Close to Home presents a selection of botanical works created during a period of self-isolation in the artist’s family home. Each work was developed using a variety of natural inks created from leftover kitchen and yard scraps. Once dry, these were embellished with ink, pastels and crayon. The wet surface was altered by a variety of modifiers, such as washing soda, iron liquor and lemon juice, that create chemical reactions resulting in unique bleeds and bursts of colour. Text applied to the wet surface documents the artist’s stream of consciousness in response to COVID-19, homeschooling and privilege as a Minneapolis-St. Paul expat living in isolation in Australia. The final works become large scale journal entries chronicling domestic life where meaning has been obscured and blurred amidst a period of massive social anxiety and unrest. In these drawings, the artist examines the significance of the family home, studio and surrounding community in achieving socio-ecological equilibrium.
