amber vanhatala stene • artist

Perpetually enchanted by sunset and ever enamored by my desert home, I created this to pay homage to that seductive hour at day’s end.

Collage with spray-paint stenciled textures. Four panels on a 300# Fabriano Artistico base are stitched together with waxed lined thread and hung by a creosote armature. 26×35.25-inches. July 2026.

ON DISPLAY at Tohono Chul’s Main Gallery, 7366 N. Paseo del Norte, Tucson, for the exhibition: SONORAN HOURGLASS: Behold the Gloaming Crepuscular. Aug 20 through Nov 8, 2026

Collage with all custom paper elements – including salt-bleached watercolor and spray-paint stenciled textures. 10×10-inches each. 2026.

SOLD

Collage with all custom paper elements – including salt-bleached watercolor and spray-paint stenciled textures. 10×10-inches each. 2026.

SOLD: Waning Vessel, 5

This work simulates summer’s hour of torrid heat through a giant saguaro emblazoned in scarlet. 

Collage with custom paper elements including salt-bleached watercolor and spray-paint stenciled textures. Five panels on a 300# Arches base are stitched together with waxed lined thread and hung by a creosote armature. 43×39-inches. February 2026

ON DISPLAY at Tohono Chul’s Main Gallery, 7366 N. Paseo del Norte, Tucson, for the exhibition: SONORAN HOURGLASS: ABLAZE THE BRILLIANT SUN. May 14 through Aug. 2, 2026

Collage with all custom paper elements – including salt-bleached watercolor and spray-paint stenciled textures. Three panels on a 300# Arches base are stitched together with waxed lined thread and hung by a creosote armature. 31.5 × 31.5 inches. December 2025.

This saguaro lives at the corner of my neighborhood. I love its lyrical drooping arms even though they're a sign of distress. It's a smaller all-collage work, stitched with waxed linen and adorned with tiny glass beads. 31 x 9.5-inches includes the creosote armature. October 2025

During the monsoon months, just as the dawn sun breaks over the cloud-laced Rincons, my backyard saguaro glows the color of tangerine. This work memorializes that sublime hour through the splendor of a giant saguaro.

A collaged artwork featuring watercolor textures with patterned details on 300 lb Arches watercolor paper, finished with waxed linen thread. 53 × 17-inches includes creosote armature. September 2025.

A stitched collage artwork created mostly from my own hand-created textures, on 300 lb Arches watercolor paper hung on a creosote armature. Work was started during Stitched Astraction, a zoom class by Anna Carll. 51 × 15-inches, June 2025.

Hand cut collage with custom watercolor cuttings and a sprinkle of purchased patterned papers. Each post card is 6×4-inches. July 2025

My premier abstract work created under the influence of Anna Carll's teaching using hand-painted and acquired patterned paper. Mixed media collage on panel, 12 x 18 inches, 2024.

This work was created in celebration of my good friend’s 29 years with her late husband. Grape vines, seeds, thread, glass beads, watercolor, graphite on watercolor paper. 2016
* SOLD *

Beach stone, grape vines, glass beads, watercolor, acrylic on Arches. 7 x 7 inches, 2020
* SOLD *

Reflecting my son and his family enjoying the lush outdoors of Oregon. Grape vines, seeds, sand dollars, glass beads, watercolor, acrylic, graphite on torn cardboard. 5 x 5 inches each, 2020

Celebrating the joy of spring. Grape vines, seeds, glass beads, watercolor, acrylic, graphite on torn cardboard. 5 x 5 inches, 2020

Inspired by a good friend who moves forward with conviction, and guides others toward a positive direction. Grape vines, seeds, sand dollars, glass beads, watercolor, acrylic, graphite on torn cardboard. 5 x 5 inches, 2020
* SOLD *

Grape vines, seeds, glass beads, watercolor, acrylic, graphite on torn cardboard. 5 x 5 inches each, 2016

Grape vines, glass beads, watercolor, acrylic, graphite on torn cardboard. 5 x 5 inches each, 2016

Grape vines, seeds, glass beads, watercolor, acrylic, walnut ink, graphite on torn cardboard. 5 x 5 inches each, 2016

Grape vines, stones, glass beads, watercolor, acrylic, graphite on torn cardboard. 5 x 5 inches each, 2016