Nature fascinates me. Through painting, I feel a deeper connection with the wonder, beauty, and perfection of the natural world. My paintings honor the elegance of nature’s forms with a degree of realism, placed in a more expressive context. Through observation and study, I seek the essence of my subject – what uniquely defines it. Then, I embellish with experience and feeling, to capture a mood, personality, or spirit. I work in soft pastel and mixed media, including charcoal, watercolor, ink, and oil paint. Using a mix of media allows me to explore different textures and layer color and pattern.