The Flowers in this painting are inspired by "Mountain Lilies" by Katushika Oi, b.1800. My approach to painting has been influenced by the countries I have lived in - Scotland, The Netherlands, Japan, Hungary, & Germany. Since 2005 I have lived in countries where English was not the first language. The experience of living in cities where I (initially) couldn't understand the written or spoken word is reflected in my artwork through the imagery used. I enjoy creating an interplay between recognizable and abstract forms. The familiar and the foreign. I am fascinated with the relationship between symbols (e.g. language and mythological symbolism) and the variety of meanings they contain. These communicative systems that we create, modify, and discard have an ephemeral nature. Individual words lose their original meanings and change, and may hold different meanings depending on the user. Whole languages are lost, discovered, and created. Symbols which were once taboo or progressive become irrelevant. These conflicting and transient ideas are a point of confusion, humor and happiness for me. My artworks are a way to share these feelings through a collage of paint layers, motifs, found objects, and text.
