My Mediums

Mixed Media

What drives me to use different media in my art-making? Call it indecision, if you want to. During my years in college, I was privileged to learn new mediums and techniques because my degree required a shitload of studio courses. This was a little conflicting to me, because I loved every project. From charcoal drawings, to welding, to woodworking, to laser-engraving, to wheel-thrown ceramics, to painting, you name it–I fell in love with it all. Unfortunately, a lot of these art making skills require a lot of expensive equipment and space. Given the resources I have available, I try my best to make one-of-a-kind art pieces that can be enjoyed by many.

Illustration

For me, illustration is the basis of all of my projects. Whether it's a sketch of an idea or a full-blown rough draft, I usually put pen to paper first. With that being said, I also create illustrations and reproduce them as digital prints to be shared with my audience.

About a year into selling my art, I was finally able to afford a tablet! Drawing on a tablet is really nice because you can undo your mistakes very easily, and you can draw anywhere you want!

I am greatly inspired by cartoons with my illustration style with black lines and bright colors. Realism is a lot of fun too, but less stylized for me.

 

Printmaking

There is a wonderful maker-space that I am a member of called Polka! Press Co-op that allows me the space and equipment to utilize my printmaking skills. Printmaking is such a lovely art form for reproduction work, or work that is easily reproduced. The screens I use have a metal frame with fine mesh stretched very tightly over it. Coated in a light-sensitive emulsion, I burn an image into the screen with using positives and a UV-light table, creating a stencil. Then, I use a squeegee to push screen printing fabric ink through the tiny holes in the mesh in the shape of my stencil to create a print! I primarily do small batches on apparel and I hand-pull every print. This is a very different experience than commercial screen printing which would use different inks and automatic equipment. After the prints are pulled, I cure each print using an iron to ensure the prints stay in the fabric FOREVER!!!

Painting

I have recently revisited my love for painting. In the past, I've used watercolor paints a lot, but lately I have been painting with my old acrylic paints from my college painting course. Portrait work has always been my favorite form of realism. Surrealism has intrigued me as a way to alter reality through paint.

Fiber Art

 

I have been crocheting since I was in high school. I like to call my technique "freestyle crochet" because I am the type of person who does not enjoy reading and following directions. These days, I primarily crochet bucket hats and hand-sew felt embellishments on them for a fun statement piece on your head. I have also been exploring ways to combine my two yarn crafts–crochet and rug making.

Needle punch rug making is a newer medium to me. I am drawn to the big, bright, and bold style that goes perfectly with rug making. I did indeed purchase one of those wicked rug machines, but I prefer hand-punching my rugs. Not only is it cathartic to stab something over and over and over, but it also connects me more deeply and personally to each piece! (it's cheesy, I know)

Beyond yarn craft, I also do some light sewing and embroidery. Sometimes I will take a rug or a screen print and sew it into something new such as a beanie, a banner, or a pillow.

Collage

Collage is a form of found art that I really love. Scavenging for words and images that go together is an enjoyable challenge. As a graphic designer, I also love typography and photographs. I have published a few zines, and they all have had collage elements in them. To add a little flare, I sometimes draw on the photos as well.

I source my collage materials from a variety of printed publications such as old magazines, books from the thrift store, and even advertisements sent to me in the mail. It really is like turning trash into treasure and breathing new life into something that was otherwise headed for the landfill.

I also greatly enjoy taking old illustrated Bibles, cutting them up, putting Jesus in compromising positions, and offending Christian bigots. ☺