As the light begins to shift and the crisp energy of the autumn season approaches, there’s a natural instinct to turn inward. Nature reminds us to slow down, shed what no longer serves us, and re-anchor our foundations.
It was during this exact period of deep reflection and transition that my newest large-scale piece, Earthbound, was born.
More than just a spontaneous exploration of texture and color, Earthbound (48×48″, mixed media) serves as a visual diary. It documents my personal, non-linear journey toward finding inner peace and anchoring sustained joy in a world that often feels fast-paced and fragmented.
Key Takeaways
- Earthbound (48×48″, mixed media) grew directly out of a walk at Heisler Park in Laguna Beach, and out of a longer personal journey rebuilding a creative practice after grief.
- Rick Rubin’s The Creative Act: A Way of Being reframed discipline and freedom as partners, not opposites, and that shift is what got me back into consistent studio practice.
- A custom piece from this same body of work is now part of the upcoming interior at Beauty on Broadway, a real commercial wellness placement, not a hypothetical one.
Healing the Heart to Open Up Creatively
For me, the creative process has always been tied to the condition of my emotional world. Lately, my focus has been centered on healing the heart.
It’s been two and a half years since my late fiancé passed away. The grieving process, especially that first year spent learning how to navigate the quiet of being alone, was hard. Grief has a way of locking the creative spirit behind a wall of survival, where just getting through the day takes all of your energy.
But healing is a gradual, patient awakening. Recently, I’ve found more peace through the grounding practice of my weekly meditation group. Alongside that, I’ve built real friendships with a circle of women I trust. Surrounding myself with this community of healers has allowed my heart to open back up.
When you commit to healing the heart, you unlock the doorways to your creativity. Earthbound is the first true visual expression of that.
The Illusion of Control: Moving from Block to Breakthrough
Every artist encounters moments where the creative well feels temporarily dry. Before this collection, I was seeking a new direction, but felt stuck in the routine of my own studio practice.
I needed a push, a shift in perspective to break through the noise of daily expectations. During this period of seeking, I read Rick Rubin’s book, The Creative Act: A Way of Being.
His philosophy struck a chord, specifically his insights on how discipline and freedom aren’t opposing forces, but essential partners. Rubin argues that true creative freedom doesn’t come from waiting around for inspiration to strike by accident. It comes from the quiet discipline of showing up, showing care, and creating space for the extraordinary to happen.
To find my inner peace, I had to discipline my daily routine and commit to getting creative much more frequently, even when the canvas felt intimidating.
The Spark at Heisler Park and Nurturing the Soul
Yet knowing you need a push and receiving one are two different things. The catalyst arrived on a clear afternoon during a walk along the cliffs at Heisler Park here in Laguna Beach.
As I stood there looking out at the weathered rock formations meeting the tide, something shifted. The raw, exposed earth tones, the ochres, the mineral browns, the mossy greens clinging to the stone, and the sudden shock of coastal teal, captivated me. Nature provided the spark, and the discipline I’d been practicing gave me the freedom to bring that raw inspiration back to the canvas.
Heisler Park has always held a restorative place in my heart, and my connection to it keeps evolving. Next week, I’m attending a Thursday evening sound bath right there on the cliffs, surrounded by the ocean breeze and my community of healers.
Going deeper into my own healing journey is vital to my creative output. The peace I cultivate in those communal, therapeutic spaces directly flows onto the canvases I paint.
The Method: Mix, Flow, and Studio Magic
Over the years, I’ve fallen in love with my own distinct method of working. The physical process begins simply: I add a little water, layer in fluid acrylic paints, and then stir in the ingredients that matter most, love and pure energy. When those elements align, you get something close to magic on the canvas.
Of course, we don’t get magic every time we step into the studio. But the real reward is the joy of being completely “in the zone” while creating. For me, painting means forgetting my life outside the studio walls. It’s about being present with the process, stepping out of the way, and letting my raw emotions pour freely onto the canvas.
From Chaos to Clarity: The Evolution of the Canvas
When you look at the final surface of Earthbound, you see a harmonious, meditative blend of organic shapes. But beneath those serene top layers, the canvas actually started as an uninhibited mess.
When I returned to the studio from the park, I began the piece by letting go of perfectionism. I painted over old structures, embraced heavy textures, and let the initial layers stay chaotic. There’s real freedom in starting with a messy base. It removes the fear of the pristine, blank canvas.
More importantly, it taught me something about life: finding inner peace isn’t about having a flawless past. It’s about what you choose to build on top of it.
