THIS PIECE OF FUNCTIONAL ART BEARS THE INSCRIPTION "BE NOWHERE, NOW BE HERE" AN AFFIRMATION USED IN MINDFULNESS PRACTICES FOR CENTERING ONESELF. PERFECT FOR HOME OR OFFICE, THE PRINT MEASURES 36x24" INCHES WITH A COLLABORATIVE COLLAGE MADE USING ANALOG AND DIGITAL TECHNIQUES BY HAYLEY THOMAS & DAVID CASTILLO.

EXCERPT FROM "CONNECT" A LIMITED EDITION ZINE BY HAYLEY THOMAS AND ROTTWEILER©

D: I can’t say it’s like this every time but I usually start with a feeling, sometimes emotional but sometimes more literally; how would I feel in a yellow shirt and tan camo pants with the sun shining on me? That’s a good feeling so I think I’ll go there, you know? Then an image comes to mind, something that feels warm like a Rottweiler peeking out from behind a flower bed. Next steps are to draw, digitize, and print. After a few times doing this I have a collection. I guess I’m looking at it like the piece isn’t finished until it’s in the collection/production schedule. But in the middle there’s so many different techniques to achieve print, I feel like we were able to hit a few with this collection.

H: I try not to start with an idea of what I want the finished piece to look like, especially since I’m using found materials. I feel like this approach makes the end result more candid. I’ll usually just feel like there’s something I need to get off my chest, without really knowing exactly what it is, and cover my floor with all of the different cuttings and materials I have. I sit in the middle of this mess and just start putting pieces together. When I put two pieces together that really mesh, and emanate the feelings I’m trying to get out, It feels so cathartic. Sometimes I’m even surprised at what comes out. That’s the mindset and the approach I went into this collaboration with.