Eileen Downes, known as the artist who “paints” with bits of torn paper for a palette, lives and works from her studio located in California. Always drawn to art, Eileen pursued a career in graphic design and scientific illustration working for a local civil engineering firm. She earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Studio Art from California State University, Sacramento, and a Graphic Design Certificate from the University of California at Davis. She has developed a unique artistic style utilizing the medium of collage and specific layering techniques. Her artwork is composed of many layers, each significant in the process of the art making. She states,
“I use bits of torn magazine papers as my "palette of paint" working the image by adding and subtracting tonal values of this paper until I create the effect that I desire. Words, phrases, and imagery from the materials that make up the collage become visible upon close observation of the work adding to the meaning of the piece. I am continually amazed by specific words that appear almost magically between the torn edges as if they are themselves part of the creator of the artwork. It is the process of creating visually pleasing or intellectually stimulating artwork that is most personally fulfilling for me as an artist; likewise, it is the process of experiencing a creative life as a woman, wife, mother, and daughter that is the most fulfilling for me in spirit."
Her work can be found in galleries, museums, and corporate collections across the US. She is a member of the National Association of Women Artists, and the National Collage Society.