Growing up in the beautiful Hudson Valley, I learned to appreciate what my family’s acreage provided- open space, harvests of the earth, fresh air, century-old barn architecture, and a seemingly limitless playscape of discovery. Not surprising, these elements serve as the sources of my visual inspiration. From drying dandelions in the sun to put on my bedstand, to gathering grapevine to sprawl across her bathroom ceiling, I have always experimented with bringing the outdoors- indoors. Encouragement from a high school art teacher was the catalyst to years of self-instruction and spontaneity. My motto: if there’s space in the place, throw down a tarp and paint!

I began developing her now signature “rifting” technique in 2010, which marries my inspirations with the appreciation that, for many, art becomes more alive when you can actually touch it. My evolution from oil canvas to large vintage doors emulates my growing vision of life as a series of choices that are openings to newfound perspective, unwavering optimism and dynamic purpose.

The MAGIC: my signature RIFTING technique:

Each sculpture foundation is prepped with a combination of sandpaper, wire-brushes, scrapers, bricks, and stones to create an irregular surface. Crude materials for roughcasting, including plasters mixed with gel pumice, sand, dried paint, and pulverized tile, are layered on and manipulated with spatulas and then force-dried, slowly giving a disheveled personality to the piece.

This layering and drying process is repeated multiple times, during which elements like grapevine, metal, rusted nails, feathers and authentic stones are embedded and integrated. Conversely, I may take to a hammer or brick to chip away pieces or create even greater flaws. The result: a canvas of extreme, unpredictable fissures, peaks, and valleys thirsty for color.

As a devotee to Pollock’s unbridled method of madness and Klimt’s unapologetic use of bold pigments, I bring each piece to life with multiple deposits of acrylic paint and ink applied with spatulas, droppers and brush-splattering. Finally, lacquer seals the work and adds long lasting protection from the elements.

Some say the finished work to rock candy, crushed flower petals, smashed ceramic, and even the surface of another planet. Regardless, each piece is a true original, not to be duplicated, and indeed a labor of love… signed, dated and titled. Thank you for letting me share my journey with you!

PORTFOLIO: http://tinyurl.com/kfbkgaz