The Art of the Pour: Lessons in Purity
Once that textured, chaotic foundation was set, the deliberate pouring process began, focusing on three primary color streams inspired by the cliffs. Pouring fluid mediums requires a delicate balance of control and surrender. You guide the paint, but ultimately, it has its own gravity.
During this phase, I relied on a piece of advice passed down to me by the director at Artspace Warehouse in Los Angeles: keep the color streams separated during a heavy pour so they don’t blend into a muddy, indistinct brown.
That technical guidance fundamentally changed the clarity of Earthbound. By giving each color its own space to breathe and flow, the canvas retains an intentional purity. The sienna stays rich and grounded, the moss green stays vibrant, and the teal shines through cleanly, like sunlight hitting shallow water.
This technical studio discipline mirrors the emotional journey of mindfulness: separating our thoughts, clearing away mental clutter, and visualizing a clean, peaceful path forward.
A Lifetime of Daily Healing: Living with Abstract Art
For me, creating art is a therapeutic practice, but the journey doesn’t end when the varnish dries. The true life of a painting begins when it enters a space where people gather, rest, and connect.
It matters to me that my collectors truly fall in love with the artwork they choose. An original painting isn’t a temporary decoration; it’s a presence you’ll live with for years, even decades. When you invite a large statement piece into your daily environment, it becomes a backdrop to your life’s moments. By selecting a piece that resonates with your soul, it can act as a source of daily calm. Every time you glance at it, it should serve as a visual anchor.
A Coastal Bridge: Art in Commercial and Wellness Spaces
While the physical inspiration for Earthbound sparked along the cliffs of Southern California, the work travels far beyond the coast. Over the years, I’ve built real relationships with collectors and design partners across the country, particularly in New York.
I’m grateful to my patrons for recognizing how much a grounding piece of abstract art can do to anchor an urban sanctuary. Seeing where a piece will ultimately land is one of the most rewarding parts of my studio practice.
I’m sharing a sneak preview of a custom piece integrated into the upcoming commercial interior of Beauty on Broadway. Even in this pre-opening design phase, you can see how the soft, fluid blue and neutral tones bring a sense of tranquility to their curated, minimalist space.
Knowing that these canvases become the backdrop for daily self-care routines, morning conversations, and years of shared memories means a lot to me. It reinforces my belief that art is a connection that travels from my studio floor directly into the lives of the people who live with it.
Creating a Sanctuary in Modern Spaces
Because Earthbound was painted with intentions of serenity, grounding, and personal breakthrough, it carries that atmosphere into whatever environment it inhabits.
Measuring 48×48 inches, this square statement piece is scaled to anchor a room. Symmetrical canvases offer inherent stability; they hold the viewer’s eye in the center rather than pulling it side to side. That makes it a strong focal point for residential spaces, minimalist living environments, or corporate wellness settings looking to bring nature and calm indoors.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Earthbound represent?
It’s a visual record of a personal healing journey: rebuilding a creative practice after grief, grounded in a real walk at Heisler Park and the studio discipline I found through Rick Rubin’s writing on creativity. The earth tones (ochres, mineral browns, mossy greens, coastal teal) come directly from that walk.
Is Earthbound available for acquisition?
Yes. If it resonates with your own path toward mindfulness, reach out for full acquisition details or to arrange a private virtual viewing.
How did the Beauty on Broadway placement come about?
It’s a custom piece from this same body of work, integrated into their upcoming interior as a real commercial wellness placement, not a rendering or concept. The soft blue and neutral tones were chosen to bring calm into their minimalist space.
Can I commission a custom piece using this same earth-toned palette?
Yes. Whether it’s for a private residence, a corporate wellness setting, or a hospitality project, reach out and we can talk through a commission.
Do you work with art consultants and design professionals on placements like this?
Regularly. High-resolution digital tear sheets and trade pricing are available on request for residential, corporate wellness, or hospitality projects.
An Invitation to Collectors and Art Consultants
- For Art Collectors: If Earthbound resonates with your own path toward mindfulness, reach out for acquisition details or to arrange a private virtual viewing.
- For Art Consultants & Curation Professionals: Earthbound is fully documented and available for immediate placement in residential, corporate wellness, or hospitality projects. Tear sheets and trade pricing are available on request.
Let the grounding, transformative energy of the season inspire your next space. Contact the studio to inquire about Earthbound or to discuss a custom commission, or browse the gallery for more of this earth-toned body of work.
