Between Earth and Sky
Between Earth and Sky is a series of paintings exploring the space between our physical existence and the forces that give our lives meaning. By combining a human element and an element from the natural world, the work considers our instinctive search for connection, belonging, identity, and purpose. Each painting presents familiar forms in unfamiliar relationships, inviting the viewer to look beyond their immediate symbolism and consider the deeper connections between humanity and the natural world.
The series reflects on the tensions that shape our existence: life and death, vulnerability and strength, healing and harm, attachment and release. We are creatures rooted in the earth, yet continually reaching toward something beyond ourselves — whether through love, spirituality, creativity, knowledge, or the relationships we build with one another. Between Earth and Sky is ultimately a meditation on what it means to be human: to struggle, to grow, to inherit, to let go, and to leave something behind.
Each piece measures 19″x48”×2″ and was painted with acrylic and latex paint, on plywood.
Grow
At an early stage of gestation, a developing fetus is approximately the size of a bean, yet within that tiny form exists the potential for an entire human life. The beginning of life is both a biological process and a profound reminder of the miracle of existence. From our earliest moments, we inherit a fundamental yearning for stability, security, and a place where we belong.
Rise
Hands can convey as much emotion and intention as a face. Reaching toward another person—and even toward the heavens—reflects an instinctive human desire for connection, understanding, and belonging. The impulse to extend ourselves beyond our individual existence is deeply embedded in our nature; it is, in many ways, part of our DNA.
Love
The branching paths of veins can form shapes that feel unexpectedly familiar. Here, they suggest an abstract map of the Americas, Europe, and Africa, transforming the patterns of the human body into a reflection of the world we inhabit. The image serves as a reminder that our lives are inseparable from the natural systems that sustain us, and that Mother Earth deserves our care, respect, and protection.
Coax
There is something alluring about the challenge of taming what we perceive as dangerous. A syringe resting upon the back of a scorpion introduces a tension between attraction and threat, suggesting how easily something capable of harm can also become a source of healing. Medicine and poison can sometimes be separated not by the substance itself, but by its purpose, its dosage, and the hands that wield it.
Wreck
The desire to prove our strength, worth, or place in the world can sometimes lead us toward violence. In moments of conflict, we may respond to temporary circumstances with irreversible actions, creating consequences that far outlast the problems that caused them. This piece reflects on the tragic imbalance between a fleeting moment of anger and the permanence of what that moment can leave behind.
Seek
A reptile moves across the surface of a stringed instrument, bringing together the instinctive world of nature and the expressive world of music. The instrument becomes more than an object of sound; it becomes a landscape for exploration, discovery, and reflection. In much the same way that music allows us to explore the world within us, curiosity and play can lead us toward a deeper understanding of who we are.
Fight
Our emotions can influence the way we think, react, and ultimately shape the choices we make. Obsidian, when carefully polished, can become something beautiful enough to adorn the body, yet when fractured, its razor-sharp edges can become lethal. The contrast reflects the dual nature of emotion itself: something that can be refined into beauty and strength, or left unchecked until it becomes destructive.
Heal
The feathers of a ceremonial fan rise and fall as they carry prayers toward the heavens. Their movement evokes the act of surrendering our burdens and releasing the things that remain beyond our control. Letting go is not necessarily an act of defeat; it can be an act of liberation, allowing us to move forward with greater clarity, peace, and acceptance.
Triumph
Struggle can sometimes become an unexpected source of growth and strength. To survive heartbreak without allowing it to extinguish our capacity to love is its own form of victory. The scars left by loss may remain, but they can also become evidence of resilience — the proof that we endured pain without allowing it to define what we are still capable of producing.
Begin
After thousands of years of domestication, modern maize has become deeply dependent on humans and other animals for the dispersal and propagation of its seeds. This relationship offers a parallel to our own development: without meaningful interaction with others, it becomes difficult for human beings to grow, adapt, and flourish. Yet our influence extends beyond our own lifetimes; when our ancestors are gone, the knowledge, stories, values, and wisdom they passed down continue to shape us.