Between Consciouses

by Cotys Winston-Sandefur

“In my recent work, I use the tactile nature of charcoal to understand the complexities between life and death, the conscious and subconscious, and the microcosm and macrocosm; refining my understanding of self and us. I have experimented with different textures and intensities of charcoal to create complex patterns while also implementing various levels of depth. Playing with the dark, velvety black tint to engulf the eye in the patterns’ complexities and the physical depth to encourage interaction between the patterns and their environment. I consider depth on multiple levels of my work; tying it in by using extensive layers, shading, and contrast on a 2D level. Then, I push this depth further by exploring various ways of physically constructing the piece off of the wall. This has fueled my interest in taking up space. Crafting collages that extend on and off of its supporting surfaces.”