First calm. Then curious.

How Eileen sees it:

I tend to get lost in the details. I don’t mean lost like “Oh no, where am I?” kind of lost, more like the “woooowww” one. This is particularly true in nature. My recollection of hikes are often filled with the tiny pinecones, bored out old stumps and sparkling moss- more so than grandiose views.

This meditative state that I find myself in when outside exploring, is what I try to recreate through my work. That place where we can be filled with wonder and curiosity, completely immersed and in tune with our surroundings. 

My approach when making art is to mirror that exploration- to provide pathways that flow surrounded with space to breathe. I like to give small tidbits to get lost in- sometimes it was already part of the wood, like an interesting grain pattern or small knot. Other times it might be stitches I’ve added or a more pronounced curve. Each artist makes work that imbeds their lived experiences and interpretations of the world. For me with my background in design and furniture making, I like to interject that experience into my artwork- working as much as a designer and craftsperson as well as an artist.