Kris Zorko
Creating something both beautiful and useful gives me a lot of satisfaction. Lovely papers give me the perfect starting point for my creations.
My Note Totes (refillable notepad holders and sticky note holders) are a direct result of my ongoing love affair with paper. They are fashioned out of everything from handmade paper to wrapping tissue to old maps.
I create wearable art pins and earrings. The pins are made with matboard bases that are embellished with paint, clear and embossed metallic resins, with occasional embedded bits and pieces. They have the look of porcelain or raku pottery. The earrings have chipboard bases covered with gelli-printed and marbled papers, then coated in protective sealer. I call this fun jewelry, not fine jewelry!
I also make wooden quote plaques and decorative mirrors framed in resin-coated paper tiles. These creations allow me to combine my love of beautiful papers and my fascination with words, specifically quotes. A good quote is like a sparkling gem to me – a profound thought or feeling crystallized within in few well-chosen words. I work to capture the essence of the quote in the design and images of the tiles. I choose quotes that have meaning for me, and I hope they speak to you as well.
My latest creations are mixed media works combining gelli-printed and marbled papers with painted details, collaged onto gallery-wrapped canvases and cradled wood panel substrates.
I participate in a number of local art shows and festivals each year, including Celebration of Creativity, LOCAL 14 Art Show & Sale, Walters Cultural Center Artisan Invitational, Washington County Open Studios Tour, and Turner Creek Boutique. My work is also featured at Valley Art Gallery in Forest Grove, OR.