A book I recently read and loved is called “Piranesi” by Susanna Clarke. It’s a mystery with a magical setting—a labyrinth of halls with thousands of statues. I originally wanted to paint one of the statues (if you read the book you can guess which one).

The dragonflies appeared around the creek in May. I fell in love with their flight and sparkling colors, and was inspired enough to start drawing them and include them in a painting.

I’ve wanted to make my art process more playful and imaginative. So, I’m exploring a new medium—acrylic and charcoal—because it’s easier to make changes in these media than in oil. I’m willing to make changes during the painting process and be surprised by the outcome.