Uncharted Territory

Mixed Media on Paper (Ink, Gouache, Soft Pastel)

This piece emerged from a process unlike anything I’d done before. I let ink move freely across the paper, creating the organic shape that became the foundation for the landscape you see. Layering gouache and soft pastel on top, I built Uncharted Territory, one of my favorite hikes near Vail Pass, until something unexpected revealed itself.

What draws me to this work is the water flowing through it, representing the feminine energy that moves through all of us. The river under the river that Clarissa Pinkola Estés writes about in Women Who Run With Wolves. Look closely and you’ll notice how elements of the landscape cross over the boundaries of that free-flowing ink base, as if they’re stepping out of the painting, claiming the space they deserve.

Landscapes in nature often mirror the landscapes within us. The beauty, the growth, the shadows and light. This piece lives in that intersection, inviting you to explore your own uncharted territory.