THE ARTIST
Whitney was born and raised in Northern Michigan, where she grew up in a family of artisans with an appreciation for the natural brilliance of the area. After a childhood filled with interest in anything from homemade play-dough to fine watercolor paints, Whitney took her passion for art to Michigan State University, where she studied Interior Design. While in school, she most enjoyed the precision of architectural drafting and the orderliness of presentation building. After a few years of constructing elaborate window displays at a local retailer, Whitney’s inner neat-freak fell madly in love with the crisp lines, firm surfaces, and steady textures of paper. Whitney took this love from shop windows to a smaller scale, teaching herself how to carve meaningful, layered images from paper.
HER STATEMENT
My art has two creative aspects: the image itself and the construction of the carving.
First, I love the process of taking someone’s favorite place—whether it’s a lake, a family cottage, or an iconic building—and spending the time to create a precise, crisp, and intricate design. My carvings derive meaning from the fact that the image I am portraying through paper is something that provided a person lifelong memories.
Next, the construction of my carvings adds an additional element to each piece. Deciding how to layer the image presents a rewarding challenge. Then the image is cut from colorful cardstock using intricate blades, both mechanical and handheld. And once the layers are carefully assembled, the shadows created by the depth of the carving enhance each piece’s visual presentation.
The end result is a collection of bold colors carved into a detailed, layered image that is full of meaning.