Spring Ephemerals Study #1

From the Artist: The pandemic caused immediate chaos and disruption to almost every aspect of our lives. The fear & uncertainty came first. Then heartbreaking sadness & loss on so many levels with no end in sight arrived next. It was nature's ever changing beauty that gave me my first glimmer of hope last spring. When it arrived, the local walking trails and hikes became our outdoor playground and refuge where everything seemed ‘okay’ even if just for a little while. My series of floral ‘remixes’ was done in the spring of last year shortly after lockdown. Thankfully, we were able to break up the monotony of each new day with long walks exploring the wooded trails around us. A whole new world appeared underfoot. I began to notice the tiniest of flowers (forget-me-nots at first) and even some weeds that impersonated them (Jimson Weed). Flowers and plants that most people would walk right past without noticing, they would become my studies. I’d identify them, note their names & meanings (there is a whole language of flowers). I would then collect samples, arranging & photographing them in my little home studio. A month or so later while teaching myself photoshop, I began to digitally ‘remix’ them, layering them & making various patterns. That turned into experimenting with projecting and reflecting the images outdoors respectively. My art continues to evolve and I am hopeful for what is to come next. This series are giclee prints on cold press paper, projections & reflections.