Date of Submission

Spring 2014

Academic Programs and Concentrations

Studio Arts

Project Advisor 1

Ken Buhler

Abstract/Artist's Statement

I set out to make a series of body paintings, where I essentially dragged myself across blank canvas. This was inspired from an impulsive series I had made two years ago after an emotionally intense summer. Since then, I have developed a more intentional approach to using my body as an instrument for my artistic process. I went back to the basics and began to make body prints on a series of canvases, walls, wood, paper; anything that I could press myself onto that would make a lasting permanent print. I then began to paint on myself to produce monoprints. I became addicted to this notion of working with the human form. I worked with men, women, faces, legs, breast, and chests. Eventually I chose to work with just the my own torso; I had become attracted to the torso’s symmetric shape.

As I began to experiment with the size of the images and the surfaces I began to connect with my work in new and meaningful ways. I began to feel as though I was using my body to make a mirror from which I could develop a deeper appreciation of my own body and of the female figure. While this provided me with an opportunity to develop confidence in my own figure and abilities, it also led to feelings of serious vulnerability. When being the most vulnerable, I created something so detailed and intricate. The further I dove into my process, the more liberated I felt.

As I became confident in my work and myself, I became bored. There was no mystery. I did not feel liberated anymore, I felt exposed and I did not care. I wanted to care; these are my boobs and belly button and I did not feel beautiful, I felt stuck. I could not move these prints, they needed to move. This is when I began to spill inks, gessos, water and acrylics on to my paintings to create a flowing movement, and image to go along with my actions. This then became an essential piece to my work, I began to work with the ratio of water to ink and paint. What materials I could leave on my canvas while I continued to spill I paint and ink. I discovered a whole new form in this process. I left puddles, string and fabric on my work to create prints that helped move my work. I began to become seduced by my own work, as did the viewer. My body became lost in my mediums, the female form became mysterious again. Looking at my canvases I saw an accurate reflection of what I wanted to be. Each piece of work reflecting a different image than the one before.

I would like to thank my parents for accepting the fact that I did not major in math. I would also like to thank Donna and Chris for all of their support. I am thankful for my friends Victoria, Nadine, Steph, Beans, and Neena and their glorious bods. I would also like to thank Ken for his honest advice and pushing me to do my best. Marko and Roman for technical support and more. Finally all my professors for their wise words of wisdom throughout my years at Bard.

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