Elaine Ashburn

I noticed people leaving large objects—like old streetlamps and antique velvet couches—outside the recycling bins. I was fascinated—to me they were beautiful objects that needed to be preserved. Since I couldn't bring them home, I started taking pictures of everything I found: galoshes, angels, glass bottles, tattered tarot cards and dusty jewelry. I was fixated and went back week after week for more. I seemed to have developed an affinity for junk. An advertising art director by trade, my Photoshop abilities were very good at the time, so I started making collages. My first few attempts lacked personality, but I was determined to turn these finds into art. Using my art school skills, the art history classes I snoozed through, and anything else I could conjure up, I stuck with it. Little by little, I discovered a pattern of interpretation and digital découpage was born.