The Autumn Light Collection: Following nature’s evolution
If I were to try to summarize the last few months in a handful of words, I would probably choose “fullness of experience”. After the challenge of moving halfway across the country and saying heartfelt goodbyes to beloved friends, we found ourselves in a new-but-familiar place. Just as your senses are heightened when you go on a trip, our first months in a new home have held the same level of engagement for all the senses.
Rosy Glow, 24” x 36”
There are countless things I’m noticing for the first time as we make new connections with friends and community members, explore the town and surrounding areas, and hit the re-set button on our lives. Throughout the process, I’ve been reminded that there’s a lightness that comes when rearranging your home (and life): you allow yourself to take stock of what you have, and evaluate whether or not you needed it in the first place. This extends beyond “stuff”, and applies just as well to routines, recipes, assumptions, habits… and the list goes on.
Rising, 40” x 30”
My spouse and I are in the unique position of coming back to a town we lived and loved as college students, and starting fresh in a place that’s felt more (to us) like a time capsule than a living, breathing place for a couple of decades. As my cup overflows with newness around every turn, I’m finding respite in my daily walks and jogs through the Natural Lands behind St. Olaf College, where I visit the same trails I traversed as a student. And I’m using the time in nature to sort through ideas, process excitement, and absorb some quiet away from the bustle of activity—just as I did in my student days.
Glad You’re Here diptych, 48” x 36”
As I approached each new piece in The Autumn Light Collection, I was guided by this fresh-eyes feeling: allowing myself to be enveloped in each stunning autumn landscape as if I was seeing it—again— for the first time. The spectacular glow of the autumn light reminded me that the nature of being alive is to continue to evolve, and we as humans are no exception. Watching the scenery on the trails change from blankets of green to yellows, rusts, reds and golds inspired the palettes of my pieces back in the studio. And while some scenes in The Autumn Light Collection draw inspiration from photos, others are imaginary scenes inspired by both the spaciousness and the tangle of connection that I took in during my nature walks.
Brilliance, 12” x 12”
Thank you for joining me on the journey, and taking the time to enjoy my latest collection of work along the way. The collection opens to members of my collectors list on Thursday, 11/20 at 10am Eastern/9am Central, and to the public on Friday, 11/21.
If you have a friend or loved one who you think would enjoy my work, I’d be honored if you’d spread the word by sending them the link to my new collection!
