Artist Statement

Since 2004, I have spent much of my time traveling in the Arabian Gulf region, making and teaching art. In the Middle East I was introduced to a world filled with pattern. Decorative pattern covers the domes of mosques. It is on walls, floors, sidewalks and drawn with henna on women’s hands and feet. I was also introduced to camels - nature’s weird combination of the pedestrian and the regal. Camels look simultaneously ridiculously goofy and supremely self-confidant. I felt compelled to draw them and when I did, they were covered with pattern; pattern which extended into other drawings. I chose pen and ink for many of the desert pieces because of ink’s ability to echo the intricacy of Gulf henna designs.