Artist Statement
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Artist statement
Nature and mythology inspire the creation of my quasi-narrative artworks. Research into the cultural reverence and symbolism of flora and fauna fuel my creative process. Animals, bugs, and plants are often anthropomorphized and abstracted as characters in autobiographically based works. Symbiotic relationships of living things and their ever-changing environments are also explored through commentary on their conservation status. Ecopsychology, the psychological benefit gained by the healing powers of being in nature, is the intended lesson. An overall sense of calm and quietude embodies each work and is inviting the viewer to experience oneness with nature.
Process Statement
My process starts with my incessant need to be in nature and belief in Ecopsychology. I am constantly exploring new land in search for treasures like arrowheads, twisted and eroded driftwood, abandoned nests, bone remnants, and many more. A big part of my artistic process is collecting these found objects and translating that inspiration in some way in my work.
I start most of my sculptures with clay thrown on a pottery wheel. Ceramics has long been a foundation for my mixed-media sculptures. A variety of additions of hand-built clay forms are sculpted, added, textured, carved, and colored with an array of glazes. Pieces are finished with other elements combined together such as cast bronze metal, collected driftwood, or minerals.