I’ve long been fascinated by gemstones and crystals—not only for their inherent beauty, but for their spiritual properties as well. I wanted to find ways to bring them directly into my paintings, and through a year of experimentation, I’ve developed methods for incorporating them into both my direct painting process and, in a more novel way, within traditional oil glazes. Across cultures and throughout history, these stones have been used in sacred sites and artifacts. By using them in my work, I aim to strengthen the material connection between the earthly and the spiritual.