In Cascades, I merge photography, painting, and assemblage to explore and reimagine the Cascade Head Preserve on the Oregon Coast. My process is both cyclical and immersive, blending time in the field with work in the studio.

I begin by spending time in the landscape — walking the trails, observing plants, gathering natural materials, and taking photographs. In the studio, I use these elements to build temporary, altar-like arrangements that combine printed photos, natural objects, and acrylic paint. I light and photograph these constructions in ways that distort depth and dimension, making them feel both real and surreal. These photographs may then be painted on or incorporated into new installations, continuing the cycle.

This recursive process allows me to layer perspectives and materials, creating vibrant, multi-dimensional images that challenge perception — what’s a photo, what’s real, what’s painted? That ambiguity is intentional. It mirrors the layered, dynamic complexity of the natural world and invites viewers to slow down and look more closely.

Inspired by nature’s own rhythms and interconnections, each piece in Cascades grows from the one before. Photography leads to assemblage, which leads to painting, which circles back to photography. Throughout, the heart of the work remains the same: a deep, sensory engagement with place.