I’m currently in beautiful Utah, surrounded by majestic red rocks. Zion National Park is near by, with its spectacular colors. Whether hiking to find rocks, or pulling over to gather a handful of soil from a parking lot, the rock hound in me feels like a kid in a candy store. From a deep russet to a pale blush, this area offers a vast array of colors within the red range.

I’m looking forward to returning to the studio to grind these treasures into natural earth pigments that I can turn into lovely art supplies, or spontaneously fold into my paint and plaster. It’s a slow, but rewarding, process grinding them, with a mortar and pestle creating a fine silt. From there, I will mix them with various binders, to create oil paint, watercolor, and soft pastels.

I love the idea that my artwork is infused with the energy/beauty of nature. Including the elements, in my work, I hope it acts as an homage to earths goodness. I feel a powerful connection to nature’s energy, as I create with these materials, and I believe this connection adds a layer of gratitude to my finished work and also to the environment where my artwork is ultimately displayed. Good vibes abound, as I paint, and I hope that you can feel that as you look at my artwork.

I wanted to share some beautiful details from one of the cloud paintings. Focusing on the details, some unique abstract compositions emerge. I find I like some of these abstract compositions as much as I like the painting as a whole. The textures are so compelling, when enlarged. This painting has already found a permanent home, but I may make prints of some of these detail photos.

I’ve always found it inspiring to discover a muse, and dive deep. I often find inspiration by the shore. My plan was to do a series of work inspired by the dunes, near the beach, but with Covid19, much of the access to the beach was closed, and it felt safest to stay away from the few crowded beaches that were open. So, instead I looked up, to the beautiful cloud formations above. I love that clouds have always offered me a was to stay connected to nature, even when my access to nature was limited. I recently decided that clouds might be my spirit animal - and although they are not technically an animal, I feel a deep connection to them.

I have never felt any desire to search for dog, dragons, or anything else, in their formations, instead, I am content to just take in their graceful movements, energy, symbolism, and ethereal qualities. They represent natures power and beauty at its finest.

So, I began exploring, sometimes realistically, but often just allowing the abstract forms, to represent emotions that these puffy masses invoke in me. I found the process to be soothing, and energizing, all at the same time.

I’ve created a bunch of tiny studies, on paper, and a number of larger works on my favorite plaster surfaces. With each cloud I painted, I became more enamored with the process. This process is ongoing, but I look forward to sharing this collection with you in the near future. Release date coming soon.