I use color to convey mood and atmosphere in remembered places. Growing up in the rural South, I often felt at odds with the culture of ìGod, Guns, and Guts,î and retreated to the quiet comforts of the outdoors. The trees offered me a space of serenity and disinhibition. Yet within these cherished, quiet woods, I also recall a distinct loneliness. I craved a space to be away only to be reminded I was apart. As a result, the scenes I paint walk the line between rejection and acceptance, reflecting my personal struggle to find and maintain connections when shrouded by distance. This struggle engendered a deep appreciation of nature, a strong sense of independence and introspection, and a yearning for something new. Like many others, I am still searching for newnessónew people and new places that remind me of the peace and comfort of the woodsóand I am using paint and memory to capture the foggy and distorted feelings and moments that drive this desire.