Naturescapes: A Conversation with the earth
“Terra VII” // 9 x 9” framed // oil + cold wax on panel
Inspiration from the desert
I love the desert. The Southwest United States is a place that feels grounding, spiritual, and earthy to me. It’s teeming with life—even if, at first glance, it may seem otherwise. It’s quiet. Still.
My husband and I took a trip to Southwest Utah in 2019. I hadn’t been to that part of the country in years and I was immediately reminded how much I love it—how at home I feel there. We hiked through the slot canyons, over mesas, and around tall spires. I took a lot of photos, even while trying to stay off my phone. But the place was so magical, I wanted to capture it all—not just in memory and spirit, but with technology, too.
Of course, the photos never do it justice. The experience always outweighs the photograph.
Shapes, colors, and lines—oh my
Looking around and up, I was struck by the layers of geological formations—thousands maybe millions of years stacked in sediment. The colors, the textures, the way the sky framed the canyons and mesas in almost geometric compositions from afar. My senses were overwhelmed in the best way. At the same time, I felt the most peace I’d felt in a long while. I can still feel the sun on my skin, the gentle breeze, the drop in temperature when we stepped into the shade.
Back home, I was full of inspiration. How was I going to capture that essence and feeling in paint? I decided to play, using the photos as a loose guide. I focused on the positive and negative shapes formed by the landscape, letting those forms lead me naturally into abstraction.
“Terra V” // 9” x 9” framed // oil + cold wax on panel
Working with texture
I knew right away these couldn’t be flat paintings. They needed depth, texture, and a matte, tactile quality. They needed to feel like earth. I turned to oil paint, for its richness and blendability, and paired it with cold wax medium. When used generously, cold wax gives the paint a fluffy, yet sculptural texture and matte finish.
As I began painting, I let the materials lead. I used a palette knife to sculpt the surface, like shaping the land itself. I painted with both color and texture, allowing the lines left by the knife to create movement, depth, and a kind of dialogue within the work. Most of these paintings are small, designed to feel intimate and conversational.
I can’t get enough of earthy colors, to be be honest. They bring joy to my heart and peace to my soul. Finishing one of these paintings feels like exhaling after a deep breath—like stepping outside on a perfect day holding a warm mug of coffee (or tea) and letting stress melt away.
“Vista 53” // 9” x 9” framed // oil + cold wax on panel
Different perspectives
What I really wanted to capture, more than anything, was the essence of nature— a feeling, a memory, a sense of connection. I call these paintings Naturescapes because “nature” holds multitudes: the earth, the universe, the land itself, our inner landscapes, and our place within it all.
I’ve created nearly a hundred paintings in this style. What I experience while painting—and what I see when it’s finished—often differs from what others perceive. Some viewers describe aerial landscapes; others see more traditional horizons. Whatever you experience, I hope these pieces bring you the same sense of calm and connection to nature that I feel when making them—each interpretation is part of the beauty.
“Ascendant” // 25.5" x 25.5" framed // oil + cold wax on panel
Discover more
Explore my Naturescapes portfolio to view more work in this style. To see available pieces, visit Blue Gallery online or in person in Kansas City, MO.
