Artist’s statement:

Creating in some form has always been my response to life’s challenges. An important aspect of creating for me is quietness. Contemplation of nature, found objects, or my own inner spaces stills my mind. In this quietness, I find inspiration and joy for both my art and my life that is also full of music, dance, laughter, and friends.

Much of my inspiration comes from the desert. The four acres I have settled on offer me an amazing opportunity to experience theatrical plant and animal life. The first years I camped and lived in my truck with respite at friends. During that time, with the help of others for structural and technical aspects, I experimented with small straw bale and cob structures. I made earth plasters, finishes, and paints with natural clays, pigments, and binders. The textures and possibilities with these materials excited me. In 2000 I was diagnosed with Valley Fever and have had an amazing journey of slowing down to heal that continues still. Painting and quietness were the major components of my healing process.

Before I paint, I still my mind by sitting or walking quietly. The preparation of the space is important to me. The music I play is without words and is peaceful or mood provoking. I frequently have my painting surfaces in my space for days or weeks to become familiar with them. Rarely using any photos or looking at anything, I start to paint directly from my imagination. I am often surprised by what emerges but may sense a memory of what a place felt like or sometimes what some interaction stirred up in me. Other times I have no cognizant awareness. Some paintings are done quickly while others take a long time to resolve. Then I look at the painting or sit quietly with it for hours until there is a moment I sense I am finished with it at all levels.

My main medium has been oil paints for the last nine years using acrylics, watercolor, and epoxies before that. Due to my extended illness, I had to explore less toxic supplies. After I had been making natural plasters and clay paints on my experimental straw bale buildings and many varied surfaces without any adverse health reactions, it seemed natural to carry this over to my artwork. I expanded my materials to include some professionally manufactured clay paints, natural pigments, and natural oil and resin finishes painting on both wood and metal surfaces. This was a slow process because I could not find much information for techniques related to artwork or find other artists using these products. I am excited about continuing to learn about less toxic options for artists and what this new medium can offer. My main source to date has been ‘Bioshield’ in Santa Fe (see link) and Originate in Tucson (see link)