Sebastian

8" by 10" Picture book Collage

A Good Book and a Good Thumb

This is my description of the work when I have it showing:

These collages were created using Children’s Picture book sleeve covers (the integrity of the book itself was not harmed in the process.)  My sources of inspiration are threefold.  First of all, I work as an Early Childhood Special Education Teacher for Seattle Public schools.  I have been doing this now for the past ten years and consider it a privilege to have a positive impact on the lives of young children and their families.  Secondly, I am a proud father of three children and do my best to be a role model to them.   Not an easy job, but certainly the most rewarding.  Finally, I am a two time cancer survivor and have, within the past four years, developed a strong need to create honest art work that shares my deep belief in the importance of childhood and the feeling of hope. 

There were moments during my treatment in the spring of 2010 that I felt an absolute peace and calm.  All my circumstances were difficult – felt like crap, looked like crap, couldn’t sleep, couldn’t focus for more than five minutes at a time, financial strains, etc… regardless of all this, those moments of peace and calm would carry me over to the next day, next week, or next month.  It’s hard to describe and I don’t think I need to in words.  My wife and kids played an incredible role in bringing this peace and calm and this series of collages hopefully highlights this.  This collage series also exists because of my belief in a loving God who cares for us, even in our worst days.