FIELD WORK
My paintings feel most authentic when grounded in direct experience. Research is always my first step. I maintain a growing natural history library, draw from my field photography, and spend time observing animals in their native habitats whenever possible.
Since my 2006 artist residency at the California Academy of Sciences, I’ve collaborated with biologists whose dedication continues to inspire me. I’ve joined scientific expeditions worldwide—traveling alongside my husband, curator of birds and mammals at the Academy—to study birds-of-paradise in Papua New Guinea, swim with penguins in the Galápagos, track elephant shrews in Namibia, and explore ancient forests from New Zealand to Malaysia to the redwood coast where I now live.
These journeys have deepened my understanding of biodiversity and the impacts of human activity on fragile ecosystems. I’ve witnessed deforestation, pollution, invasive species, and wildfires, and participated in field surveys documenting these changes.
When I can’t access a species directly—such as in my deep-sea series—I work with scientists and photographers to ensure accuracy, study preserved specimens in museum collections, and volunteer in taxidermy labs.
Each painting becomes a translation of this research into reverence—a bridge between art and science, and an invitation to reconnect with the living world.
