Artist Statement
I consider myself an Artist /Naturalist. From a young age I have loved
exploring the outdoors. Whether it’s a hike in the mountains, a walk in the
woods, or my own back yard, I choose to focus my attention on the wonders and realties surrounding us in our natural environment. Seeing clearly is the first step to understanding. I look for visual signs; animal tracks, a nest, a den, an insect crawling, the play of light, a plant pushing up through the ground, a stream running: all are worthy of investigation. This is after all life and death. We are all a part of nature. We share a close connection with other living things, both flora and fauna. I find it fascinating how different combinations of the same elements create all the varieties of species in our world.
My work celebrates the natural world. In my drawings and paintings I start with a basic underdrawing, an armature on which to build my image. It is a meditative process, layers built on layers, a push and pull back and forth, intuitive decisions made until I strike the right balance to create a finished piece.
“birth, life and death
each took place”
on the underside of a leaf”
Tony Morrison
“Shall I not have intelligence with the earth?
Am I not partly leaves and vegetable mold myself”
Henry David Thoreau