Terrain

Composed from tree bark and earth pigments, this work can be read as an abstracted aerial view of the Santa Monica Mountains—its palette, textures, and materiality each an echo of the range itself. Sections of earthy green evoke the living presence of the terrain: the trees, shrubs, and plants that cling to its slopes. In contrast, warm browns and raw, textured expanses suggest the sunbaked soil and exposed rock that define its drier stretches.

Across the tactile surface, subtle shifts in elevation and depth trace an imagined topography—peaks and valleys emerging through layers of organic matter. The work invites both close inspection and distant viewing: from afar, the composition settles into a quiet unity; up close, it reveals a complex network of fissures, ridges, and folds.

Framed in solid walnut, the piece bridges the line between painting and sculptural relief, offering a grounded focal point that speaks equally to place, material, and form.