Artist Statement
I believe one's art should reflect those really meaningful things in one's life that have made the artist what she is today.
My first exposure to art was the images of icons I saw as a child in our family altar. Their bright colors spoke to me. I was entranced by them.
Those early experiences, along with my grandmother's stories, have been very powerful influences in what I paint. What I would like to accomplish with my work is to have my paintings speak to the viewer in much the same way those icons spoke to me.
My works are iconic - a blend of cultural symbols, metaphors, allegories and legends; stories of creations which are filled with symbolism. Fairy tales, indigenous folklore and mythological stories have also contributed to my work. I paint with acrylics, but I also enjoy doing mixed media works, using artists mediums and metal leafing. Depicting women in my work is important to me. I was raised by women. They were my role models. It is how, in a small way, I honor them.
When I start a painting, I draw a bold line or doodle onto the canvas, get a cup of coffee and look for a long time at what I drew. I begin to see something in my mind which becomes the starting point of the work, and from there I go to wherever the painting takes me.