Revised (again) Artist Statement

             The idea of the unexpected is fascinating to me. I create scenes that appear commonplace; at first glance, they do not seem provocative. However, the smallest inane details can turn supposedly familiar subject matter on its head. Satire has an amazing capacity to use humor as a way to examine controversial topics. My artwork employs satire and the element of the bizarre or unexpected as a means of exploring contemporary social issues.

            Most of my artwork comprises of pen drawing, but I also enjoy working with gouache or acrylic paints, charcoal, and etching. Drawing and etching are well-suited to the illustrative style that I incorporate into my work. A cartoon-like or illustrative style emphasizes the apparent simplicity or familiarity of the scene.  I draw much of my inspiration from advertising and the media. The issues I focus most on are closely connected to my personal experiences. Recently, my work has been examining the ways in which women are targeted or portrayed in advertisements, and how gender roles in society have evolved over time.

Revised Artist Statement

             The idea of the unexpected is fascinating to me. In my work, I create scenes that seem commonplace in appearance; at first glance, they do not seem provocative. A cartoon-like or illustrative style emphasizes the apparent simplicity or familiarity of the scene. However, the smallest inane details can turn seemingly familiar subject matter on its head. Satire has an amazing capacity to use humor as a way to examine even the most controversial topics. At its core, my artwork employs satire and this element of the bizarre or unexpected as a means of exploring contemporary social issues.

            Most of my artwork comprises of pen drawing, but I also enjoy working with gouache or acrylic paints, charcoal, and etching. Drawing and etching are well-suited to the illustrative style that I like to incorporate into my work. I draw much of my inspiration from advertising and the media. The issues I focus most on are closely connected to my personal experiences. Most recently my work has been examining the ways in which women are targeted or portrayed in advertisements, and how gender roles in society have evolved over time.

Simon's Cat

You may or may not have heard about Simon's Cat, but there is a good chance that you have seen some of Simon's videos or drawings on the internet.

Simon Tofield is an English animator. Inspired by his own four cats, he creates hilarious traditional-style animations, meaning that although he uses adobe flash software, his animations are still built frame by frame.
According to his website, http://www.simonscat.com/, 1 second of a Simon's Cat film usually requires 12 to 25 drawings! He even makes the sound effects himself.

Here is the one that started it all:

http://youtu.be/w0ffwDYo00Q

I love the simplistic yet detailed nature of his drawings. As a cat lover, I love how the videos capture crazy cat antics.
Enjoy!

Identity

Art is a very personal experience, so it is inevitable that the issue of "identity" will come into play. I am generally interested in this topic, but even more so because my own identity, and my shifting view of my own identity, plays a huge role in the artwork I make.
I recently read Interrogating "Whiteness", (De)Constructing "Race" by AnnLouise Keating. This article really gave me a new perspective, and some of the meaning still has yet to sink in. One thing I got from it, however, is that "whiteness" is a racialized identity that is just as constructed as any other racial identity (for example, "blackness"). However, due to our societal constructions, "whiteness" is generally taken as the norm. I identify as white, but if someone were to look critically at my artwork, they would tend not to delve into how "whiteness" has shaped my work. They might not even consider that the idea of race might shape my work. On the flip side, I am a woman, and as a result, viewers will probably be predisposed to look for feminist or feminine ideas in my work. I think my work is very much shaped by the issues of gender and feminism, but I don't want viewers to just assume this because I am a woman. I will need to be very intentional in what I do and don't want to put forth in my work.

Artist Statement

 The idea of the unexpected is fascinating to me. In my work, I create scenes that are normal in appearance; a cartoon-like or illustrative style emphasizes the apparent simplicity or familiarity of the scene. However, the smallest inane details can turn seemingly familiar subject matter on its head. Satire has an amazing capacity to use humor as a way to examine even the most controversial topics. At its core, my artwork employs satire and this element of the bizarre or unexpected as a means of exploring contemporary social issues.

            While I use a variety of media in my artwork, I am most drawn to printmaking or pen drawing. These methods are well-suited to the illustrative style that I like to incorporate into my work. I also draw my inspiration from a wide variety of sources, but I am especially interested in advertising and the media. Most recently my work has been examining the ways in which women are targeted or portrayed in advertisements, and how gender roles in society have evolved over time.

Kara Walker

I first saw some of Kara Walker's work at an exhibition in the Portland Art Museum. I was captivated by the graphic boldness of her cutouts, as well as the darkly humorous narrative that they tell. The characters are exaggerated, and usually fit African-American stereotypes from times of slavery. The pieces are active and engaging, but they convey darker messages. Many of the scenes depict instances of violence or abuse, which stand in contrast to the comical figures.

Kara Walker, Camptown Ladies, 1998, Cut paper and adhesive on wall, Variable dimensions