True beauty is found in the complexity of layers - resilient, translucent, timeless.

Layered tissue paper; deep meaning and personal evolution, curated for the soulful collector.

A watercolor painting of a young woman with short, wavy brown hair holding an orange flower close to her face. She is wearing a light blue dress with a dark bow at the waist, and is set against a patterned green and blue background.
A colorful drawing of a sleeping woman with long orange hair, wearing glasses, with a red rose in her hand, surrounded by greenery and decorative patterns.
A illustrated mermaid with flowing hair sitting on rocks by the water, with a handwritten note in the corner - an Anais Nin quote: that reads, 'I have no fear of depths and a great fear of shallow living.'

Tracy J. Hayes,

Mixed Media Figurative Art

High-tech Meets Low-Tech—

Luminous Layered Tissue Paper Collage - A Unique Process

The human form, reimagined. From pen and ink sketches through the tactile, luminescent strength of hand-layered paper. True beauty is found in the complexity of the layers - resilient, translucent, timeless. Layered tissue paper art of deep meaning and personal evolution, curated for the soulful collector. Luminous overlays of layered tissue paper collage form my Art Nouveau-inspired mixed-media contemporary figurative art. Starting with my expressive hand-drawn figurative sketches, I create analog-to digital- to analog pieces using my unique technique. I needed a way to reframe my “shakier style” and flowing lines -  caused by health considerations and a hand tremor -  as a deliberate, expressive choice of the beauty of letting go.

The Beauty of Letting Go

As a recovering perfectionist, I have learned that perfectionism is not only a moving target, but an impossibility; it slips aways when you try to grasp it. Many years ago, I came down with a chronic illness. I thought my art days were over. I also had a hand tremor and permanent damage to my hand and arm. I hated that I could no longer draw with the precision I was used to. Slowly, my condition improved to the point that I started trying to draw again. This time I had to make quick, flowing strokes, which limited my accuracy. A friend noted that my new looser, scribbley style was my distinct style. It was about learning to let go. Working with that notion, I practiced daily until I could achieve a measure of success quickly on the page.

I create expressive figurative artwork that blends traditional drawing, digital manipulation and collage. My unique style features loose, textured layers of paint, handmade paper and vibrant tissue paper. This approach captures the themes of hope, romance and timeless beauty.

An older woman with red hair in a blue T-shirt standing at a cluttered art or craft workspace, surrounded by art supplies, paintings, and storage shelves.

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