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As humans living in the society in which we live today, we are conditioned to be efficient— to streamline our way through our day without taking a moment to reflect or notice. We are engulfed in ourselves, our perception of others, and technology, which disrupts our natural inclination to connect with what surrounds us. My goal, whether that be a practice for myself or as an art practice, is to slow down and connect. My work revolves around the natural phenomena found in nature and memorializes my own personal connection with it. An integral part of my process is rooted in observation, whether that be from the environment around me or real specimens. I will sit with them, have a conversation with them, and allow them to tell me what needs to be emphasized in my art. This process allows me to slow down and connect with what I might otherwise pass by. My work becomes a way of preserving the encounters and connections I make with nature. Printmaking allows me to convey my philosophy as my images can be created in multiples and shared with those around me. It also serves as a mode of experimentation. I use mulberry paper, which can be deconstructed and reassembled into something different than the original image. I enjoy the physicality of this process and how it allows the work to change, just as things in nature are constantly changing and transforming. In my work, I encourage viewers to reflect, connect, and share compassion for our surroundings. I strive to create a space where people can slow down, notice what is around them, and consider their own relationship with the natural world. Through my practice, I hope to remind myself and others that there is beauty in taking the time to simply look.