Statement

The bird and insect paintings provide a glimpse into the natural world, using birds as a metaphor for the cycle of life and death and the progress of the soul. By portraying imaginary birds, often in a stylized theatrical format, I explore the profound, dark, and unknowable dramas unfolding in nature, just out of our sight.

The "imaginary opera" paintings portray the sacred connections between people and the natural world. The paintings are dramatic scenes that capture moments of transformation and metamorphosis.

I work exclusively in gouache on paper, a medium that allows me to create a multi-layered, dense and matte finish. With multiple thin layers of paint I am able to create a depth and richness of color as well as a sense of history. I work on 300# Arches Cold Press paper. The theater pieces are 7-10 layers of paper, assembled to create a substantial 3-dimensional work.