D
D
Artist Statement
My paintings begin on the trail ... hiking through the Texas Hill Country, West Texas, national parks, mountain towns, and other places that leave a lasting impression on me. I think of them as visual journals or postcards from these experiences: moments of color, light, and connection that I want to hold onto and share.
My love of art and nature began early in life. My grandmother, an artist herself, encouraged creativity in my sisters and me from a young age. She spent hours poring over art books with us, teaching us about artists and techniques, and taking us out to sketch.
As a child, I spent summers with my family visiting relatives in remote Pine Cove near Idyllwild, where our days were filled with mountain hikes and early morning sketching sessions. Those experiences sparked a lifelong passion for both art and the outdoors.
Even now, my process usually begins with a hike and a camera roll full of reference photos. I’ve heard the term “land snorkeling,” and it feels exactly right.
Back in the studio, I translate those images into expressive landscapes. Each painting becomes a way of revisiting a place and sharing the sense of wonder I felt while experiencing it.