Artist Statement

My passion is fibre - specifically, the marriage of cloth and stitch - and the translation of images employing that medium.   It is the tactile quality of fabrics that draws me – the coarse texture of burlap, the smooth weave of linen, the rough fluidity of cheesecloth.  These textiles might seem unlikely candidates for work in portraiture, but my portrait pieces depict mature faces. While our contemporary culture reveres youth and celebrates a flawless complexion, I see far greater beauty in the lines and creases that develop in a face over time – to me they signify the wisdom gained during the course of a life well lived.

When I work from a photograph, I generally begin by studying the positive and negative space created by light and shadow.  During construction,  I am continually surprised that the smallest pieces of cheesecloth can reveal so much about the mood of the person I am portraying. The final stage, when I step back and see that I’ve captured the nuances of the personality in the face, is always the most exciting and rewarding for me, especially if I succeed in communicating that magical quality to other viewers.