The greatest influence in my life was the farm I grew up on in Tennessee. My relationship with the eco-systems there were central to the fabric of my upbringing. When our farm was taken by eminent domain to build an industrial park, the destruction of our land was devastating.

I went on to live in urban areas but the farm never left me–nature has inspired my work. I approach landscapes subjectively, focusing on how the land makes me feel than on what it actually looks like.

I moved back to Tennessee where I observe the rapid loss of open spaces due to gross urban development. I’ve painted about this in a series called “Encroachment.” Using chandeliers as metaphors of opulence and entitlement, they hover — man-made intruders looming like spaceships above the landscapes that they are inherently removing.

I hope to help raise awareness through y art for smart urban growth, not rampant expansion without consideration of our water, air, animals, views and health.