Artist Statement: ‘Found Moments’ Series

At my core I am a story teller. In my previous professional life I worked in communications and told stories for a living. In my artistic life I tell stories. 

This series is a modernist body of work that uses line and texture in an abstract way to tell a story about the subject’s state of mind. Rather than try to capture a portrait of a person, I tell a story about the state of mind or moment they found themselves in. This point of departure has always intrigued me and causes me to revisit certain subjects over and over again. 

This series is the result of a process of exploration and repetition. Over the years, I have done four different versions of a person who has had a terrible day at the office and at the end of the day had all that wash away when they took off their shoes and walked along the beach through the water’s edge. In this earlier work I was focused on the person, not the feeling. With ‘West Coast Escape’, I take up that same subject but use the abstract vocabulary of strong lines to express someone who has lost all their worries. I use texture to make the viewer focus on the shape of the feeling in a way that instantly communicates what is going on.

The lines of the pieces in this series are purposefully very strong and hard, to communicate the intention of the subject. The line in the sculpture is critical to me because that is what draws you into the piece. I tend towards long sweeping lines that provide a structure for the sculpture. 

In another work, ‘Making a Point’, I wanted to communicate that feeling when someone needs to be heard. The urge is so strong they sense that they will come out of their skin if they can't make their point. The line of the piece all leads to the outstretched arm and pointing finger. It captures all the energy that is extended when one has to be heard.

Texture is critical to me telling the story. I use a mirror like finish to convey confidence and purpose where I may use a very rough textured surface to convey casualness, informality and comfort. Or I may use a blend of textures to show transition and fluidity. 

In ‘Sisters’, I use the texture of the hair to instantly communicate the relationship between the two women. I use the line that is created in that confident stride to convey that “we got this” feeling that is given off by the sisters’ powerful relationship. The high gloss texture allows the viewer to focus on the shape of the feeling and the universal appeal of the relationship versus the detail of the women’s appearance.

By contrast, in “Street Corner Serenade” I use two very distinct textures and dramatically different colour to illustrate how two very different people come together over a shared passion (music) in a very cool way, whereas in “Toe in the Water” I use a very rough texture to portray someone who is very comfortable in their own skin 

When I am thinking about a piece, I think first of the story and the mindset and that gives me the image. As I think it over (and over and over) I think about what medium will best communicate that mindset. Bronze, wood, stone, papier mâché are all things I am comfortable with because I can visualize the line that I can achieve. Once deciding on the medium I start to figure out how to convey the story I want to tell and what the emphasis of the piece is going to be. As I think through the idea I am constantly toggling from the idea to the line to the texture to the colour to the idea, and thinking about where the focal point of the piece is that is going to allow those things to intersect.

I want my work to be striking and yet to be simple. I want the viewer to get the story right away but to see new things in the work with each viewing. I want the story to have a depth that allows the viewer to engage in different ways at different times. I want to be able to use different lines and textures and colours to tell different stories but I always want the outcome to be the most appropriate way to tell the story and to convey the emotion of the story.