Our innate connection to the natural world is embedded deep within us and holds a well spring of wisdom that surfaces when we slow down and tune in to our surroundings. Being in and with nature cultivates this sense of oneness and inner knowing. As an artist, I tap into this connection to create work that is an intermingled reflection of landscapes within and without. 

For each project I thoughtfully forage plants to create botanical palettes that imbue both formal beauty and conceptual depth. These situated palettes communicate the essence of a particular time and place in our lives and surroundings. My process respectfully engages the local flora and the gifts it is willing to give – whether in color or in knowledge. This bond makes space for a creative curiosity and playful partnership with plants. Mysteries unlocked; new wisdom received.

In addition to plant based dyes, inks and paints, I also incorporate sustainable or rescued textiles in my work. With over fifteen years of experience as a clothing designer, I have a love affair with fiber and the many textures it creates. I am particularly drawn to the warmth and intimacy that fabric made from natural materials seems to radiate.

As a counterpoint to the organic, I often employ the use of grids, negative space and strong compositional elements to create tension, facilitate ideas and enhance visual interest. This aspect of my work is heavily influenced by my education and professional experience as a graphic designer (BA in Graphic Design from North Carolina State University, 1995; Masters in Communication Planning and Information Design from Carnegie Mellon University, 2002). 

While botanical colors, natural fiber and bold compositional elements are the current physical features of my work, I remain open to a variety of other materials and processes for their potential to convey or create an idea. Whether paper collage, or traditional canvases with 3D relief elements, each piece is born from either a concept that nudges its way into consciousness, or from formal experimentations that give rise to an idea buried deep within the material and me. 

Transitional spaces in the physical environment and in our lived experience capture my interest and invite exploration in my work. These are often places where opposing realities coalesce to create something new. From the natural to the artificial, the spiritual to the material, the intuitive to the intellectual, the personal to the communal – I mine the intersections of these dualities to discover new insights that are given expression in my work.