Lightning Bolt Coat - Woman Warrior Coat Series

My most rewarding medium is colored pencils. I use them in a process involving 40 to 50 layers of imperceptibly fine cross hatchings taking months to complete. When I pick up a colored pencil I feel deep relief, like coming home. The first films of color are very light and prepare a ground of atmospheric translucence for the progressively darker veils or layers. My intention is to embed paper with the luminosity of color. 

I returned to this medium for my current series ‘Woman Warrior Coats’ to empower women to overcome challenges in their daily lives. A coat would present itself for a woman facing extreme adversity. As one after another conferred itself I realized the series had grown a life of its own. Throughout this body of work the coats have evolved from empowering and protecting individual women to include the concept of women empowering and protecting others. I most recently completed ‘Lightning Bolt Coat’. As the series continues this coat, with its power to dispel darkness, is especially timely.