Deborah Houston

"There is a loneliness that comes from the separation of cultural, religious, philosophical and social inequities."
The root of my work comes from recognizing the significance of aloneness in my life. There is a loneliness that comes from the separation of cultural, religious, philosophical and social inequities. I am inspired by both the strength and frailty of aloneness.

I begin my work by choosing a set of words specific to the series upon which I am working. From that set of words, I focus on one word by drawing upon the message and then creating an image. The image is then manipulated using Photoshop CS3, printed and attached to a birch or masonite panel. Working in layers, I add multiple elements such as: collage, linen rag, rice paper and found paper. I continue by using a varying array of materials, such as: oils, acrylics, oil sticks, pastels, collage, charcoal, graphite, inks, encaustic, and shellac. As images are built, they are simultaneously rejected because of the unique composition of each material used and significance. Mark making, scratching, sanding, cutting and staining are done directly onto the work. The transference of multiple images forms into one image, representing the relationship of human isolation and our relentless search for one another.

"There is a loneliness that comes from the separation of cultural, religious, philosophical and social inequities."