Found “paint-by-number” paintings have always been of particular interest to me as they specifically deal with art in both a manufactured and hand done way. They have the pretense of being art despite the often mundane subject matter and prescribed creativity. The element of individuality exists in the method of paint application.

I use the paint-by-numbers in their “as found” condition, cutting them into 2” squares and mounting them on a masonite board. I combine various paintings to create a larger overall picture with multiple segments of familiar and distorted images placed side by side. In the dismantling I am able to build a new, more complex aesthetic. The art retains elements of kitsch and nostalgia but is brought to another level, one that adds individuality and creativity to the original craft.