This gallery includes paintings depicting native, invasive, and cultivated species of plants found in the Hudson Valley. Additional botanical works can be found under The Black Rock Forest Residency, and As Above, So Below.
Click image to enlarge
Many invasive plants were intentionally brought here for their beauty, hardiness, and fertility. Without natural predators, they overpopulate and out-compete native species. This damages biodiversity, which is crucial to a healthy ecosystem. Because plants are where sunlight (energy) enters the food chain, invasive plants can adversely affect the entire ecosystem, from soil to top predators. Initially, my response is always visual. I find structural similarities between our bodies and those of plants compelling-- vascular, muscular, and reproductive. I am inspired by the form and color of these plants, and hope to engage viewers with the dissonance or harmony they embody.