artist statement

The beauty of nature has long been a source of fascination and inspiration for me. Some of my fondest memories are of helping my grandmother Nell in the garden, pulling weeds and planting flowers, and waiting patiently for the peonies and irises to bloom in the spring. She taught me so much about the garden, and what it means to be connected to the earth.

The woods and marshes in back of our property were home to wonderous exotics such as jack-in-the-pulpits, lady's slipper orchids and giant ostrich ferns. I used to go hunting with my dad – though I made sure he heard my strenuous objections to shooting bunnies and deer – and he taught me a lot about the forests and woodlands of New England. One day we were out hiking and came upon a patch of teaberries... I was certain they were deadly poisonous, as any bright red berry lurking in the middle of the forest ought to be, but he knew they were edible (and delicious!). You can still find Clark's teaberry chewing gum at some old-fashioned candy stores – it tastes just like the real thing.

This deep love of nature guides my creative pursuits, including the artwork and photography presented here. My work is ultimately an exploration of the profound beauty and mystery of nature, and of our connectedness – spiritually and emotionally – to the natural world.

art and the power of education

My father, Jim, was passionate about reading and expanding his knowledge throughout his life. He was an active supporter of our local town library, and volunteered his time to secure funding for a new library when the old one could no longer effectively serve the town’s needs. After Jim passed away in 2004, the childrens’ wing of this new library was commemorated in his honor.

His lifelong dedication to reading and education inspired me to start a memorial fund with UNICEF (the United Nations Childrens Fund), in order to help those who do not have the same opportunities many of us do. UNICEF’s early development programs help break the cycle of poverty, disease and malnutrition by giving children the tools they need to survive, and better yet, to succeed.

In this spirit of 'giving back', I donate 20% from every purchase of my original artwork and photography to UNICEF and the World Wildlife Fund (10% to each). I believe the conservation of our natural resources and the protection of endangered plants and animals is a responsibility we all share. The World Wildlife Fund works to protect natural areas and wild populations of plants and animals, including endangered species; to promote sustainable approaches to the use of renewable natural resources; and to promote more efficient use of resources and energy and the maximum reduction of pollution. For more information, please visit www.unicef.org and www.worldwildlife.org