Natural Remedy has been in progress for years, I've just never really had any endgame for it. 

I've submitted multiple mural and show proposals, and while it's always been well received, it's never quite gotten across the finish line and actually "won the prize". I've used it for live art, gotten to some final rounds of jurying, and even used a few paintings for freelance design projects, but it's just never had the full green light. As a result, I've created one-offs throughout the years, each time remembering what drew me to the concept in the first place. 

There's just something appealing about letting the natural world show off. Whether it's, natural history museums, cabinets of curiosities of old, illustrated encyclopedias, botanical gardens or just walking through a parks, experiencing nature leaves its mark no matter how that experience happens. 

Natural Remedy seeks to bring that into the home, on the side of a wall, or into a gallery space.

Utilizing a style inspired by illustrated guides and the practice of pressing and drying plants, Natural Remedy is meant to evoke a sense of wonder, educate the viewer on the natural world around them, and place icons of nature onto their deserved pedestal, similar to religious icons, personal artifacts, and momentos.

The simplicity of the marks and lack of refinement brings a sense of playfulness, while the flat rendering and somewhat static layout is meant to evoke both an academic aura and elevate the objects to a place of reverence. A smaller size also gives the paintings and objects an approachability that gives each a sense of intimacy, further enhancing their sacrility.

The list of projects I've planned to some degree and haven't yet done is essentially never-ending. From painting series, to a list of titles, to shows, illustrations, books and even movie pitches, if I ever find ample free-time (or could concentrate for more than 30 seconds at a time) there's a bottomless well of ideas from which to pull. Well...get ready to check one thing off the list.

I'm going to start doing portraits. Nothing realistic but more like Alice Neel or David Hockney; capturing the feel of the atmosphere and impression of the sitter. It will definitely be a new experience and I'm not entirely sure what to expect, but I'm excited to spend some time with friends and bring them a little closer to such an important part of my life, painting.