Hetty Baiz

Whether creating abstract or representational work, I am interested in the way colors and textures interact with each to create integrated forms. I work intuitively and enjoy experimenting with a wide range of materials. For me, creating is a process of discovery.

In my most recent series, Animals, I have created each piece by building up the canvas surface from hundreds of pieces of torn paper. I use a wide variety of papers including hand made and hand painted paper, Tibetan and Japanese papers, torn photographs taken on my travels to Asia and Africa. The only paint on the canvas may be in the splattered background. After layers and layers of paper are applied, I sometimes scrape, incise or burn the surface with a blowtorch until a certain texture is achieved.

This series was inspired by my love of nature and my concern for the future of our fragile environment.