I didn't realized that when I went to Japan for one year to teach English as a second language, that it would wind up being 7 years, and I would return home with a new passion of painting with paper. This ancient art form called "Chigirie", involves taking handmade Japanese paper and tearing and cutting it to create art, I use artist wrapped canvas, and the paper takes on the look of acrylic, and oil paintings. I learned the Japanese technique, but because I changed it to reflect my own American taste, I continue to be self taught in this art form. I am truly "addicted" to beautiful handmade paper and my studio reflects that with baskets filled with various and gorgeous colors, fibers, textures, and different weights of handmade papers. Everyday, I eagerly go into my studio with my artist's palette arranged in baskets before me, and get lost in the rainbow of colors, ready to fantasize my next creation.
