oil on panel
12 x 9 inches

Recent paintings reflect an intentional turn towards beauty in the face of the tension and uncertainty of recent years. Bringing plants and flowers into my studio to serve as subjects—and companions—has been a kind of celebration of vibrant life and fleeting pleasure. My attention has been rewarded with quiet stirrings. I delight in the delicate unfurling of a tender leaf and the gentle turn towards an open window, as flowers seek warmth and stretch towards sunlight in the space of a painting session. Through nourishing periods of focused observation, I have allowed myself to delight in jubilant color, playful pattern, and sensual gesture. To me, this work is insistently joyful. They are small luxuries, defiant acts of care and gestures of hope. I want these paintings to feel lush, verdant, and abundant, a restorative balm by way of visual indulgence.

Julia’s Beongia is from a body of plant portraits and florals I have made the past few years, described above. I was a Stove Works resident for the month of June 2024, and during that time, I was thinking about the intersections between work, life, and the studio. I brought a collection of objects into my Stove Works studio, including household knickknacks, my young children’s toys and books, and objects from the still life storage where I teach. As I am based in Chattanooga, I also brought studio plants and flowers from my garden. During my month in residence, I made a large still life painting and a handful of small ones, including Shell, Gladiolus, Dish. It was a fruitful and restorative time, and I am grateful to Stove Works for the time, space, and support.