ARTIST STATEMENT

I strive to understand the More-than-Human-World and our place within it. Through an ongoing photographic journal, Traces, I document everyday encounters in nature, where I find even the simplest forms visibly manifest larger truths of existence. Among these things I’m most drawn to intimate details of life and death that often go unnoticed, residual marks left by time and things unseen, and incidental beauty and irony resulting from human intervention with the land. These and other natural phenomena are visual signs that can help us understand, adopt and maintain a balanced human place within the larger universe. Like Zen Kōans, interpreting them traces invisible threads that tie fallen leaves to the tree.  

PROCESS & EDITION INFORMATION: 

Traces images are available as Orotone prints in an edition of 3. I create these hand-crafted works of art in my custom darkroom. My process is based on the original  historic 1800’s process, but uses a refined approach and the addition of real gold creating an image with breathtaking radiance and depth. 

I first coat fine glass with silver nitrate and other chemicals, and allow it to cure. I then contact print a digital negative onto the sensitized plate using an enlarger, and develop it in my darkroom using specialized chemicals and exacting methods. Once cured, I hand-apply 12-Karat white Italian gold, or 18-Karat yellow gold to the image. To gild the plate, I both hand-brushed to allow visible brushstrokes in the gold, as well as a historic Italian means of mirror making called Verre Églomisé, where the gold is floated on plate soaked in wet gelatin. The gilded plate is then sealed with varnish, and a copper plate is soldered to the back with a small copper foil rim. The case is then patinaed and a cleat added for hanging. The plate can hang directly on the wall, floated in a frame, or placed on a stand.

Traces images are also available licensed as digital prints on fine art paper.