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| 21st Century Athena – 36” x 36", Paper Mosaic Collage on Canvas |
Being born under the sign of Aries, I get easily bored -- with art
and nature being the only exceptions. This internal “drive” to move forward, has propelled me to
experiment extensively with different media over the years, in order to
visually convey a story I am trying to tell.
As a child, growing up in the suburbs of Boston, MA, I started creating
art with crayons and colored pencils. I transitioned
into working with pastels as a teenager, then was introduced to oil paint
during high school and continued to use it as my main media to create with, at
the School of the Worcester Art Museum in Worcester, MA. My art focus back then was mainly to depict traditional representational subject matter such as still life’s, landscapes
and the figure.
After Art School, it was difficult to find an
art-related job so I had to put my artistic abilities aside. I transitioned
into working with computers and technology in different capacities for the next
19 years while along raising my son, Bart.
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| Sunset over Monadnock, 36” x 48” Acrylic on Masonite |
In 2004 life changed drastically with my son
going to away to college, a divorce, and the sale of our home. I got back into painting accidentally when my friend Karen Rocklin-Weare invited me over to
her home to play with some acrylic paint and canvas that she had laying around.
Imagine my surprise when abstract imagery started coming out of
me onto the canvas! I was hooked and painted every spare moment I could while
holding down a full-time job.
From painting large abstract paintings in acrylics I transitioned
into plein air painting landscapes in oils after meeting Modern Master Painter
Stan Moeller of York, ME. With the encouragement, instruction
and mentoring of Stan, so much of how I create (solving technical issues and
composition) goes back to the things I learned with him. Watching Stan critique
my artwork, and the work of other artists in his workshops, really helped sharpen my eye.
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| Raven working in her Venice, FL Studio |
After a couple of years, I felt something was still missing in
how I wanted my artwork and personal style to look and feel. I wanted to combine
the abstract and representational styles into one. It was during this time that
I took a one day watercolor and collage workshop with Bill Earnshaw of
Bedford, NH and fell in love with incorporating paper into my work. It wasn’t
long before I covered all of the canvas with collage paper and a new style of
Paper Mosaic collage was born.
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| Third Eye of the Tiger, 16” x 20” Paper Mosaic Collage on Canvas |
The inspiration behind my art has primarily come from my love of
nature and wildlife. I wanted to be a veterinarian growing up because of my
love for all animals. This is the reason you find all kinds of critters and
birds in my artwork.
With the relocation from New Hampshire to Florida in 2010, I now
find inspiration from spending time exploring the Florida landscape, its rivers,
and the Gulf waters. Photographing and watching the amazing array of tropical
birds has led to some very vibrant pieces.
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| Double Trouble, 20” x 20” Paper Mosaic Collage on Canvas |
I have created my share of what I call “pretty pictures” over
the years which are lovely to look at but don’t really tell a story or raise
awareness about social or environmental issues.
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| Spring Equinox, 24” x 48” Mixed Media Collage on Canvas |
After much introspection, I have been compelled over the past 5
years to have my art tell a story, mainly using my collage and mixed media techniques
as the tool. The different “mixed media” I currently use include: acrylic
paint, paper of all kinds, venetian plaster, molding paste, clear tar gel, and
crackle medium.
Most of my current inspiration is drawn from my own spiritual connections
and from my nightly dreams. The subjects range from anti-war, environmental
issues, political concerns, women’s issues, and the human journey to becoming
an enlightened being.
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| Amazing Grace, 10” x 20” Mixed Media on Canvas |
I have also been exploring the fine art of Assemblage. This is where
you take random and discarded 3-D items and “assemble” them into a sculptural
piece, which will either stand on its own or hang on the wall. This appeals to
the “pack rat “in me that wants to save everything and make something new with
it, with a further benefit of saving it from contributing to the
landfills.
When creating any kind of art, my intention is for the viewer to
be drawn into my artwork long enough to forget their troubles and experience a
moment of peace and thoughtful reflection as we navigate this hectic and crazy
world we live in.
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The Psychology of Peace, 36” x 48” Paper Mosaic Collage on Canvas
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This is Week 19 of 52
Artists in 52 Weeks.
Thank you for reading and sharing Raven’s story today. To see more of
Raven’s work and connect with her, please visit her website. You can also connect with
her on Facebook.
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