“Through paper arts, like handcrafted cards, I have the opportunity to explore color combinations and experiment with embellishments on a small scale.  Working with collages of textured paper and fabrics invokes the essential sense of touch in my art that I find so fulfilling while in the garden.”
	Monogram Cards!	Gypsy Boxes!	Butterfly Cards!
	“My designs invariably begin in the garden where I spend many summer days.  Floral papers and fabrics in bright clear colors are the elements that attract me and spur my creativity.  I usually begin a project by spreading out a wide variety of papers in the hues and textures that reflect a design concept I wish to explore.  I then run through a myriad of combinations until I find a particular set of materials that harmonizes with the feel I want to achieve.  Once I have the combinations of papers selected, then the real fun begins by experimenting with different proportions, accent elements, and layering techniques.  One of my favorite layering techniques is to tear the paper with a rough edge rather than use a precise cut, as the tear accentuates the thickness and texture of the paper while also giving a softer, more natural feel that is reminiscent of the overlapping leaves and petals in my densely packed garden.  Even though my work surface is five feet wide, by the time a card is finished I find that I am working in a space of less than eight inches and there is not one spot of uncovered space on my table, it having been transformed into a vast kaleidoscope of layered color.  These random combinations tend to have isolated pockets of harmony that often inspire me towards my next project.”

Chickamauga

Warhammer

joepower