SpecTerra Series

For the residency, I worked with the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest with themes of wisdom and time. These oldest trees in the world, bristlecone pines exceed 4000 years of age with spectacular twisted growth and meditative forms. My works capture the landscape in a collection of movement, reflection and acceptance of uncertainty.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and your artistic practice? What steps did you take to become the artist you are today?

I create artwork addressing environmental themes, exploring composition and capturing scientific based arrangements centered around social conditions and climate awareness. Graduating with degrees in painting and drawing, my work reflects culture, time and engagement with place and the collective appreciation for Contemporary Fine Art. Climate-focused visual art constructions and installations are the foundation for my work providing socially informative dialogue with developed art techniques to generate impact driven environmental awareness. Through comprehensive work in multi-medium with a design focus inspired by building inspiration and personal connections to geography, landscapes and climate-related themes I explore social connections resonating with geographical information.

In your bio, you mentioned creating work "exploring environmental conditions and themes, balancing organic composition and capturing distinctive color in a uniquely developed style across several mediums." Can you tell us more about this approach?

The visual artwork I construct explores environmental conditions and climate themes embracing stewardship and an appreciation for contemporary representations of nature. My developed use of color is unexpected, resonating with visual vibration applied in layers providing a limitless attention to this distinctive recognizable artistic style of linear time. Artworks are planned and embedded with elements of discovery and tactile surface constructions presenting depth. The artworks are designed to tell a story through a complex collection of components that inhabit environments. Layered explorations of data are thoughtfully woven through social landscapes with rigid, measured mathematical constructions of linear space colliding with layered organic movements.

What motivated you to apply and participate in this online program? What were your initial goals and expectations?

I actively search for opportunities and programs with extended public outreach to not only advance the visuals in my work but also reach new audiences. Artists working with representations of environmental change, climate and relationships to nature and society are a good fit with my professional growth. Through sharing in global interaction and discussions about such important topics provides a platform for Expressive Culture while raising the bar for artwork production. Programs such as this visually inspire as well as contemplatively inform finalized by a strong cohesive exhibition.

Can you tell us more about the painting series you worked on during the program? What was the theme or focus?

I envisioned for this opportunity an extended creation of 2D works in my SpecTerra (Spectacular Terrain) series. This mixed-medium collection of 3 works created during the residency were influenced and embedded with encounters of the Bristlecone Pine Forest. Land, Air, Sky, Light and Species explore this ancient, important geographic location set with climate conditions, objects, color and feel. The series relates to environmental concerns and habitat protection set with data and time. 

Could you provide more details about the technical aspects of your work? What are the typical steps involved when creating a painting?

My work presents the social landscapes with rigid, measured mathematical constructions of time and space colliding with layered organic movement. A highly developed color theory is utilized to capture the massive visual impact in my work, building color and applying progressive paint techniques with paint additives that propel the beauty of the surface. Powerful composition is used in defining natural space reflective of landscapes and places. I explore this approach with organic shapes, placement and the movement of light. For me, environmentally influenced fine artwork creates moments of interactive visual delight recording the past, present and future while capturing the beauty of nature in a contemporary environmental framework.

Can you describe how you and your fellow artists inspired or learned from each other during the collaborative process?

Group organized conversations with artists organized by well curated topics create lasting impressions on each participant and the community. The program meetings and studio visits to see artwork in progress during group gatherings connected the experience of making the work while learning more about the process. This group experience where artwork is presented in progression is a valuable aspect of an artist's experience providing an intimate “look” into the practice and process of professional studio artists.

If you could give one piece of advice to future participants of this program, what would it be?

Be bold in exploring ideas.

Find more about the artist here.

See the immersive virtual exhibition here.

All images courtesy of Dodd Holsapple.

Cover Image:

Atmosphere Series / Event #8