UC Clermont Art Gallery

The Leaf Thief Collection began when I noticed the multi-colored autumn barberry bush beside my back door. I delighted in taking photos of the brightly colored leaves for days. I also noticed the beauty of dogwood, azalea and maple leaves and started collecting a variety of leaves to bring home and photograph. I curate and select the most interesting compositions and then draw them before painting. The process of collecting, arranging and photographing these fleeting, fragile natural elements brings me almost as much joy as painting them. I am attracted to the colors, textures, beautiful linear edges and sculptural forms of these nominal natural objects. To me they are miniature gems.

Every painting leads to the next and in my case, I often find abstract compositions within these natural still life paintings. Once a painting is complete, I use a circular viewfinder to look for new painting ideas. Enlarging and painting these circular, portal like compositions enables me to play with my limited palette of five pigments in different ways. It’s a valuable learning experience and invites me as well as my collectors to get in touch with our imaginations. During the last few years while leaf collecting, creating in my studio and sharing my art has helped me process and grieve the loss of my father to dementia. As my paintings and practice evolve, I dive deeper into the meaning behind them and connect with people more intimately. My father loved nature and gardening so I feel more connected to him when I’m walking in the woods, digging in the dirt and appreciating the vibrant but fleeting seasonal color.