A collection of encaustic abstractions on river-rock forms—intimate pieces carried from the earth, to my pockets, to my imagination, to this exhibit.
What I Pick Up Along the Way is a collection of encaustic abstractions painted on hand-cut panels shaped like river rocks. The forms come from a lifelong habit of noticing what’s underfoot—stones gathered on walks, tucked into pockets, carried home without a plan. These pieces trace that same movement: from the earth, through my hands, into the studio.
Each panel begins as a raw surface that I cut by hand, then sand repeatedly until the edges feel worn and softened, like something shaped slowly by water rather than tools. That physical process is deliberate and meditative. Cutting, sanding, and handling each form creates an intimacy with the object before paint is ever introduced. By the time I begin painting, the panel already carries a sense of history and touch.
Encaustic allows me to work in layers—building, fusing, obscuring, and revealing. The colors and marks remain abstract, but they reference land, sky, sediment, and memory without trying to describe any one place. Each piece becomes a small, self-contained landscape—something held rather than framed, encountered rather than explained.
None of these works were shown before this exhibition. They were made quietly, collected over time, and kept close. Together, they reflect a practice rooted in slowing down, paying attention, and honoring the small, overlooked moments and materials that shape how we move through the world.
