Process of Making

I collect seaweed and kelp from the Northern California Coast, mostly in Sonoma and Mendocino Counties. With an awareness of the importance of preserving the kelp forests I only collect seaweed that has washed ashore. I then adhere the natural materials to cradled birch painting supports using Golden molding paste and a heavy body acrylic medium. After this layer dries I paint the entire canvas in a thick layer of varnish to preserve the natural materials in a waterproof layer and make them more durable. Once this has dried I paint a layer of acrylic primer and finally layers of tints and shades in glazes to add depth and contrast to the natural textures; pointing a lens at the intricate patterns in nature.