Artist Statement:

For the last several years, I've used alizarin crimson in paintings to symbolize methane (CH4) in the environment. Methane itself is colorless but entering the atmosphere it becomes red with blue undertones like alizarin oil paint. When covid entered our lives, choices for everything became limited. It was the first time the whole world had been united by something. I limited my palette to one color in solidarity with the planet. The color originates from the ancient Madder Root plant (Rubia Tinctorium) and is the color of passion, sunsets, methane in the water of the Gulf of Mexico, roses, blood and lipstick. The root of the Madder plant was originally used by Egyptians dating back to 3000 B.C.to make dye for textiles and paint. It spread to the Romans and Greeks, then Asia and Europe. The red color has a blue undertone giving it unusual light and depth.