When I reflect on the origin of this collection and the start of 2024, I think about what a slow burn it was to establish the direction for these paintings.

At the start of this year, I found myself wrestling with my ideas and trying to figure out where to take my art. I was craving something I could really linger on—a style to explore on a deeper level.

Drawing inspiration from Anni Albers’ innovative works, Ruth Asawa’s intricate wire sculptures, and Mark Rothko’s emotional canvases, I began to walk along a more promising path. I leaned into repetition and layering as I continued exploring the relationship between order and chaos in my work.

“Dancing at Dusk” and “Like a Starling” were the first paintings born of this exploration, and I loved watching their layers build up slowly over several weeks. Each mark added to the depth and story of the canvas.

It wasn’t until “Dancing at Dusk” was finished that I took a step back and saw a striking similarity in the composition to Starling murmurations.

Now, all I see when I look at this piece is a flock of birds—twisting and twirling as one giant, graceful cloud—a natural wonder that points toward God’s creativity and love for His creation.

This painting offers me feelings of hope and reminders to rest. I’m so thankful that I waded through a season of uncertainty to arrive at a style that I can truly linger on and continue to explore.