Untitled, 2015,
spray paint, cut outs on sewn fabric, 31x25 inches
What are you working
on in your studio right now?
I have some works going on, which are
still in progress. Some are smaller pieces on paper/cardboard and some are medium
size works on canvas. There is also some sewing happening. Besides that I recently started
experimenting with clay, paper mache and wood and have been making these small
sculptures/objects -not sure where it’s going just yet.
Can you describe your
working routine?
I always do something in the studio
probably because it is in my living room. In the morning I like to go through
things, look at works in progress, rearrange, clean up the mess I made the
night before or just play around with materials. Then I usually do some
prepping like canvas stretching or unstretching, cutting, sewing fabrics, etc.
I also go for walks and take photos of things I find interesting - walls;
pavement- I’m always interested in different marks, shapes I can find. Generally
I try to work/do something every day but prefer to work early in the morning or
later in the evening.
Studio wall
Can you describe your
studio space and how, if at all, that affects your work?
Until
recently I had a shared studio at school and that made things easier in terms
of working a bit larger and storing works. Currently my studio space is in my
apartment in Chicago where I have a designated area in my living room. I don’t have a lot of wall space so I tend and prefer to work on
the floor and use the wall space for evaluating works in progress. I think the
size of my current working space definitely affects the work I’m making.
Studio wall
in process
Tell me about your
process, where things begin, how they evolve etc.
Painting
doesn’t always happen right away and sometimes the beginning can be a bit
awkward. When it does happen it is usually a reaction to a previous work(s), my
surroundings/domestic space, or something I’ve seen, read or overheard. But
there are still these phases I go through, the” nesting phase” where I do all
these other things (organizing, cleaning etc.) and then the actual painting
phase. Once I get into the physical act of painting I tend to work fast and
usually on several pieces at once and then I step back. So its back and forth –
preparing, working and looking /thinking. I’m interested in surface
manipulation- the act of deconstruction and reconstruction. Things get layered,
reworked, concealed and then revealed again. I like when things get a little
out of balance. Accidents that happen along the way are also always interesting
and allow for problem solving. I welcome challenges and difficulties the work
presents- this feeling of excitement and being unsure all at once. There is
really no planning involved in terms of how the piece is going to look like; I
don’t like to think too much about the end result –I’m always interested to see
where the work will take me (even when it becomes a total mess).
What are you having
the most trouble resolving?
There
are some things for sure. Scale – especially now since the studio space it
rather small. Other ones: when is the work consider finished, how not to overdo
it, stay loose, keep it fresh, how not to react too fast, how to leave it alone
and avoid being a control freak.
Do you experiment with different materials a lot or do you prefer to work
within certain parameters?
Yes! Process, experimentation and
materials are important. I like to work with both traditional and non-traditional materials.
Mostly I use acrylic paints, gouaches, inks, fabric dyes, enamels and spray
paints. At the same time I’m always looking for new things to use– I’m into shopping at
Home Depot stores- they are full of surprising materials! Lately, I have been playing
with different fabrics- sewing them and painting on top. I’m also interested to
see how some materials work or don’t work together. I don’t like to repeat the
same moves all the time or feel too comfortable so this use of different
materials and/or processes allows for the unexpected to happen and keeps things
fresh and spontaneous.
Untitled (Toxic) ,
2015,acrylic, gesso, canvas bag, fabric over stretched canvas 29 x
12 inches
What does the future
hold for this work?
Since I just graduated from SAIC I will be
looking for a job while continuing to make art. I’m also looking for
opportunities to show my work, residencies etc.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Thank you for inviting me to
participate Valerie! It’s really fantastic to be able to read about other
artists and learn from them.
Untitled (Memories from Ordinary Moments,)
2015,
enamel, acrylic, collage spray paint and
found objects on sewn fabric, 29 x 30 inches
