Erin LINTON

Artist Statement

I paint portraits primarily of wildlife I have encountered through my work as a wildlife rehabber on a mixed media canvas made up of three or four layers. A traditional canvas is first painted with India inks before applying a thin layer of archival bookbinding glue. I adhere a layer of pH-treated up-cycled teabags to this before painting the portrait on top with gouache. Additional tea bags may be cut, shaped, and painted to add further details like petals, leaves, or feathers. Although this process is tedious, particularly making sure the tea bags are of an archival quality, I find that the muted colors and textures enhance the natural qualities of fur and feathers, bringing to the paintings a certain softness and warmth which is true to the animals I work with. Presenting these animals as portraits of individuals, not just a species representations is important. I find that by separating the subject from the background and using abstract elements I can achieve this.