storm row style
Writing and art have been with me since early childhood. I cycled in and out of those worlds in my teens and twenties. Later, in the midst of some creative struggles, a philosophy developed. Storm? Row! Meaning, in the midst of heavy weather, just keep rowing. The aim to keep moving artistically helped me establish storm row style, which continues to evolve and become more personal and concise.
storm row style is first and foremost hand-y. Handmade, hand lettered, bespoke. storm row style embraces craftsy, cutesy, and not-too-polished. Fashion, skateboard and roller skating culture, and the 70s and 80s inspire storm row style. As do midcentury decor and ephemera, nature, and urban settings. storm row style is found in my fine art, mixed media collage, and arty gifts, stationery, and bookshelf art.
I mostly work on canvas, combining all matter of media. I enjoy using watercolor, embroidery, found objects, and up- and recycling new and vintage papers and fabrics. My most common technique is layering tissue, pattern, and art paper with textiles, embroidery, paint, and glaze. Patterns and textures develop organically, and though I begin each piece with a finished image in mind, it’s also true that I let materials guide me. Being flexible with the process allows space for unexpected details—embroidery stitches, pencil and pastel sketches, or graphics from vintage books, magazines. No matter the art piece, I strive to create eco- and human-friendly work. I look for safe supplies and purposefully purpose every scrap, left-over, and glob of paint, glue, or glaze. In the end, with all my handcrafted goods, I aim for a lovely freshness and pretty otherness that’s unique to storm row style.
In almost every case, a storm row studio piece isn’t complete without finished edges, and whether the design wraps to the back or a complimentary material, color, or pattern frames it, once hung on the wall, the painting is ready to be viewed from any side or angle. An important note for some: I sign most of my work on the bottom edge or back as not to distract from the main design or image. In the end, from my workshop to your home or office, my wish is for each storm row studio piece to add storm row's bespoke, hand-touched style to the space where it resides.
