How to Disappear Completely
2008 - 2010
Reaching the point of this series was another organic one, grown from the Fresh Hell, Bitter Pill and Joy Free process. The tearing off of images to reveal something else underneath resulted in the use of wood grain from the plywood board-ups used in that setting. When I painted Holiday in Retrograde the line became blurred between the plywood backing and the subject herself. This opened a whole new door.
The new wood in the series has come to represent any sort of background to fade away or blend into and of course can also mean “to become wooden” through various means. This subject is far reaching in that each of us has probably wanted to disappear at some time or another, whether it be through embarrassment, sadness or being overwhelmed. We also disappear by being over-medicated or over-looked. Death also plays an important role in this series, as that is the ultimate way to disappear. My subjects are in varying states of this process. I invite you to come to your own conclusions as to why these people are fading away, blending in or disappearing -and listen carefully to the stories these people have to tell.
