It’s no surprise that most of the paper in my collage work is recycled copy paper, old books, maps, or sewing patterns - I love it all!  

If you were to visit my studio on most days, you would see a work table that mirrors my childhood bedroom floor. My tidy mom did pretty good tolerating my mess. She had her own mess at her sewing table. (Sewing patterns are my way of remembering and offering thanks to mom.)

Even as a kid, I was concerned about waste. The 4Rs - refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle - live in my bones as I consider how to make art while honoring the gifts this miraculous planet gives us. 

Friends and family have kept me well stocked with an endless supply of really cool used papers. I've got school work, a diary of daily and often frenzied entries, calligraphy practice sheets, concert tickets, neat stamps, car manuals, old - really old - books and bibles.

I was a graphic designer for 15 years, so combining text and images was my job. The same is true for my art. Including words like love, peace, family, etc. is a way for me to share with you the very things that matter most in this life. 

The collage art below is called Garden Comic. This muddy, happy, beloved dog has clearly had a great time digging up the beautiful flowers, that were carefully planted by her people. And even if the gardener isn't so happy, it's hard not to smile at the sight! That's good, because bringing smiles into the planet is what my art does.

If you'd like to see some more, give a click. ~> Original Art