Natural Pigments
My work is an exploration of bioregionalism, the practice of familiarizing oneself with the natural elements of a region to have a deeper appreciation for and understanding of its geographical and biological diversity, as well as the history of its human stewardship. By having an awareness of the way plant life, animal life, climate, and other components of our bioregion function, we can begin to investigate the ways in which humans interact on a social, political, economic, and spiritual level. Because each bioregion on Earth is unique and has its own needs, organizing ourselves based on the criteria needed to sustain life enables the transcendence of economic and political borders. To know what is best for the land is to know what is best for its people.
"Night on Earth" 12 x 12” Copper Oxide, Yellow Ochre, Black Walnut Ink, Mica, Coal, and Charcoal on Canvas
The current focus of my own familiarization is the geology of Maryland, specifically common rocks such as mica schist, ochres, serpentines, and coal. I process these into pigments which I use in the process of paint-making. Likewise, materials such as rust, copper oxide, charcoal, and varieties of plant matter are processed into ink. My foraged/homemade materials, along with pressed plantlife from my bioregion, are used in paintings that reflect an intimate experience with my surroundings. My color choice and imagery are chosen by and are dependent on my environment. Although there is still so much to learn about the bioregion I currently inhabit, I believe traveling to bioregions different than my own could only strengthen my understanding of the ways we are all interconnected – the ways we all need each other.
