What I've learned from years of hiking and painting is that the outside in the foothills is that it awakens the wilderness within us. That untamed part of our creativity, our authentic emotions, our connection to something bigger than ourselves needs regular contact with nature.

“Over the Barren Ground” is more than a figure—it's a metaphor for exhausted farmland. A visual reminder that nature is wearing down, quietly, beneath us.  Living near the fields, I’ve seen the balance shift—fewer birds, vanishing bees, dry soil. This painting is that story in paint.

"Traditional plein air painting celebrates nature's beauty, but what happens when that beauty is under threat? Over years of regular observation, you develop instinctive awareness of environmental rhythms. This intimate knowledge becomes the foundation for authentic environmental art that captures both beauty and loss. With that thought you change how you paint, to reflect the emotional experience.