Snowdrop, created at The Vermont Flower Show as an artist in the garden
I am an artist of multiple styles and mediums, however, at the core, all of my work is inspired by nature and things that are organic. When I paint, I primarily work in acrylics, but I have also been known to explore oil bar, oils, and watercolors. I allow myself to be inspired by the colors in the world around me, paint color directly relates to the emotions I am feeling in the moment. I often choose my pallet by intuition and allow myself to paint freely, guided only by how the paint feels as I move my brush, or as I manipulate the medium with my hands. I paint this way, without a set plan to start, because otherwise I get too caught up in what I think the painting should be instead of what it wants to become. With paint, it is not just about the product but also the process. Painting becomes much more of a spiritual experience when I create and allow myself to fall into the process.
On the other hand, when I draw in graphite, pen, ink, and/or colored pencil, I usually aim for a realistic representation of my subject. The various mediums that I use while drawing feel more controlled than my exploration with paint. The nature of manipulating dry media evokes pieces that are more structured. When drawing, I start with a pencil contour sketch. As I start to fill in the outline with either shading or color the image starts to come to life on the page. As I build in value and form, it feels as though each subject could lift itself from the surface and interact with the viewer.
Mark Rothko and Andy Goldsworthy have heavily influenced my work. Mark Rothko for his use of color and the way he wanted to inspire emotion in the viewer using only color. Andy Goldsworthy for his process, and the way his pieces are made from nature makes them take on a life cycle of their own. These are the key ideas that I seek to emulate in my own work.
On the other hand, when I draw in graphite, pen, ink, and/or colored pencil, I usually aim for a realistic representation of my subject. The various mediums that I use while drawing feel more controlled than my exploration with paint. The nature of manipulating dry media evokes pieces that are more structured. When drawing, I start with a pencil contour sketch. As I start to fill in the outline with either shading or color the image starts to come to life on the page. As I build in value and form, it feels as though each subject could lift itself from the surface and interact with the viewer.
Mark Rothko and Andy Goldsworthy have heavily influenced my work. Mark Rothko for his use of color and the way he wanted to inspire emotion in the viewer using only color. Andy Goldsworthy for his process, and the way his pieces are made from nature makes them take on a life cycle of their own. These are the key ideas that I seek to emulate in my own work.