As an abstract artist, I belong to a group of artists like me, who are looking  at the world  mostly from outside the box. Even though, most of that group is formed of abstract artists, each of us looks at the world from different perspectives. The art, that we gather monthly to look at, reflect these differences. Some have more cubistic style. Others look at the word from more conceptual point of view. And some of us look and think of this world  as a place for expression, we use the lines,shapes and colors  as tools to our way of thinking looking and painting. A wise woman in the group described it once as a part of the  spiritual process.

When people say Expressionism Abstract, or Abstract Expressionism, Jackson Pollock comes to mind, with his vest canvases and expression of thoughts and feelings in endless scribble of paint lines, shapes and dots. But since my encounter with Pollocks’ paintings in school, I managed to get to know Abstract Expressionism on his different layers. I saw big work and small artwork. I saw very colorful pieces and monochromatic expression of abstracts, I experienced work that was produced using oils or acrylic, and work that was made using varies materials that formed interesting textures in fascinating layers and layers of expression. Abstract expressionism as expressed also in 3D work of art. 

In my past, I started dealing with art, while sculpting realistic figures looking at models, and fast enough, once I got the idea of the gesture of the body, and size of body parts, my brain pulled me toward taking the figures that I started forming and cutting them with a pallet knife in certain places. Once smoothed, the clay stated to look like pieces of thick branches of enchanted trees.  That was the moment when I realized that my path was going toward abstract expressionism.
My definition of abstract expressionism is any artwork that explores concepts, feelings, spirituality, thoughts, in lines, shapes, colors, surfaces,  forms a world on the canvas. A world of different elements that require most of the viewers imagination to explore into it. My husband explain it to me once as that it is like looking for images at the clouds. Each one of us have different tools to relate and understand the experiences he/she is going through. I believe that not everything needs to have a deep exploration or understanding. In my vision, art should be perceived as, do I like it or not, does it talk to me? What elements I like about the artwork. It should come from your heart, you stomach, and as far as your brain goes, the viewer might want to approach his/her imagination than looking for rational, realistic images in the art. From my artist point of view, it is all about the art process, the time in the studio, when it is only me, the canvas, the materials and the music, forming worlds of colors, big, passionate, and very poetic.

The following was what I wrote:

Dear Emma,

Thank you for your email. It is wonderful to inspire and effect young people lives. To answer your questions:

1. Getting involved in art is not a very romantic story. I took art classes as prerequisites requirements for my MA in art therapy, at the George Washington University, in
   Washington DC. It was surprising to me how fascinating and interested I was in sculpting.  That is why, when I was required to take paintings my paintings were thick, and most of them are, until this day.
2. My main techniques are whatever comes my way and to my mind – as daring as I allow myself to be. I am an experimenter. I used to use pallet knife, cardboards, my fingers. I go as wild as possible. There are no rules beyond looking and listening. I go back to look at my art while in the process of making. Almost every spot/line/color requires new observation. Take into account that my most important artwork is a large scale (120 X 120 cm/ 120 X 150, and some are even bigger. I have one piece that is 6 miters by 120 cm,) for me observation can take third off the time of the art making process.
3. Some of my inspiration comes from amazing artists like Nathan Oliveira. He live now at the San Francisco area, but used to live here at the
   Seattle area. Another artist that I admire is Jack Shadbolt, a Canadian artist who died in the 80s. But my main inspiration is my gut feeling. I do not plan what do drew, I just allow it to happen. I think in abstract terms (lines/shapes/colors.)
4. Time, as far as making a piece of artwork varies. In the past I could finish a work in three hours. The more mature I get, the more time I need for a piece. It also a challenge as far as taking care of two children and a baby as well.
5. Color is almost everything in my work. It is one of the most important components. I am fascinated by stains, and how the effect each other. It is interesting what fascinates peopleJ Colors effect their surrounding colors in relation to each other. It is a very interesting and deep world to explore.
6. Different people by definition, are different, and for that brings different worlds when observe my artwork. Every art show, different people connect to different pieces. In some cases many people will like one specific work, but each one for a different reason.
7. I mostly work with artists that do not come from the visual art field. In October, for instance, I am going to give a performance with a pianist. I am going to paint while she will play the piano on stage