This new series of paintings reflect a changing perspective I have gained toward the natural world; smaller, closer, more intimate. These pieces indicate how I physically approach the work, including the tools, energy, and time I have used – reinforcing the focus on reducing size while maximizing energy.
These paintings attempt to connect the viewer in a new way. Instead of moving back to look at larger paintings, one must come in for a closer look. My larger paintings capture the immense quality of a memory, color, or dreams, but working with a smaller canvas allows me to change perspective or expectation of the outcome. The self-challenge of trying to see through a new lens (while still carrying essential ideas about paintings), is meant to challenge the viewer in a similar way, with the intention of directing attention to the micro and the macro at the same time. I’m asking us all to slow down and see the big picture through the small image.
Gardens and flowers are metaphors for the fragility of existence and its vulnerability. The magic of growing plants is something that I love to observe. From growth to the final faded flower, I see something beyond ourselves that feels spiritual - or at least different than the mundane. These paintings connect the exact living moment with the consciousness of being here to live it. I want to approach nature as a healing force where we are making connections to ourselves while we practice letting go of thinking.
This collection continues my exploration with what makes the pieces come alive by using color combinations and the physicality of paint. They are simply a reflection of the continuous journey I am taking, using paint as my compass.