Skulls are most commonly perceived as symbols of death, with good reason. When one dies all that remains are a skull and bones. However, it dawned on me that my curiosity and deep interest in these remains lie in the fact that for me, they symbolize a life. There is no more fascinating a process to me than that of decay and decomposition, because all things in this world will eventually meet this fate.
The things in life that we cannot see are what intrigue me most. The underground interconnected network of mycelium from mushrooms that break down organic matter. Tree root systems that keep our soil in place. Delicate microscopic diatoms, single celled organisms that when viewed through a microscope reveal beautiful and intricate glass like structures and design. These are just some of the things that inspire me to work in miniature. Objects that you can hold in your hand and inspect are most intimate and captivating.
The adaptations of earth's organisms truly amaze me, like how life can exist in the most extreme conditions and environments. Even human beings have lived through seemingly impossible circumstances. There is nothing more inspiring to me than reading survival stories of crashes or being lost in the wilderness and humans persevering. It awakens one to the infinite capabilities of the human mind, body and spirit. I am also continuously interested in exploring the ideas of relationships. These relationships could be between living things, inanimate objects, create contrast, or harmony. I am still struggling as an artist to find ways to illustrate all of the above. However, now that I have carefully pinpointed what they are, I am taking the next steps.

"The observation of nature is part of an artist's life, it enlarges his for [and] knowledge, keeps him fresh and from working only by formula, and feeds inspiration." -Henry Moore