found paint
The artworks in this series are made primarily of materials found at the habitat site of each animal, with some other referential materials added. These life-sized, portraits feature minimal use of artists’ materials like paint or pastel. The materials are fingertip applied on stretched 100% rag watercolor paper or gessoed galley wrapped canvases.
The first of this series was the Black-footed ferret, a US prairie dweller. This animal was declared extinct, but a few were found in 1981 in Wyoming and became the basis for the now released population. Each work includes written documentation of the animal’s threat and history, and a rational for materials selection.
‘Black-footed ferret’ - wall hung work made up of 3 stretched panels with sturdy wooden framing on verso
13.5”h x 33”w x 2”d
100% rag Arches watercolor paper, prairie grasses, dirt, twigs, red-hot pepper mix, matte medium, UV protective spray .
‘Bleeding heart dove’ - wall hung work made up of 2 stretched panels with sturdy wooden framing on verso
13.5”h x 11”w x 2”d
100% rag Arches watercolor paper, berries, flower parts, dirt, leaves, matte medium, UV protective spray. SOLD
‘Ringed map turtle’ - wall hung work made up of 2 stretched panels with sturdy wooden framing on verso
22”h x 11”w x 2”d
100% rag Arches watercolor paper, Spanish moss, river sands, branches, watercolor, matte medium, UV protective spray $800
‘Channel Island fox’ - wall hung work made up of 2 stretched panels with sturdy wooden framing on verso
22”h x 22”w x 2”d
100% rag Arches watercolor paper, plant matter from island vegetation, acrylic paint on canvas portions, matte medium, UV protective spray $1,100.
‘Kemp’s ridley sea turtle’ - wall hung work made up of 2 stretched panels with sturdy wooden framing on verso
28”h x 44”w x 2”
Stretched canvas, wharf detritus, blue shale, Atlantic ocean water, shoreline, grasses, sands, fabric scrap, matte medium, UV protective spray $1,800
‘California condor’ - corner or wall hung work made up of many stretched panels with hidden center hinge, sturdy wooden framing on verso
22”h x 120”w x 2”d
Canvas and watercolor paper, found feather, fallen softwood bark, reddish earth, copper leaf, gesso. Matte medium for adhesion, thinned nail enamel, white-out, tissue paper $3,600.
‘Writhed-billed hornbill’ - wall hung work made up of multiple stretched panels with sturdy wooden framing on verso
22”h x 22”w x 2”d
100% rag watercolor paper, tire-tread, clear plastic straws, feathers, twigs, soil and tree bark seed pods, other plant castoffs, lip crayon, pastel, tissue paper, matte medium, UV protective spray $1,100.
‘Xiamen tiger’ - wall hung work made up of 6 stretched panels with sturdy wooden framing on verso
84”h x 44”w x 2”
Stretched canvas, Pine tree twigs and needles, forest floor material, scrap cloth (sold for offerings at mountain Buddhist shrine), UV protective spray, Xiamen shops: turmeric root, kumquats $3,200
‘Sunflower sea star’ - wall hung work made up of formed and stiffened 100% rag watercolor paper with wooden support framing
42”h x 26”w x 16”d
Purple sea urchin extracted pigment, sea mosses, kelp & reeds, driftwood, washed up brick, sand, fishing net shreds, plastic tie, light rope, local flowers, wire mesh, black wrap, matte medium, UV protective spray $2,200