Joy Rising

Joy Rising is the newest evolution of my Joyful Connections collection.  It was born from a creative challenge posed by master framer Bob Greene from DuPage. My Joyful Connections artworks on paper have always lived behind glass, preserving the delicate surfaces that carry their expressive gestures. Bob encouraged me to rethink that tradition: what if the paper itself could rise to the surface?

Together we experimented with a new process—mounting deckled-edge paper onto boards and finishing the surface like a canvas, so the paintings could exist without glass. The result is a striking new presentation: the raw beauty of the paper floating inside handcrafted frames, the gestures rising to the surface.  In Joy Rising, the movement of the gesture becomes the statement itself. The paintings feel more intimate – joy lifted from behind glass and brought into the open.

 The process also demands a new level of intention. Each sheet of paper is mounted and finished with gesso before the first mark is made, leaving no room for throwaway attempts. Every gesture must arrive with purpose, confidence, and life.

The result is a collection that celebrates both collaboration and courage—where framing becomes part of the creative process, and joy quite literally rises to the surface.