Printable Art Finds
Carol Stream, IL
I am a Native American artist whose work explores my response to time spent walking through the woods and forest preserves of DuPage County. Rooted in my rich memories of visiting the Cherokee farmlands of my family in Oklahoma as a child, my artistic journey stretches far back and is a reflection on the land and my ongoing expression of it. Recently, I was thrilled to hear that the Cherokee Nation purchased some of my paintings.
Inspired by local beauty and sense of natural space, I create paintings that capture the attempt to recall these cherished places and step back into them. Through both en plein air studies and studio-based works, my paintings invite viewers to experience the transformative stillness of nearby familiar fields, woods, rivers, and forest preserves. (Nearby for me means the West Branch Forest Preserve, which I walk or bike through nearly every day.) The works range are done in both acrylic and oil.
My paintings offer a visual meditation on the interconnectedness of sense of place and nature. My work seeks to foster a deeper appreciation for the natural world and inspire a sense of stewardship for the environment. As a center of knowledge and community, the library is an ideal space to share some of my pieces, and I wondered if we could discuss how I might be able to work with you to bring attention to the nearby beauty of the local forest preserves.