FIELD WORK
Each painting begins with immersive research, rooted in direct experience. A growing natural history library, extensive field photography, and time spent observing species in their native habitats form the foundation of the work. This practice ensures scientific accuracy while preserving the immediacy and authenticity of firsthand observation.
Since a 2006 artist residency at the California Academy of Sciences, collaboration with biologists has been integral to the work. Joining scientific expeditions worldwide—often alongside a husband who serves as curator of birds and mammals at the Academy—has provided firsthand encounters with biodiversity and its vulnerabilities. From studying birds-of-paradise in Papua New Guinea and swimming with penguins in the Galápagos, to tracking elephant shrews in Namibia and exploring ancient forests from New Zealand to Malaysia to the redwood coast of California, each journey has shaped both artistic vision and ecological awareness.
These expeditions have also brought direct witness to the accelerating impacts of human activity—deforestation, pollution, invasive species, and wildfires—while participating in field surveys documenting these transformations.
When direct observation is impossible—as in the deep-sea series—collaboration with scientists and photographers ensures accuracy. Research often extends to studying preserved specimens in museum collections and volunteering in taxidermy labs.
Each painting emerges as a translation of that research into visual reverence: a bridge between art and science, and an invitation to reconnect with the living world.
