Sustained inquiry - 15 works
Revised Inquiry Statement
How can I visually capture the indispensable connection between humans and the natural world? Through this inquiry, I draw upon my own experiences with animals and nature, chronicling the role that these organisms play in my life, as well as supplementing my personal experience historical and scientific connections tor reveal the widespread and significant magnitude of the phenomenon.
Daphne
Acrylic and gold leaf on canvas
8x24"
In this piece I explored the aspect of the myth of Daphne and Apollo when Daphne, a young maiden, gains protection from the earth goddess Gaia, who turns her into a tree. In developing this painting, I considered how the Earth offers a verdant refuge humanity and all lifeforms that reside on the planet, an integral protector of life.
Black Phoebe
Ink Print (Two linoleum plates)
8x12
I carved two separate sheets of linoleum for this print. The subject of the print is a bird I see on a daily basis, bring a spark of joy and humor to backyards and school grounds, each time reminding me of my personal connection to the natural world, and its ability to uplift and bring us happiness in its innocent beauty.
Awaken
Acrylic on canvas
18x24
This piece investigates the profound effect the ocean, and water around the world, has on people. The semi-cubist style I chose for the figure evokes rigidness, a contrast to the curling, soft siphonophore, an animal representation of how the ocean can heal and soften individuals, holding them in their wonder of its strange and lovely creatures. Siphonophores are biolum
Curlew
Oil on canvas
16x20"
Birds are the ultimate representation of freedom, and often evoke the most wonder of the natural world. Placing a Curlew, an endangered species, in this composition, I aimed to address the impermanence of threatened species and their value and possible harmony with us. The girl and the bird both have eyes on the future.
Curlew (process)
Graphite and digital
4x5" thumbnails
The majority of the work for the Curlew oil painting occurred before I got the canvas, first doing a range of practical thumbnails to flesh out basic placement and proportions. Then I did a digital sketch to block out areas of color and develop an overall tone for the piece, so that there was no guessing during the actual oil paint process.
Garden Woman
Pastel on paper
16x20"
This piece shows my godmother in her verdant backyard garden. She inspired my love of gardening and plants, especially succulents, drought tolerant plants that are excellent for our dry California climate. Gardening is a deeply connective activity, burying your hands in the dirt and green life of the Earth, and by including it in my portfolio I include that aspect
Sea of Knowledge
Mixed media, including acrylic, watercolor, ink, and found images
10x14
This piece captures the inherent connection between the land, sky, and sea, as components of our terrestrial world feature in that of the whale and her calf.
Beach Wrack (Process)
Graphite
8x12"
This spread includes ideas and sketches for Beach Wrack. I explore the history of human interaction with tidepools and the coast as a place for reflection, satiation, and respite. The page includes some quotes that inspired me while developing the work.
Beach Wrack
Oil on canvas
18x24"
This piece captures a Victorian lady looking under a pile of seaweed on the beach and finding a population of sand hoppers. Victorian England was the first time that people of the Western World developed an obsession with the seaside in an introspective sense rather than simply as a resource to draw from for food and fertilizer.
Flockatoos
Watercolor and colored pencil
16x18"
Cockatoos hold a special place in my heart, and through the use of bright, expressive mediums I aimed to capture their unapologetic vibrancy and zest for life, as they are a common sight in most of the cities in New South Wales, a testament to how humans and wildlife can live together.
Cniderian Feeling
Acrylic on canvas
12x12"
In this painting, my main focus was to visually represent and exaggerate how it physically feels to touch and experience an anemone, demonstrated by the highlights and jelly-esque texture. These are highly accessible, beautiful creatures, commonly found in tidepools across the world, and for me, an insight into how alien and striking organisms can be.
Manta Ray (almost done)
Watercolor/Gouache
This piece captures a memory of mine when I got to swim with manta rays, a moment when I felt closest to nature. I felt that watercolor would be the best medium to capture this underwater, fluid, dreamlike experience.
Honeyeater Study
Consolidated three studies of a blue-faced honeyeater into one page.
Black Phoebe Process
Exactly what it sounds like--consolidated images of the linocut process for the print to show my experimentation and ideation throughout making it.
Manta Process
Another page of studies and planning, this time for one of my favorite pieces, Manta.
5 Selected Works
I selected the above 5 works due to their technical superiority in painting/drawing skill and the finality of the piece. For the descriptions and dimensions, see above, as they are all repeats.