When I see my earth pigments gathered, I reflect on eco-systems. This interaction of organisms and their physical environment creates a thriving biological community. Whether inanimate or animate, all pieces play an important role in contributing to individual support and the success of the ecosystem as a whole. These thoughts are tangled deeply from just keeping my materials close in my studio. But it’s these moments of reflection that can have the biggest and most profound impact on my creative practice.

I spent the beginning of this year with my creativity. It was bliss to reconnect with my pigments and fall into a friendly routine of discipline. Writing my new book, A Geology of Color gifted me so many beautiful things but I also deeply missed the familiarity of my artwork.

When you display art in just the right nook or cranny it can transform the entire mood of a space. Imagine bringing warmth into every corner of your home cherishing a well-lived space that feels cozy. It might be obvious to hang art above your sectional in the living room or above your nightstand in your bedroom, but your home holds a plethora of other spaces you can dress with artwork for your home for a more modern comfort home.

The earth pigment process is full of discovery and the act is quite transformative. It influences the way you perceive the world and moves throughout your creative practice. This topic is so dear to me, and while writing is a big part of my creative process, I also enjoy sharing creative conversations. Today, I am bringing you something that is a bit more personal—a true and honest dialogue. In the above audio recording, I give three ways earth pigments inspire a deeper connection with our outer landscapes, our inner landscapes, and our creative practice. Below are written notes from the recording for you to reflect upon, and explore deeper.

A Geology of Color is an earth pigment book that contains 5 full, and reflective sections that will help guide you to identify, collect, and process rocks, dirt, and soil into artist-grade mediums.

For the last two years, I have immersed myself in documenting my processes and writing about my affinity for earth pigments. Today, I am sharing an exclusive preview for A Geology of Color, an earth pigment book that will be available for presale on October 18.

Once you have collected natural earth pigments, ochre will remind you when it’s ready to be processed into a pigment powder. Often, I don’t process rocks the moment they enter my studio—I tend to store them until their color moves me in some way.

Natural earth pigments range in color—from warm yellows, burnt reds, browns, earth greens, and even blue. These naturally occurring phenomena get their colors from minerals, and in the studio, they transform into the most beautiful artistic colors that reveal the hidden beauty of iron.

This year I am celebrating a new partnership with Natural Earth Paint. In this partnership, several exciting things are unfolding, including a series of writing. I wanted to slowly introduce myself to this new audience with an intimate piece about the meaning of working with natural earth paints in my studio.

Decorating a home is personal. You connect with the soul of a house and impart your own personal beauty to bring you joy. Home colors drastically change the look and feel of living space. With a little intention behind the color palettes you choose for you your home, you can bring warmth and comfort into all corners of your home.

Recently, I was asked to share my thoughts on pigments in my work in the format of eight beautiful questions. Sharing an exchange of thoughts with Ginni Seehagel of Seadar Shop, an artist, writer, and walker who seeks and finds joy in the world as it is, was a gift of light and appreciation for the Earth.

Natural Earth Pigments are lush, they hold color in a unique way, not like any other. They are textural and reflect fragments of light, revealing the true beauty of iron. They are deep, full of secret beauty. They hide in earth crevices emitting energy waiting for discovery.

For those of you who have been with me for a year or so know that I love to take on daily challenges at the beginning of each year. I enjoy finding discipline in my work and letting my practice set the tone for the remainder of the year. It brings me close to new ideas while practicing old and keeps my hands working consistently and steadily.

Slowly drifting into the new year, my studio set up shifted as furniture fell into new spaces. I spent time culling through the old and situating collected pieces intentionally — that included the artwork I displayed, the furniture I held onto, and the books that have enlightened me. I created a space that I am excited to belong and continue to work through the stories of my materials. How do you find that warmth in your own studio?

Formations emerge,