What initially captured your imagination about the medium you use?    I’ve always loved the look of assemblage and mixed media art, and the idea of re-use or repurposing.  I like using things that would usually be thrown out to make new things.  I like working in three dimensions. Seeing random spare parts in my parent’s or grandparent’s garages or basements provided a lot of inspiration.

What types of things inspire you to create art? Trips to the Elkhorn Flea Market and Carousel Consignments, mostly, along with other thrift stores.  Seeing a rusty old roller skate, or some old electrical parts foster all kinds of ideas. I’ve pulled my truck over to the side of the road to rescue an old window or chair, knowing I could give it a new life.

What life experiences have helped to shape you as an artist? I’ve been a tattoo artist for nearly 22 years.  The constant exposure to art and the evolution of new styles in that art form definitely help, along with having other artists working alongside me to provide critiques or new ideas.  My grandmother was an artist, and both my parents are very creative as well. My husband is an incredibly talented woodworker, who has helped me with many of my pieces when I get stuck on the execution of a project. My high school art/photo club teacher was a huge inspiration as well. Most recently, collaborating with another artist for this show has pushed me to try new things, in terms of size.  I’m used to working on smaller pieces, and working on something larger and far outside my comfort zone has been pretty exhilarating.  

Tell us about your creative process, from the beginning of a typical piece to its completion. My pieces don’t always start from the beginning.  Sometimes they start in the middle. I find something I would like to build a piece around, like a crystal doorknob or an old doll’s head, and come up with ideas for the end result.  Then I look for other parts that will fit with it. I also fill sketchbooks with ideas that I look back on over time.  Sometimes it’s months or years before I have all the parts to bring an idea to fruition.

What plans do you have for the future direction of your art? The only plans I really have are for my pieces to evolve over time, based on future inspirations and findings.  Plans change, nothing in art is concrete.  That’s my favorite part about art.