I work in oil/mixed media, focusing on painting unapologetic women. I begin by painting the board or canvas black, as I like the way color works on the dark surface. I then cover most of the substrate with papers - gestures from a life drawing session, hand drawn ink drawings on tissue paper, scraps of poems or lyrics I connect with, cut outs of lovely handmade papers I collect. The next step is drawing my muse, usually with charcoal and conte. This is sealed onto the collage, then the painting begins, starting with acrylic to build the body of the piece, and finishing with oil and cold wax. I love playing with the depth I can create with this process, often mixing a hard emotion with good line and a soft background. Drawing is important to me, and I've worked to create a process where line is celebrated rather that covered entirely with paint.