engrained

My most recent series, Engrained, utilizes the natural grain of the wooden supports on which they are created. Closely examining the organic shapes and concentric outlines created by the grain, the design is developed as color and ink are added, and the final composition often dictates the name of the piece. Sometimes, I work with a theme in mind—red blood cells, hallucinogenic experiences, and viper venom, to name a few; other times, I simply select colors based on my mood and let the composition develop on its own. One particular piece, Engrained: Gaboon Viper Envenomation is painted on plywood and is meant to represent the vascular, cellular, and hallucinogenic response to envenomation from the Gaboon viper, one of the most deadly (and beautiful) snakes in the world.