Although some really elaborate concepts have evolved within my work, my creative process is mostly quite free-form in nature. When I say free form I mean without restrictions or preconceptions, not organized or planned in a conventional way, encouraged to function or evolve without advance planning, not conforming to a regular or formal structure or shape. It’s kinda like the perception I have of myself too actually.
I’ve been creating advanced resin artwork since 2014. The majority of my artwork is on pieces of hardwood or pre-existing furniture. Primarily using my creations as tabletops, shelves, bars, and altars makes them more interactive.
Often times I create pieces using fluid painting techniques that look like natural stone formations such as marble and agate. Color and nature are my two biggest influencers.
In the beginning there is usually no exact plan except to create beauty with a color palette. When building a commissioned piece for a client and embedding their own personal objects inside of the piece, I am more than happy to use a specific colors for them to match their home. We can discuss things that they like, memories they have, and other interesting things that they want incorporated in the piece if they have something specific in mind. However the layout is not fully planned ahead of time. The most we know in the beginning are the ingredients to the design. If a piece is in my own collection and not being designed for a specific person, it starts out in emptiness.
Typically things that people might want me to embed into a piece hold great sentimental value to them. Flower petals from a wedding, table confetti from baby showers, dog tags from an animal, hair from a spouse, ashes from a loved one, certificates of achievement, tickets or wristbands from a concert, stones, crystals, necklaces, beads, sand, feathers, fabric from clothing or anything else that is relatively small can be used. I also print my own photography or other special images on transparencies. Glitter, sequins, metallic flakes, shells, and geometry are often prominent in my own personal creations.
Usually I start the background with my largest paintbrushes or the biggest objects that I am embedding. After that dries, I add a layer of clear epoxy resin. Sometimes I add pigments, inks, or glitter to the resin and do fluid painting within areas of the piece also. The pattern of adding paint/objects, letting that dry, and pouring a layer of resin in between the details continues until the piece is totally smooth, well balanced, and unified. I refine with smaller tools and objects as I add more layers. In using the mass approach, I am able to elaborate off of any previous layers without blocking out too much of what has already developed.
Since most of my creations are so free-form in nature, engaging in the exact moment of the experience within the process and connecting with the materials is the most important aspect to focus on for me. The details always fall into place perfectly. I am literally going with the flow. The universe controls everything, I just influence each piece along the way. Where the resin finally settles out when it is done flowing is not fully under my control. Much of the detail is truly divine. My work is an embodiment of the synchronicity moving beautifully. It is a symbol of my soul surrendering to the process and functioning out of pure love while in unity with the divine.
The following quotations are from personal interview:
“My work is about living in the moment and appreciating everything as it is while yet continuing to participate in the co-creation of our own realities. The goal is to get people to look at thoughts and ideas from different perspectives. Not to just skim the surface, but to look deeply inside. We are each like the different details on the different levels in the layers of resin. If you look at the piece from different perspectives the angles make the details look separate. But when you look at the pieces from a higher perspective, you can see everything is part of a greater whole. We are all connected as a part a metamorphic field. Any appearance of separation is truly an illusion. We too are part of a greater whole. We are one.”
“When I am creating this type of artwork I get lost in the flow. My brain turns off and my movements seem to be guided by the eternal spiritual force within me. Often times it feels like my consciousness is just floating within my body and watching it manifest these creations by moving the ingredients into a form. It is a meditative state of being, an act of prayer, and a service of worship all at once. All suffering goes away. There is no time. I desire nothing. I AM simply being.”
