Nature is my muse. In my oil paintings, I explore the repetition and organic movement that draws me to nature- the elegant grain of birch, waves crashing in the Gulf, or erosion of land that exposes bedrock. I often paint on wood- selecting each piece for the beauty and movement, and then allow the grain to inspire my composition for the painting.

In this series, I use bronze, iron, and copper paints that react to patinas. I especially enjoy working on ash panels—the striking contrast between the bold, fluid grain of the wood and the rusting texture of the metal paint reminds me of the circle of life and the interconnectedness of growth and decay. One of my favorite parts of this process is applying different chemicals to create a patina, causing a beautiful color change in the metal through chemical reactions. I can anticipate what will happen, but I am never guaranteed an exact outcome- and to me, that is part of the beauty of this process.