Reciprocity

As I begin my visits to the farms, I’m reminded how much I learn each time I walk the land.
​
The first thing I notice is the green — so many shades of it. Just a few weeks ago, the Eastern Plains were dressed in browns and grays. Now, the landscape is alive with color.
​
Walking the land slows me down. It sharpens my attention. I notice the bees, the earthworms, the first purple flowers, and the fresh, soft green of the cheatgrass.

Lately, I’ve been reading The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer. She introduces a powerful idea: an economy of reciprocity — where gratitude is the first response, and the second is asking, "What can I give back?"

This idea sits at the heart of my work. Through this series of art, I hope to remind us all that the land gives us what we need, but we are not just consumers of her gifts — we are partners. It’s our responsibility to be generous when we are given much, and mindful when we take.
I've been given much through this series, and I’m thinking deeply about how to give back.

How I Create Pigments from Plants
Many people have asked how I make pigment from plants. This season, I’m focusing on deepening my connection to the Colorado Plains — paying close attention to the real experience of working with the land, both the challenges and the rewards.
​
When I find plants or materials that can produce pigment, I harvest with reciprocity in mind:

• I take only a small amount.
• I leave plenty so the plants can continue to thrive.
• I offer thanks to the Earth for her generosity.

To create pigment, I slowly heat the plant material to extract the color. After straining out the plant matter, the pigment can either be used in its concentrated form or processed further through a "laking" process to make inks or paints.

I then apply these inks directly to panels or paper, often layering them with other markings or encaustic wax to create the final pieces.

---

Image: Left, abandoned tractor on my Great-grandfather's Land, Center, Found Painting, Right, My mom with Ty Sisson, a distant relative who now owns the land.