It Started In Tettegouche.

Artist Statement

It Started In Tettegouche began in Tettegouche State Park in Northern Minnesota. I am drawn to the intimate details that nature offers—the texture and linear qualities of pine needles, the movement and fluidity of waves crashing against a jagged shoreline, and the sound of branches crunching beneath my feet. These sensory experiences form the foundation of my work and guide my visual language.

In addition to natural elements such as water, trees, flowers, and rocks, my practice is deeply influenced by the materiality of the media I use. Acrylic paint, charcoal and charcoal powder, oil and chalk pastels, crayons, Sharpie markers, and watercolor each bring distinct physical properties to a piece. I am interested in how these materials interact, resist, and respond to one another. Through this interaction, moments emerge—expressed through line quality, fluidity, layering, and mark making—that shape the final composition.

Each work in this series begins with a watercolor painting created on a plastic printmaking plate. The image is then transferred onto paper by running the plate through a printmaking press, resulting in a monotype. These prints often contain their own sense of depth and intrigue; when pushed further, I layer additional materials onto the surface to complete the piece. The resulting works are abstract, process-based compositions that reflect both my experience in Tettegouche State Park and an ongoing exploration of material, movement, and transformation.