Artist Statement
As a hobby naturalist, I draw inspiration from what I can witness in gardens, prairies, and forests. My paintings and prints celebrate first-hand observations of the natural world and explore the link between curiosity, appreciation, and conservation of local ecosystems.
Things are living, thriving, feasting, fighting, dying, and decomposing. Even the most tranquil environment is overflowing with activity. However, many people only see an indistinct backdrop of greenery, a tendency known as plant awareness disparity. It takes something special to make us stop and have a closer look. A flash of color or a seemingly unnatural texture can suddenly grab our attention. We start to wonder. What is this, why is it growing like that, are there other things like this? Have I unknowingly walked past this before? Almost certainly, yes.
I invite the viewer to observe these botanical curiosities, consider what may be transpiring in nature near, and better connect with the organic world around us.