My work stems from a longstanding relationship with my environment, and the many forms of life within it. My painting practice investigates patterns and colors in the natural world, fixating on specific plant life that holds personal significance and evokes memories. I draw inspiration from a variety of things that I collect, such as leaves, rocks, and flowers, as well as whole landscapes, and I use these objects as visual references for my oil paintings. I identify colors and forms within these references and exaggerate these features to construct imagined worlds of natural forms.
For my work, process is an important element. The progression of being in my environment, observing, photographing, collecting, researching, and then using these materials is essential. My painting process begins not when I mix colors and begin to paint, but when I first step into the natural world.