Botanical Study · Delphinium #7 Painting

The works in Botanical Studies are comprised of flowers and other flora rendered in monochromatic silhouette. With these quick, gestural studies I capture the essence of my subject in its natural environment. This body of work aims to reveal the bold power of life in its physical form. While these studies have been ongoing for years, my connection to nature has deepened since I moved my home and studio from Brooklyn to rural upstate New York. Most mornings I paint in a flower garden when the sun still allows the plant to open. This spring and summer ritual allows me to connect with the earth and celebrate the plant. I typically observe and paint the flower from a vantage point that mimics its natural height, making our presence equivalent and allowing me to properly acknowledge its singularity and dignity. Working horizontally and on the ground, I use a rigorous and bold brushstroke to translate the shape of each flower. To some, the directness of my mark and absence of color may seem violent and contradictory when imagining the delicacy of flower petals. Yet this intentional gesture is meant to honor the force within the plant—a flower that braves the elements and human pollution each day.