"It is from the close observation of the natural world around me that my work evolves.  I use natural objects as a visual resource for my work, as they have always been an integral part of my life. As a child I spent a great deal of time outside, exploring the woods in Colorado or my grandparent’s garden in Oklahoma. I have always been involved in the natural environment around me watching insects and animals or filling my pockets with seeds and rocks. These images and collected objects have been translated into the work I make and have become symbols for the many experiences and relationships I have had. They represent personal stories that allow people and events to become celebrated and sacred, instead of forgotten or unnoticed."