Artist's Statement
The phrase 'small encounters' collectively describes my artistic interest which gravitates towards portraying nature’s diminutive details. My portfolio of drawings and photographs reflects this as it is predominantly comprised of depictions of subject matter which are small in stature and need safe guarding. Subjects such as Mid-Atlantic ephemerals, insects that visit or pollinate flowers and butterfly life cycles prevail throughout much of my artwork.
My combined education of a BFA Summa Cum Laude degree from the Maryland Institute, College of Art (MICA) and a BLA Cum Laude degree from the University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP) provides me with the background to pursue these subjects. I learned visual and self expression during my early art instruction and years later was exposed to a fact finding scientific approach toward analyzing the natural world in my plant study classes. Combining the two approaches has allowed me to immerse myself into researching nature and in turn express the findings into a visual format.
At the forefront of my thoughts during implementation of my art is conservation. One reason I depict flora and insect subjects in my artwork is because many insects and native flowers are disappearing due to disease, pesticides and habitat loss. I focus on my small, frequently hidden nature subjects believing that art can be utilized as an educational channel and compel a change in people’s understanding and attitudes towards them.
