After riding a high in a studio, things began to slow down and I was seeking new direction. I was complaining to a friend(my substitute mailman in fact) about the state of my art and my life and he suggested writing “to work that sh%*t out!” So I began journaling, in an effort to sort out what I wanted from my life, both personally and professionally. I did this for myself, but eventually the journaling began creeping its way into my work. On large pieces of paper, I started writing with different colored pencil crayons, phrases from my journals. I decided I didn’t want anyone to be able to read it, I then tore the papers into long strips and pieced them around the organic forms of my paintings, a type of collage. The fragmented words swirled around the organic forms, giving the viewer a glimpse into my private journals.
Technically this was problematic; it was difficult to adhere the paper to an oil coated board. I used all sorts of adhesives and eventually settled on rubber cement. After experimenting with this process for a number of months, it dawned on me to use the paper as support. I started a series of paintings on paper and board. During this time of exploration, the text also grew in size and become more statements than story. Some of my favourite pieces from this series include “Wanted it”, “I Hope it Lasts”, and “Soft Skin”. Pictured above is "Wanted it", completed in 2008.
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