Nature is my inspiration. Rather than recording a realistic version of the world I prefer to work abstractly. My work is intuitive, using emotions, images, and storytelling. A painting is considered successful when it immerses the viewer in its stories. I began painting as an abstract oil painter. Over the years I discovered my true love is collage. The assembly of diverse images and text as I being a painting suits my personality and allows me to bring memories and history into my work. Collage creates the background, water-based paint adds the next layer of history. Next random lines or scratches with pencil or ink allow me to connect with the surface. After

finalizing the background, I select an image that effectively conveys the intended narrative. Last step is encaustic to add further depth and tie the painting together. I am a collector of vintage ephemera. Old family photos, newspapers…