Butterflies and Moths

Artist Statement

The wildlife of the boreal biome and its surrounding ecotones has always fascinated me. Whether dreaming of creatures that live afar or seeing them firsthand within my home state of Minnesota, I can’t help but feel drawn to their unique combination of hardiness and quiet beauty.

In Boreal Scenes, I translate this fascination into graphite drawings and mixed media pieces that depict these creatures in imagined settings. I use the soft, shadowy texture of graphite to accentuate their ethereal qualities, and pastels, colored pencils, and textiles to bring their vivid colors and textures to life. Through the use of dreamlike imagery, I explore not only their physical forms but also the emotions, memories, and meanings they inspire in me.

As a whole, the series portrays an alternate boreal reality where nature and imagination intertwine. The resulting imagery invites viewers to reflect on the natural world and what it might stir within themselves.