Louisiana Wetlands #1, edition 1/7 - Limited Edition of 7 Photograph

Being from New Orleans, having lived in New York City, and now living in Los Angeles, the natural environs of each place have been the subject matter for my art. Now, more than ever, we need to honor and protect Nature. Wetlands and swamp trees in Louisiana, urban trees and the ocean in Los Angeles inform most of my current work, calling attention to and celebrating the mystery, the resiliency and the life and solace giving spirit of Nature. As a painter who loves photography, taking photographs started out as a way for me to create landscape and seascape reference materials for my paintings. Faced with ever increasing time constraints, I became attracted to the immediacy of Polaroid. I soon realized that the images and effects that I was able to generate using outdated film and my own personal technique were perfectly matched to my vision. The initial Polaroid image becomes a starting point for the final piece, and undergoes a digital alteration process. Once the resulting pigment print has been made, I am often compelled to leave my tangible handmade mark by drawing and painting on the photographic prints, allowing me to veer into fresh territory of hybrid creations.