In our current gypsy-like state, Mr. Forager and I try to travel as lightly as possible.  But we do acquire things along the way, some we find unnecessary, contributing to a local Goodwill every where we go, but others we hold onto tightly– art and books.  Small pieces of our own art enrich each temporary home, while the books we carry with us enrich our minds, spirits, and souls.  The work of Southern California artist Lisa Occhipinti centers around books, not just their physical pages but our emotional and spiritual connection to them.

The artist incorporates pages from various tomes in her work, sometimes in a conspicuous way, like the pretty coffee table books we may buy but never really read.. or in a more subtle way, like the self-help books and other guilty pleasures we keep hidden in the nightstand.

Delicate drawings and inky washes call to mind margin notes and doodles peppering well read stories.  Almost as if the reader of Occhipinti’s visual story is distracted not because the story doesn’t hold their interest, but they lost in becoming a part of the tale being told.

To see more of Lisa Occhipinti’s work, please visit her website.  I chose to focus on her painting work, but you’ll also find wonderful book-y sculptures and photography on her site.

All images are via the artist’s website.