This body of work is essentially a Self-recovery project inspired by the book “Women Who Run with the Wolves” written by Jungian psychoanalyst, Clarissa Pinkola Estes. The book closely examines ancient stories about the Wild Woman archetype, the first pattern of a woman before any culturalization or exposure to society takes place. Dr. Estes discusses why it is essential to “go gather bones” and encourages everyone to begin this difficult process of healing and recollecting the lost parts of their wild Self that have lain dormant in a society that fails to support psychospiritual growth.

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When I started this body of work, I was feeling extremely lost and burnt out. My daily routine had become superficial and robotic. I would start making a piece and immediately rip it up in a fit of rage because it felt inauthentic and forced. One night, I was sitting alone on my kitchen floor, my eyes filled with tears, and my floor covered with ripped up artwork, when I realized I was trying too hard to fit a mold that was never meant for me. I was tired of trying to make art for others and not for myself.  The next day, I decided to go buy a huge roll of canvas and allow myself to play with no rules or limitations. I began by making large bold marks with ink and collaging some scraps of work I had previously cut up. I was listening to my favorite music and dancing around barefoot on my canvas while laying down several layers of paint. I then got down on my hands and knees, and started scratching some of the layers of paint away with my nails and for the first time in a long time, I felt totally whole and almost otherworldly. I had no interest in creating a particular color scheme or focal point. I simply wanted to remain in this raw state of flow and let my intuition lead the way. Making art is my way of collecting the bones and reassembling myself. 

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Alongside my large painting, you will find a few smaller mixed media works. I like to think of them as “mind maps”. They represent my inner world and help guide me back home to my truest self. “Wild Woman is the one we leave home for. She is the one we come home to. She is the thing that keeps us going when we think we’re done for. She is the incubator of raw little ideas and deals. She is the mind which thinks of us. We are the thoughts that she thinks.”-Clarissa Pinkola Estes

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Mediums: acrylic paint on unstretched canvas, sumi ink, charcoal, water soluble crayons, chalk pastels, color pencil, slow stitching, beading, and collage materials that include: scraps from previous failed paintings and prints, netted Japanese paper, roving fiber, and other recycled fabric. 

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