Preserving
CHILDHOOD“As children, we adore our toys; we play, use our imaginations, and imbibe them with our youth. When we grow up, it's hard to hold on to those feelings and that freedom; we preserve what we can, or maybe we lock them up and try to put the childish side away.”
Color Bear | 18" × 23" | Oil on canvas.
Bunny Bun Buns | 60” x 36” |
Black Cat and Bunny Bun Buns | 11” x 14” | Acrylic on Canvas. A look at the interaction between toys contained, unable to interact with one another.
Ducky | 8” x 10” | Acrylic on Canvas. Still life of childhood toy Ducky.
Froggy | 6” x 6” | Acrylic on Canvas. Still life of Froggy in a jar.
Trumpet | 11” x 14” | Acrylic on canvas. Still life of Trumpet in a jar.
Color Bear
| 18" × 23" | Oil on canvas.
“The first painting of the Preserving Childhood series. Color Bear was one of my favorite toys as a little girl. He represents comfort while he is held in the jar; he has room and extra space and is not pressed in yet still out of place.”
Bunny Bun Buns
| 60” x 36” | Oil on Canvas
“On my first day of kindergarten, I carried my bunny into class; within a month, I put her away, believing I was “too old” for a toy bunny. I pulled her out from time to time but slowly forgot about her, just as I forgot about the little girl that lives inside me. Luckily, I haven't lost either. I have set Bunny Bun Buns close to the light here, but the dark unknown still looms.”
Spring 2023
Concept/Strategies: Developing with professor Justin Archer
Description: Emphasis is placed on the development of creative, individualized approaches to materials and content, including the incorporation of complex and varied subject matter, media and concepts. Using a structure that alternates studio sessions with lectures and discussions of visual documentation, presentation, and other professional components, students create work in a thematic series that develops their painting methods and personal concepts.