During the Covid-19 pandemic, I turned to my art practice to relieve anxiety. No longer able to deny or dismiss my feelings of worry, I found it extremely hard to navigate raising my children with the surrounding chaos and uncertainty. I began to paint my children doing things outdoors as a way to connect with the outside world even under strict social distancing. Today I continue to paint my children amongst native flora and fauna because I still experience high levels of anxiety.  Spending time outside has helped me to accept there are no guarantees for the future; stopping climate change may not be possible. By using my own photographs, memories and knowledge of local plants and animals, I have created a reality where humans and nature co-exist.  My art practice has given me a sense of control in my current life which oftentimes feels out of control.

My children are growing up fast, and I want to capture the special relationship that we developed with each other and with the environment. By taking them on hikes and camping, I have been able to restore my sense of adventure that I used to have. In an effort to capture the fleeting moments of their youth, and the state of the environment as it is right now, I paint with urgency and loose brushstrokes. Depicting figures on journeys also symbolizes my hope and excitement about where unknown roads might go. While I still worry about what the future holds for my family and the planet, I also feel curiosity about what we have yet to explore.
 
Physical well-being is inextricably linked to clean air and fresh water, but human health also requires natural spaces for recreation and enjoyment. Access to nature deepens our understanding of humanity’s place in the ecosystem. The simple fact is humans are a small part of Earth, and yet share a huge responsibility to manage resources in sustainable ways. This belief is integral to many Indigenous cultures which must be elevated and preserved. Humans are connected to living and non-living systems in ways that are unacknowledged or ignored. I hope viewers will examine their own personal relationship to nature as well as support conservation efforts in their backyard.