Pat Sundeen | Paper | Glendale, AZ
Artist Statement
Creating beautiful and colorful bowls by reusing magazines is my craft. Watching the bowls come together is exciting to me as the outcome of colors and shapes is unknown until the object is finished. My bowls are one-of-a kind and can be used as a decorative piece in any living area space to add color.
Q&A with Pat Sundeen
What process/materials did you use to create your artwork? The paper bowls are made from recycled magazines. I cut all of the color out of the magazines. The colored pieces are then cut into strips. The strips are put together until I get the size bowl that I want. It then becomes a flat circular piece that I form into a bowl. These bowls can also be brought to the table for serving snacks, bread or rolls, fruit, etc. Each bowl takes about 15 to 40 hours to create depending on size and shape. The bowls can be as small as two inches in diameter with the largest that I have made being fifteen inches in diameter. They are made with a specific grade of paper which is typically used in magazines such as Phoenix Home & Garden and Oprah.
What inspires you to create and what inspires your work? I have always enjoyed creating things and bright colors. I try to make the bowls with as much bright color as possible and believe that the surprise at the end is what inspires me to keep repeating the process.
If you had to describe your artwork in 5 words or less, what words would you use? Charming, unique and useful
What do you want your viewers to know about you as an artist (if anything?) I am passionate about color and always thinking of new things to create.
What's the best advice you've ever been given? Work hard but be sure that it is something that you enjoy doing.
What is your favorite artist tool? It would have to be my hands as that is the only tool I use
What is your dream project? The messages in outdoor murals fascinates me and I would love to be a part of painting one
What do you like about your work? I like that people enjoy the bowls and are intrigued by them.
How has your practice or process changed over time? At first the bowls looked pretty rough and over time I have perfected the process to make them more precise. I really don't know if that makes them better or if I preferred the rougher look.
Why art? Creating something always puts my mind at ease as I am only thinking about the piece that I'm working on.