My art is meant to share my experience of the universe. I’m creating the absence of light in order to form light. I use materials and forms that are familiar, like ballpoint pen, circles and infinity symbols. My hand moves intuitively when applying marks, but I keep my eye open to forms I wish to convey. Through this process, I create an active relationship between the infinitely small world of details, the infinitely large world of detail-created forms, and you, the viewer.
The Nature of Ballpoint is a glimpse into an otherworldly world where landscape becomes celestial. Subjects such as water are built up by masses of ballpoint pen circles to create patterns of light and shadow. Colleen chooses this time-consuming yet meditative process as a way to give life to every detail. Share the experience of creation by following the lines.
The Uncle William series is based on black and white photos taken by my father of my Uncle Willy in the rural 1970’s Texas countryside. My uncle has Down Syndrome, and happens to be the most cheerful and content person I know. However, he can appear radically different and almost frightening to outsiders, especially when dressed in his cowboy attire. This series uses contrasting light and dark to examine these polar opposites.