About the Artist

My artistic sense was, in part, a legacy from my mother, who excelled in both the visual and musical arts.  To her everything in life was an artistic expression and I grew up watching this talented person use the everyday materials of her life to compose and express art and beauty. Although I dabbled in visual arts, including pastel and watercolor illustrations of original stories written by friends, as well as Aesop’s Fables, Hans Christian Anderson’s “The Nightingale,” and a Medieval Bestiary, visual arts took a backseat to a love of music. In 2001, however, I happened upon a mixed media collage of an Elizabethan scene by a South American artist that was both masterfully executed yet whimsical. It piqued my interest in using paper as a new way of drawing and painting. A new way of illustrating fairytales. 

About the Work

These paper sculptures were inspired by the fairytale book illustrations of Errol Le Cain and Kay Nielsen. It was their highly detailed paintings that led me to work in patterned printed paper. What started out as collage quickly expanded into 3-dimensional paper sculpture involving extremely detailed cut work. Several hundred knife blades might be used to execute a single piece, as only the tip of the blade can be used. Most of the original pieces are 40" x 60" x 3" deep. It takes a year to complete one piece. Nothing is drawn out in advance; rather, the addition of each new paper decides the direction of the piece. Hand drawing and coloring is kept to a minimum.

The Twelve Dancing Princesses is the first in a series illustrating the Grimm’s fairytale of the same name. Using William Morris-designed paper, the collage is reminiscent of a Persian miniature.

The Black Forest is the second in the Grimm's tale, using Japanese chiyogami papers along with feathers, ribbon and beads, to create a 3-dimensional paper sculpture.

The Ball is the third in the Grimm's tale. Added to the papers are French coutour fabrics and more than 2600 Swarovski crystals in the chandeliers and hair ornaments of the dancers.

Once Upon a Time is the fourth in the Grimm's tale. The King's crown is Swarovski crystal.

Nightingale depicts a singer taking her last bow in a dress embellished with love songs. It is the most autobiographical piece and is one of two with a Persian poetry motif. The nightingale's song for the rose is a metaphor of the lover's longing for the Beloved. To quote Rumi: "The moment I heard my first love song I started looking for you."

Moth and Flame in Persian poetry are metaphors for the lover's attraction to the light emanating from the Beloved.

Portrait of a Bird was inspired by the poem "Pour Faire le Portrait d'un Oiseau" (To Paint the Portrait of a Bird) by Jacques Prevert. He says you must first paint a cage with an open door. Then place the painting outdoors and wait for the bird to come. When the bird comes and enters the cage, you gently close the door with your brush, then paint out all the bars and paint in the beauty of nature.

Harlequin Gem is a meditative piece with a Mona Lisa feel, done in Italian papers.

Magic Lamp shows a Divine Magician holding an Aladdin's lamp with a slice of creation rising from it. It could be subtitled Life is Beautiful or What a Wonderful World.

Christmas Angel sits atop a Christmas tree blowing stars into the night sky. One star outshines all the others.

Dawn After Dancing 1 and 2 complete the Grimm's fairytale, "The Twelve Dancing Princesses." They depict the 12 figures lost in a reverie after dancing all night in a state of enchantment. The focus of both pieces is the beautiful French and Italian textiles, which range from beaded Chantilly lace to Armani silk taffeta.

Joy Road depicts a young girl looking into a gift shop window where she sees a bird and a chipmunk in a cage, a fish in a bowl, and other gift items. The border shows her setting these creatures free after she buys them, and giving a small toad the silver crown she wears in her hair. The piece is based on the Rose Fyleman poem, “A Fairy Went A-Marketing.”

Entourage of children’s toys from my private collection, including the Meher Baba doll. His Entourage.

Fire Flowers “I wish I could give you a taste of the burning fire of love. There is a fire blazing inside of me. If I cry about it, or if I don’t, the fire is at work, night and day.” (Rumi) “Fan into flame the gift of God (that inner fire, the Holy Spirit) which is in you.” (Timothy)