I paint from life, intently looking at the objects I have set up.Through the act of painting they evolve into something beyond what I see. Heightened color, pattern, light, viewpoint, gratitude and a longing to practice mindfulness turn it into a different version of reality. The setups are composed from daily life, usually including flowers from my garden, inherited dishes and other reminders of the fleeting quality of life.During this troubling time, my work is an attempt to hold the good while acknowledging imperfection in our world. Sometimes I wonder if I’m fiddling while Rome burns.The collage elements serve to open up the work for alternative narratives and connections.Grappling with all of these ingredients feels like a serious and joyful form of play.The polka dots refer to faith in atoms, spirit, pixels, and all of the things that are hard to see that pervade the physical world.