I am drawn to the arts as a means of expressing and sharing an emotional connection to our planet's natural places. Through backpacking, climbing, canyoneering, and scuba diving, I discover the inspiration for my works by first hand experience. From photographic references, sketches, reading, and reflective journal writing, I build the expressive compositions in the quiet of my studio. I work in primarily water based mediums such as acrylics, watercolors, pastels, and charcoal on canvas or paper. It is important for me to minimize the use of any toxic materials. My works are composed of many thin layers of paint. I rely heavily on contouring and shading techniques to bring depth to my works. I use color relationships strategically to express emotion.