Process Art

The steps and actions taken to create a work of art are equally or more important than the final piece.

What is my process?

"Life is a process ... so is Art" is a summary of my life statement. Art often mimics life, however, mine intertwine. I do not live life for the end result, I enjoy the act of living, searching, experimenting, traveling and making discoveries. I feel the time, energy and experience will enhance the results.  

• Searching, gathering and compiling of reclaimed and found wood are the first steps I take in my process. There is something really gratifying about dumpster diving. I gather wood-based man-made products such as plywood, chipboard, wood laminates, peg board, bead board, pallets, moulding, and general rough lumber.

• I start creating by placing pieces together. I combine old wood like lath, or barn flooring that contains a certain amount of texture with newer pieces. I like to juxtapose smooth surfaces with splintery ones. I also vary the depth of the pieces to give the surface an undulating effect. 

• My next step is to cut and place the wood onto a backboard. Most of my cutting is done with hand saws, I enjoy the act of cutting and prefer the irregularity of the cut. The uneven cutting becomes a signature, a human mark of expression.  I then paint each piece with a light stain to bring out the grain and texture. Once I have glued each piece, this entails balancing bricks and using clamps, I paint using oils usually with very thin layers of glaze. The steps are the same for work containing subject matter.

Why is the process important?

It is my process ... something I have developed over many years. It is an existential act that employs being physically present through the manipulation of rough materials in a meditative state that allows the mind to contemplate our existence in reference to the natural world. It fulfills a primal need while still having "flow".