I have been working on a project of abstracted portraits of ecosystems, including mono-prints and drawings. Some embrace the overall feel of a location—depicting the Atlantic Ocean, a swamp, or a forest—while others are details of nature—a puddle, dirt, or mushroom spores. Though the images are intended to be beautiful, their meaning goes far beyond the desire to create something that is beautiful to look at. These portraits encourage viewers to question if and why they feel dissociation with nature, and how these feelings correlate with their connection to their environment and to other people. I think that by encouraging deeper investigation, connection, and appreciation towards nature, my art not only urges people to take better care of the environment, but also to be kinder, more empathetic and thoughtful beings.
