INTUITIVE ART ON UPCYCLED MATERIALS
I am a freehand artist, which means that I don’t pre-draw or trace (although I have been known to use a straight edge from time to time). I select choice vintage leather garments, shoes, and accessories as my canvases, thereby breathing new life into old things. The result is a wearable, one-of-one piece of art that can never be duplicated.
There is something edgy about “just going for it”: taking permanent acrylic paint to a porous medium like leather. It means that I have to live with and work through my mistakes until they turn into something I love and feel proud of. I find this process to be a wonderful metaphor for life; that we are all just a mistake or two away from realizing our true beauty and gifts.
Because my process requires me to let go of my creative agenda, I find that my best work comes “through” me rather than “from” me. Put more simply, I often find myself asking my canvas “What do you want?” and then trying my best to express that. As a result, my art has become a sacred avenue through which I walk my spiritual path, and is a testament to the transformative power of creation.
Each finished piece tells a story that extends beyond my own narrative. There is an invitation to see the interconnectedness of humans as a global community, and to offer a deeper view of what it means to be human.
“Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures.”
-Henry Ward Beecher
01
I love finding an old jacket that could use some new love, or a funky pair of shoes that seem to take on a personality of their own. I try to look for a variety of styles and sizes to accommodate as many body types as possible, and often find myself drawn to things with an interesting cut, or a unique color.
FIND SOMETHING DOPE
02
I stare at a blank canvas for a long time, turning it over and looking at it from several distances and angles. This allows me to drop in with both myself and the piece in front of me without holding onto a creative agenda. It feels similar to the meditative concept of “no mind”, which is a state of consciousness where the mind is free from thoughts, distractions, or attachments and can bring a sense of clarity and awareness to the present moment.
At times, an idea comes rushing to the surface so fast it feels like its being pulled out of me in an enthusiastic wave of YES energy. When this happens, I try my best to lean into that feeling and let the idea come through without getting in the way of myself.
GET INSPIRED
03
Once my engine is stoked with all that YES energy, I feel like I can create at a marathon pace. Armed with a library of paint and a good playlist (and maybe a cup or two of tea), I am no stranger to creative jags that go late into the night.
I often add several layers of a color to make a piece as vibrant and high-contrast as possible, which takes a lot of time but has a rewarding payoff when I finally stand back and appreciate how much the art pops off the canvas.
STAY UP ALL NIGHT
04
Sometimes things don’t turn out as expected; I’ll make a choice and then change my mind, unable to just erase and start again. Working with permanent paint forces me to pivot and work within the restriction of what I’ve already created, often leading to a spectacular renewal of creative energy.
ROLE WITH THE PUNCHES
05
I use a traced handprint to sign a lot of my work, complete with finger tattoo as a mark of authenticity.
Each piece is sealed for added protection against wear and tear, although some fading is expected as the leather wears from use. This gives a more weathered look which adds to the character of a finished piece.
SIGN AND SEAL
