Earth Pigment

Egg tempera with hand foraged wild pigment on paper,
2020 - Ongoing

These paintings are made from land itself. For the past two years I have been teaching myself to forage for and process minerals for paint. The practice originated from a desire to be in a healthier and deeper relationship with art-making and the planet. I started foraging in the hills of Southern California where I would gather clays, ochres and small bits of soft rocks (taking only small amounts), bring them home and grind them in a mortar in pestle. This interest branched into gathering plants, bark, nuts and seeds for natural dying, laking, ink-making and more.

Humans have been working with color from the land for thousands of years and I am new to this practice. I’m humbled and excited by the possibilities of this relationship I feel forming with material and landscape.

BotanicaL Dye

2020 - Ongoing

With the desire to regain closeness to process while maintaining earth friendly and non-toxic practices, it seems that many makers and artists are “re-discovering” the art of dyeing with plants. It’s an exciting time for botanical color! For me it’s been a sensual pleasure to begin exploring the ways that color interacts and bonds with fiber. For the past few years I’ve explored making dye baths with pomegranate rinds, foraged eucalyptus bark, avocado pits, home grown marigold flowers, onion skins, hibiscus tea, rose petals and more! Curiosity is my driver and experimentation is my mode of transportation. It’s been a really delightful and light-hearted part of my practice for the past few years, allowing me to loosen up, engage physically and discover a world of alchemical connections. Below is a selection of images from this playful exploration.