About the Artist

As painters would search for natural sources of colors and pigments to make their paints, I gather and press botanicals as the essential first step in my creative process.  The act of choosing and gathering items to press is multisensory; a finished piece can enable a viewer to imagine the sweet fragrance I smelled or feel the velvety texture of the petal when picked.  Memories and feelings evoked as I gather become integral parts of my collages, captured within their designs.
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I experience nature as both ephemeral and enduring.  I seek to embody these characteristics in my work.  When pressed, some flowers may have less vibrancy; yet their shapes and textures remain identifiable and evocative of the living form with which we are familiar.  The rose bud that exists as one image on the bush takes on another personality when utilized in my artwork. I feel a sense of calm and serenity when working on a collage that is thriving and coming alive in its own rights.  I am in my very private, meditative state of creativity in these moments, guided by a deeper sense of purpose and focus.  The resiliency of nature is always forefront in my mind, as using botanical materials is a constant reminder of the reliability and strength that each season brings us.

A messy studio is a happy studio!!