DRAWINGS
My grandfather, Richard G. York, was a Western artist and taught me how to create composition and look critically at shape and color. I have many childhood memories of watching him create colored pencil drawings of landscapes, animals, cowboys, and other Western themes. Later in life, I started learning how to do life drawing (or figure drawing), and drew burlesque dancers in the Twin Cities for a while.
PAINTINGS
I have always gravitated towards natural landscapes, and I aim to create a sense of place in my paintings. Recently I am experimenting with the idea of human impact on our natural spaces, whether through the form of structures created by humans—or humans themselves.
My painting professor in college, David Feinberg, had a huge impact on my approach to painting. From him, I learned three important things regarding art:
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Understanding when a painting is “finished”
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What “success” means as an artist
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How to “tame the wild beast” … for me, this means embracing imperfection
FOUND OBJECT
Remember that scene in Ghost World with the tampon in the teacup? That’s where I learned about found object art. I love thrifting and the turning old items into something new.
PHOTOGRAPHS
My dad has a 35mm SLR camera with this crazy-huge telephoto lens that I learned to use.
FIBER ART
My mom taught me how to cross-stitch and embroider when I was a young girl.