Inside The Studio
Between Stillness and Flight marks the beginning of a new body of work inspired by the whitetail herd that lives around our Arkansas home. The first painting, The General, grew from months of watching these animals closely and becoming fascinated not only by their beauty, but by their relationships, resilience, hierarchy and moments of kindness.
In this post, I share the making of The General, from the first loose marks through layers of color, veils, disappearing and re-emerging lines, and the eye that ultimately became the emotional center of the painting. It is also the beginning of an exploration I’ve wanted to make for some time: bringing recognizable subjects into my abstract language without losing the freedom, movement and imperfection that make the work feel alive.
What happens when a builder's idea, a mountain biking trail called Tunnel Vision, and a very large blank wall come together? This custom Bella Vista mural became a collaboration shaped by the trail, the surrounding landscape and the challenge of transforming an idea into something that could only belong in this place.
I always knew my surroundings inspired me. But it wasn't until I began working between two studios—one on Lake St. Clair and one in the Ozarks—that I realized just how much the places outside my studio walls were finding their way into my work.