Erin McGean

Flora
12″x9″; paper collage; 2018

Erin McGean
Oakville, Ontario, Canada

STATEMENT

The process of deconstructing images to create something completely new is my current ongoing visual obsession. Years ago I began making digital collages from my own photos using an iPhone and the many apps available to edit them. Although I enjoyed the results of this new found techno-medium I began to miss the tactile nature of painting and dust had gathered in my studio. So I cleared out the painting supplies and replaced them with stacks of books and magazines and began making analog collages. My current work uses traditional collage techniques to explore themes related to self and womanhood. Each piece begins with collecting and testing several combinations until a match reveals itself that is both visually pleasing and thought provoking. The resulting images are meant to tell a story, albeit a bit of a surreal one. My inspiration comes from my experiences as a female and a mother and a lifelong strong connection to the natural world. Ultimately I want my images to express a sense of peace, solitude and reverence for nature, exploring our complex relation to it while reminding us how much we are a part of it.

BIO

Erin studied Painting, Drawing and Art History at York University in Toronto earning an Honors B.F.A., followed by a B.Ed. from Brock University. Although originally trained in painting and drawing, Erin has been producing analogue and digital collages for the past several years. Erin has exhibited in local galleries and has sold her artworks to private and corporate collectors. She currently resides in Oakville, Ontario, raising her family, teaching high school visual arts and practicing her craft.

ARTIST CONTACT

[click to email]
www.erinmcgean.com

IMAGES

Papillon
6″x4″; paper collage; 2019
Selene
10″x8″; paper collage; 2019
Luna
12″x9″; paper collage; 2019
Finding a Place of Her Own
10.5″x8″; paper collage; 2019