Murmur, 39-1/4”h x 30-1/2”w, Ink on paper

Drawing Breath: Blown ink and cut, layered paper

For the series Drawing Breath, ink is blown with a tube, and the paper itself is integral. Several sheets may be cut and layered in a single work to create depth, shadows, translucencies, and nuances of color. The idea of drawing with the paper instead of just upon it is characteristic of my approach to my materials. In a sense, I breathe life into these drawings, using my lungs to propel the ink. But as much as they reflect my insides, implying arterial systems and biological forms, they also elicit a broader, innate recognition of the natural world—plants and creatures, coastlines and rivers. Growth and decay, beauty and brutality are the rudiments of this language.

There is a formidable connection and meaning I derive from working with many of the same materials that have been essential to our most ancient civilized societies. The handmade paper I use comes primarily from Nepal and Japan. The Nepalese paper is made from plants that regenerate quickly, providing a renewable resource for the artisans whose livelihoods depend on a fragile ecosystem. Purchasing such paper returns proceeds to the cooperatives that make it, directly supporting workers in rural and urban areas of Nepal. In Japan, as the time-honored traditions of papermaking wane dramatically, some master paper-makers are now being recognized as National Cultural Treasures. In addition to viewing my work as an unspoken collaboration with these distant paper-makers, I feel strongly that use of these special materials positively supports culture, commerce, and environmental responsibility.