A Love Affair with Green

Houstonians are having a love affair with Green. We bike through Montrose. We run around Memorial. We picnic in Hermann. We kayak down the Bayou. When I moved to Houston, I had little clue of all the treasured green spaces I would find nestled into every corner of the city. Little by little, I found myself spending extended periods of time wandering through the Parks and Gardens for both inspiration and relaxation. As an artist, I use references to the natural world frequently in my work; plants spring up in paintings as backdrops to a larger narrative or as the main subject matter. Whatever the case, my studio usually looks something like a greenhouse. . .

Studio Plants (Please note: Don't be fooled.  I cross my fingers that my plants will stay alive long enough for me to complete a painting. Even cacti do not escape my wrath. )

With the revitalization of the Green Spaces around Houston, I became interested in documenting the Gardens and Parks around the city through photographs, sketches, and paintings for a full calendar year (April 2015 - April 2016). Additionally, I'll also share my research into the history of landscape design, significance of gardens in various cultures, and the ways in which plants and green spaces have been depicted in art and literature throughout history. Hopefully, my green thumb will develop along the way. Follow my journey as I become "The Bayou Botanist."