I begin my work as an explorer and a collector. I make archives of found objects, photos, and drawings that provide a point of departure for paintings produced through experimentation, process, and chance operations. The archives are a record of explorations from wilderness areas around the American West where I am from.

Returning to these sites regularly is a necessary action that offers an important contrast to the urban environment. It is a reminder of the value of these protected spaces, both as sites of contemplation, and as intricate and intrinsic pieces of the larger system we all inhabit. This current body of work takes as point of departure an archive made from two river expeditions made in 2016, a 19-day river expedition through Grand Canyon National Park, and an 8-day river expedition through Canyonlands National Park.

I’m interested in themes of transition, evolution and flux described through processes of accumulation and erosion. My process involves multiple transfer layers over a textural surface. The layering of material is a way to think about both the literal, physical layering of matter in landscape, and the layering of information that mediates our perceptions of both urban and natural environments. There is a significant amount of chance involved with the transfer process. As a result, a system of rules specifically for the layering stages naturally developed. These rules are fluid and evolve as new materials, or different approaches to working are introduced into the process.