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I began my dress painting series about 15 years ago when I was living in Victoria. They began by simply looking for a new way to add texture to a painting. I'd used sand, and cheesecloth and liked the effect they had, and next thing I knew I was trying to attach a dress to the canvas. I don't remember an "aha" moment, it just evolved. The paintings themselves have evolved over the years, they have always been narrative, but now I try to allow the viewer some input in the story by making them a little more abstract, a little more open to interpretation. I always enjoy people's reactions when they first see them, and the questions that start coming. Yes, I use real dresses, and corsets, and baby clothes. At first I used stuff from my closet, now, more often than not I find interesting vintage dresses at the Salvation Army, or consignment shops. They are adhered to the canvas with LOTS of acrylic medium. Acrylic medium is basically the "glue" that keeps acrylic paint together. It dries to a waterproof and durable, although bendable surface. And I am adding more and more, sometimes I embroider through the canvas, or add elements of collage, I am looking forward to where they will go next. Click on a painting to enlarge and get more information. |
