Today we’d like to introduce you to Denise ((bonaimo)) Sarram.
Hi Denise, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I have always been an artist, and I was fortunate, as my parents were very supportive of that throughout my life.
I received a Bachelor of Fine Art at Rowan University and went on to create, sell and teach jewelry making for many years.
About 10 years ago, I became interested in found object art assemblage and collages using old ephemera (papers such as: documents, handwritten notes, black and white photographs).
These days I do both jewelry and assemblage/collage and continue to create, sell and teach.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I believe my biggest challenge is trying to keep up with marketing my business (posting on social media/ listing my shows and classes online/ promoting my business) when all I want to do is make the art!
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m excited to tell you about my current collection. Inspired by the beautiful illustrations of authentic paper dolls from the 1950s found at an antique shop, my newest artworks are mixed media collage on canvas.
Simply titled “Paper Dolls,” the process to create these is multi-stepped to achieve the final result. I work in production-line style completing each step to all the canvases at once before I move on to the next step.
-Step one is to affix layers of paper scraps of antique ephemera (newspaper, magazines, ledgers, pretty papers, and handwritten letters, and of course, a paper doll).
-Next, using stencils, an opaque white heavy body modeling paste is applied.
-After that dries, paint and distress inks are selectively added to highlight the dimensionality.
-Next, authentic, vintage black and white photos are placed into small, distressed cardboard window frames and added to the canvas.
-Inspirational quotes from songs, speeches, and soundbites from strong women printed on clear stickers were added to the surface next.
-Painted and distressed with sandpaper- wooden dominoes and other kids’ block toys were nailed into the edges to frame the canvases.
-The entire artwork is finished with a layer of hot encaustic wax that cools to a smooth surface that still maintains the texture of the elements.
Each work of art is ready to hang. If you feel drawn to the quotes or other elements in any of these canvases, please reach out. These gals need good homes!
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I’m an Aquarius to a “T.” Always the creative one, very open-minded, and “thinking outside the box.”
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bonaimovisualart.com
- Instagram: Bonaimo_Visual_Art
- Facebook: BonaimoVisualArt
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/denisesarram
- Other: https://linktr.ee/BonaimoVisualArt
Image Credits
Denise Sarram
