ARTIST STATEMENT

Of the Earth

Inspired by maps and the natural world that surrounds me in the Pacific Northwest, I translate my experiences around place into deconstructed landscapes using a range of techniques and expressions -- intricate lines, guttural marks, bold colors and organic forms. 

Working on both canvas and paper, I use transparent layers of acrylic, graphite, charcoal, and pastels which I apply with both spontaneity and precision. The layers intersect and combine to reveal the stratification of my process without compromising the raw nature of each material. 

I use colors that flow, vibrate and bounce off one another. They act as a compass, helping the eye navigate through the layered terrain. In play with the swaths of color are more detailed marks. My marks capture movement, subtle shifts, and drastic divides. Throughout my work, lines and shapes are repeated and transformed, flowing across the expanse. Some of my marks are planned, but at times, my hands work faster than my mind with each mark informing the next, creating an organic and meditative flow. 

Altogether, these elements form a dynamic language that guides the narrative of each abstracted map, building a journey full of fluctuations, pauses, crossroads and moments of discovery.