magazines. I continue learning and trying new techniques: weaving, photo transfers, and embroidery. I enjoy finding titles for my collages. I read quite a bit and have saved favorite lines from books and articles. These favorite lines used as titles add another layer to my collages.”
Describe one technique you often use in your art
“Collage requires a lot of cutting with scissors. I strive for careful cuts so that my collage pieces fit into my finished pieces seamlessly. I’ve sewn all my life. In fact, I put myself through Massage Therapy school by being the fabric cutter for a small boutique line of clothing in Santa Fe. I have many types of scissors. But I have this one old faithful one that I always go to.”
Where do you find inspiration?
“My inspiration often comes from shuffling my paper image collections. I have art books and various types of magazines. Often while I’m working on a collage, I’ll spot an image that intrigues me and I put that aside. I have a folder of these images that I can go to when searching for the next idea.
“I also take classes in artist bookmaking. These classes can be about paper folding and cut outs, botanical dying techniques, photo transfers, or cardboard books. I gather these ideas in individual boxes and toss images in whenever I come across something that might fit.”
