Western North Carolina is known for its postcard scenery, boasting colorful flora and dramatic sunsets; Endless ridge lines that command a full palette. But it’s the naked knolls—brash with tangled grass and wind-twisted shrubs, blanketed by fog so dense you can only see 20ft ahead—that draw me in.
Tiny briars cloaked by charming blooms. The tops of evergreens teasing an elusive path in the distance. The deafening silence … until a break in the clouds invites wind indistinguishable from white noise. Feelings of uncertainty seduced by tranquility.
Marks made in angst that, together, draft a vision of calm…
Much like finding one’s way through the fog, this process behind this body of work has helped me navigate the inarticulate. Acknowledging suppressed emotions and the unclear path through them. Incredibly uncomfortable, yet peaceful.
In contrast to my past work heavily rooted in realism, I’ve allowed myself more room to play. Challenging perfectionism through loose, gestural marks made with a slightly unpredictable medium that in harmony with the wood grain, begin to lead the way. Throughout this process, my eyes would unintentionally lose focus and find rest, the composition in front of me momentarily blurred despite my hand still in motion. Some of my favorite details from this series are products of those meditative moments — a true flow state, a silent reverie.
Inspired by seemingly mundane views along beloved trails, these pieces are mental landscapes of my cathartic return to self and the restoration of abandoned dreams. Marks made in angst that, together, draft a vision of calm. A reminder that some of life’s most beautiful discoveries are made through moments of discomfort and difficulty. A reminder to embrace the unknown.
For the first time in years, I’ve created work that feels true to myself. My hope is that it resonates with viewers in ways that are unique to them and their own journey.
My Process
A lifelong fan of charcoal and chalk pastels, I’ve recently begun using them in a different way. Accuracy was always my approach in portraiture and figure drawing. Combine that with more than a decade of architectural drawing and rendering and the strive for precision becomes second nature. But now, rather than focusing so much on the end result, I’m learning to lean into the process itself by surrendering some of that control to the medium and the substrate.
After taping off desired margins, each piece receives several fine layers of ground chalk pastel applied with a mop brush and blended by a combination of hand, felt cloth, and wash brush. Settling into the wood grain like a stain, this rich gradient grounds the composition, loosely blocked in with another layer of PanPastels. Slowly granting the medium more and more control, a series of intuitive, gestural marks made with homemade vine and compressed charcoal dance their way in, lightly blended each layer to produce a soft, velvet haze reminiscent of the mountain fog that steadies my breath and quiets my mind.
Twelve Framed Originals
Charcoal and chalk pastel on natural birch wood panels. Ready to hang in wood veneer frames, bringing a moment of serenity to your space.
New Sizes + Options Coming Soon
ARCHIVAL FINE ART PRINTS
Perfect for a customized look and size that best fits your space