Eileen is a denizen of the DC area, but lived the first 13 years of her life in the Philadelphia suburbs. Growing up, taking the train into the city to roam freely through The Rodin Museum, and always having her eyes looking up at the Art Deco and Art Nouveau architecture really had an impact on the way she sees the world and art. Eileen moved back to the D.C. area in 1981. She is a personal trainer and lives happily in a quaint town with her wife and cat.
The Art Process
There are two main ways that Eileen creates her art: free form, and ideas that come to her in twilight sleep.
Free forming - Eileen sits down with a canvas and all her supplies surrounding her, then lets the creative juices flow. Starting with a background set of colors, she just sees where the energy takes her.
Twilight sleep ideas come to her even more organically. It starts with an item that she has put aside because it interests her. Then as she is just waking up or falling asleep, the whole piece, usually completed, comes into her head.
Throughout her creative career, these are the ways that she has created. Whether it is poetry, knitting or fine arts, Eileen lets the process flow organically.
Technique
Once an idea, is formed the creation begins. The background starts with acrylic paint, tissue paper, previously created art and Mod Podge. Then the layering develops. Using items that Eileen has collected, either over the years, waiting for an idea, or just newly acquired, the glue gunning starts. Thanks to a friends, clients and a “Buy Nothing” group in the town she lives in, Eileen has been able to acquire a great deal of the jewelry and items she has used in her art work.
There are several repeating themes that you will see throughout Eileen’s work.
Butterflies: The continual recreation of self
Drawer Pulls: The opening of new worlds
Birds: An homage to Eileen’s grandmother Grace
Mandalas: The intricate workings of her mind
Moons: The ebbing and flowing of creative juices
Trees: Wisdom and strength
