Artist Demonstration with Rowan Mastandrea

"I have a very expansive imagination and thrive on doing more than one thing at a time. I also dive in with abandon.

I am a dynamic experimenter. 'What happens if I do this?' and 'Doing does it' encapsulate my practice. Seeing what happens when I do something in a piece shows me what to do next. I had to learn to follow the aesthetic of the work as it emerges and allow for surprises. It was a hard lesson! The twists and turns each piece goes through can be unnerving, so I had to develop skills to manage discomfort along the way. I can also be restless and impatient. My method is slow and non-linear, so I had to develop discipline and make peace with the process to get the results I desire.

I am passionate about what I do! My process is organic and unpredictable. I dive in to each piece not knowing where it will take me. Much of my work takes at least a hundred hours to create, and I love the accumulation of energy and dedication that resides in the finished product. Intricate, bold craftsmanship with lots of pattern and color is my specialty. As a dynamic artist, I’m always pushing my own envelope and taking risks to keep growing and exploring. I feel like a piece isn’t finished until I am in love with it. I am proud that I hold myself to my highest standards of art and that I pour my heart into every piece. I hope to inspire others by making my sense of joy, curiosity and harmony palpable."