Artist Statement My work draws from numerous sources, ancient and contemporary, to blend personal experiences with archetypal images. The use of drawings and statuary from early Mexican cultures reflects my abiding attraction to the country where I spent a formative part of my childhood. I particularly relate to the graphic quality of Aztec and Mayan art and when my work became focused on archetypal ideas I turned to these images as fitting representations.
I also use western imagery, as in cowgirl/cowboy, which references the next stage of my youth, when I lived in California. I have retained a fondness for my early role models and they too have certain mythical qualities that I relate to. My other main sources of material are the creatures of land, sea, and air that I’ve encountered in my more recent past, as well seascapes and skyscapes. All these figurative elements function on at least two levels: as their own essential beings and as archetypal metaphors.
I have been concentrating on printmaking, specifically monoprinting and screenprinting, for the past twenty-five years. My background was primarily in painting and collage and I find the process of monoprinting to be an ideal synthesis of these two mediums. With printmaking I am able to create my own elements for collaging and this opens up limitless possibilities.