Color is light reflecting off a surface, penetrating clouds and atmosphere. My abstract paintings, filled with vibrant hues and illusory movement, capture the emotional imprint of spaces I pass through and are a call to pause, absorb and revel in the colors that fill our world. My most recent work is grounded in my love for the landscapes of Austin—its seasonal plant life, bodies of water and rocky trails. Lines are the tool I use to simplify the colors of the world, turning them into a new experience and a way to share my awe for nature. My lines mimic shimmering light on water, the shifting hues of clouds and the swaying of plants. They distill a moment to its most essential parts: color, shape, movement, feeling. I use masking tape to control each line's shape and flow, sketching out every mark before committing it to paint. Each line is also a meditation. The time-consuming act of masking off each shape brings me deeper into the emotional space I'm creating; forces me to slow down and connect to the memory I'm sharing. Some form large ribbons that shift in color, flowing across the surface, disappearing and reappearing in an illusionistic space. Other lines follow a clear path, mirroring the natural grain of the wood panels I currently paint on.

My fascination with patterns and flowing movement in nature led me to working on wood, which plays an integral role in my process. Colorful pigments stain the wood, drawing out and emphasizing the grain patterns and creating an atmospheric depth on the two-dimensional panel surface. The wood starts the painting for me, offering its own patterns in collaboration. I complete the work with gratitude for nature's guidance.