MSU Extension Michigan ArtShare

Artist Statement

Since a very young age I’ve been thinking about, or working on, an art project of some kind.  My passion was first fueled by my older sister, Roxanne, who introduced me to the art of penmanship and the joy of creating handmade cards for the special people in our lives when I was only 5 years old. After working mostly in pen and ink throughout my college years at Michigan State University, I began making custom latch-hook rugs and wall hangings along with personalized cross-stitch pieces on commission.  After our son, Jackson, was born in 1994, I began working with Extruded Polystyrene Rigid Foam Insulation, or "Styrofoam.”  Through the use of blades, hot wire, soldering guns, candle knives, heat guns, wire brushes and other tools, the foam would be cut, carved, melted, molded, painted and embellished to be transformed into a multitude of shapes and objects. I was fortunate to have a very successful gallery showing of my work at Art Alley in the Reo Town area of Lansing in March of 2011 and continued working in “styrofoam” until my retirement from the Lansing School District in 2018.

As a retirement gift, one of my dearest teacher friends presented me with a large blank canvas with a note attached that read, ‘Express your Dreams!’. In my little art studio located next to the clothes dryer in the basement, my foam-working tools were soon replaced with jars of acrylic paint samples from the hardware store and previously used canvases from the thrift store readied for repurposing. It was a liberating experience to finally create what I wanted to, as most of my work for the previous three decades was by commission. I was overwhelmed by so many ideas for subjects that I finally decided to focus on what brought me the most joy (other than my family) and that was the beauty and magic of Michigan’s natural world from my little backyard garden to the shores of Lake Superior.

With my husband, Jeff, as my muse, teacher, and assistant, I continue to experience great joy and satisfaction through expressing my dreams on canvas. It is my sincere hope that you enjoy viewing them as much as I enjoyed creating them.

Explore more at:  Foamfriends.blogspot.com