Natural Connections

When considering why elements of nature continue to appear in my figurative paintings, I am reminded of my deep fascination with the visible miracles in our natural world. The veins in a leaf, the spiral pattern in pedals, the defense mechanism seen (or felt!) in thorns are signs of design that constantly ignite curiosity and wonder. My interest stems from pervasive childhood memories and relationships with my mother, aunt and grandmother who were knowledgeable and passionate gardeners. In addition to years of shared information, they taught me to look closely at our natural surroundings. They taught me to care and to notice.

There is a certain element of control in gardening and I became equally interested in wild growth, especially when nature takes over something man-made. This theme was the basis of my portfolio when applying to graduate school at UA Little Rock years ago. There I became enamored with the figure as an attempt to create paintings that reflect shared human experiences.

This group includes work that reflects the combination of my two greatest interests in art: nature and the human figure. Occasionally, botanical elements combine with the human face but more often natural growth is part of the surrounding space, interrupting or filling parts of the body. Patterns from nature contrast - as well as relate - to the body. Despite our human tendency to see ourselves as separate, we are are part of the natural world. We are one with nature.