Before approaching a major piece, I would frequently paint feathers in my personal sketchbook as a warm-up to loosen my hand.

When I painted each one, I would often set an intention, like hope or courage, to guide my brush.

I started to give the feathers away to friends and, at one point, a visitor to my studio even asked to buy one of these practice pieces!

Over time, I learned how connected people feel to the cultural significance and symbolism of feathers.

In this series, “500 Feathers”, I explore the infinite combinations of shapes, colors and meanings of these naturally beautiful symbols.