A call to honor the resilience woven through the unseen systems of the natural world.
As a child growing up in the suburbs, I found solace in the local forest—a place both intimidating and comforting in its steadfast authenticity. The towering trees whispered acceptance, and the forest floor beckoned me to dig, hunt for critters, and unearth small treasures. That same sense of curiosity and discovery now fuels my painting process.
Today, I wander within a fictional forest of oil paint and cold wax, building up multiple layers that mimic the complexity of mycelial networks beneath our feet. This dynamic medium invites me to be physically involved—after I apply the medium, I scrape, press, drip solvents, and dig into the surface, much like I once did in the soil. I use unconventional tools to reveal unexpected textures while embracing the surprises that emerge. My intuitive approach is somewhat different, in that I discover my feelings and thoughts throughout the painting process, not before I begin.
At its core, my work is an exploration of interconnectedness—how the forest communicates, supports, and transforms signals in concealed ways. Mycelium, with its vast delicate underground web, reveals the resilience of nature, and the liminal space between what is observed and what remains hidden. The network represents the concealed threads that bring life together emotionally, ecologically and spiritually.
Surrealism is one approach I use to emphasize my messages, along with my use of color. The colors are chosen to either create a sense of calmness and harmony or to show contrasts. For the latter, I use complementary colors and for the former I use analogous colors. Notice that muddy colors are not evident in any of the paintings.
Through these paintings, I want to spark a sense of wonder, curiosity, and reverence for the intricate, invisible networks that sustain life. Just as the forest once called me to explore, I invite viewers beyond the surface to look closer, to honor the wisdom woven into nature’s unseen systems, and to find their own place within this vast, interdependent web.
