When I started creating the torn paper and origami murals, the main focus was to celebrate my Japanese heritage and depict a part of my life that was crucial to my upbringing and artist story.  As the murals have evolved, I have realized I was painting the literal story of my life, with the torn papers representing the many layers and changes that come with growing and evolving.  I believe that everyone can resonate with the idea that we are better because of the layers of our lives we embrace, and the layers of connections we make along the way.  The origami still holds the idea of beauty through patience.  Each new piece I fold reminds me of the lessons I learned from my grandmother and are gentle reminders to slow down and enjoy the folds of life.

Public art holds a special place for me.  For me, like many other people, public art is sometimes the first introduction to viewing art.  Growing up, graffiti and murals were commonplace, and I saw these artforms far before I saw artwork in galleries and museums.  Art is, and should always be for all people, not just for those who have access to galleries and museums.  The public art we are creating could be the spark for the next generation of artists to come.

The start of the process always looks the same; research, source paper patterns, and fold new origami.  Depending on the mural or client, different paper patterns and color variations are adjusted.  After I fold the specific origami, I will photograph each crane or butterfly against a white backdrop with lighting to see the shadow angles and distance.  Lastly, I will photoshop the origami over the paper patterns and create virtual tears in the paper to show the layers and depth.  For The Art Docks, as is the case for most of my designs, I planned a bright color palette.  I enjoy the hotness of bright colors that force you to see the mural, and grab your attention quickly.  Once the viewer is hooked, the subtle details become the focus.

90% of this mural is created with exterior latex and brush work, with the rest being spray paint.  I generally stick to brush painting my murals to obtain the same look as my canvas paintings.  As always there are challenges to creating artwork on this scale; proportion, angles, depth of field, but this mural in particular was pretty seamless from start to finish, despite some scissor lift issues.

I think I would want people to know that the story this mural tells is the same story a lot of us live.  We are resilient.  Change is not always a bad thing.  And that we have the power to change and grow despite our past.  

“Change”-Blind Melon