Behind the Canvas: Sisters

Sisters, Central Oregon

Before I accepted myself as an actual artist, I carried from apartment to apartment and house to house a box of art supplies and a small collection of spray paints. The mood would strike to create something, but it was only born out of the need to fill an empty wall. I didn't create to just to create. I believed I needed a reason.

Such with the case of a new house in Portland in 2020, and a big empty wall in my bedroom. I waited for a sale and bought a 4'x5' canvas, pulled a reference photo, and gathered materials to see what I could come up with.

I had rolls of Sunday New York Times, and while purchasing walnut for a house project at the lumber mill, I found these sheets of Oregon black walnut veneer, thin sheets of wood. The grains of wood intrigued me, and I bought a handful of them without knowing how I'd eventually use them.

Over the course of a weekend, I sprayed, painted, crunched, ripped, broke, and glued pieces together in order to achieve magic.

I had no idea this "experiment" of materials and landscape would launch my artistic pursuits (years later). It was the first time I had worked in this way, and it's become an origin story for me. Sisters is an signature piece for me. It was my "first."

Most pieces I create out of the spirit of a place, but Sisters was a special and now bittersweet inspiration. I took that photo from the deck of my family's cabin, the place where I proposed to my then fiancé. I wanted to commemorate that step in our lives and hang it in our bedroom.

This piece would define my art practice, but initially it only symbolized my marriage. Unfortunately the relationship failed in 2022, My ex suggested he should keep it in its place, and I nearly left it based on the size of it alone. However, as I packed with the help of a friend, she insisted Sisters was mine, a part of me, and must come with me. Thank you Reed!

Once I started making more pieces, I was able to get Sisters professionally photographed. It's now on the backs of my business cards and among my first collection of prints.

Sisters hanging in my apartment in Seattle

The journey of this piece continues, now hanging in the lobby of Stillwater Massage in Seward Park. I haven' put this piece up for sale, but I hope it continues to be seen and enjoyed wherever it lands.

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Life Lessons:

• You never know what you can do unless you try

• Fill empty walls with art

• Instead of allowing this piece to define a failure, I've chosen to embrace it as a symbol of my resilience, my talent, and my potential