I started painting with marigolds in Nepal. There, people create garlands of marigolds for morning prayers, weddings, and funerals. Bursts of color highlighting the natural cycle of life. Each moment made more precious by these brilliant orange petals. Then, after the ceremony is done, they toss the flowers into the trash along with the rest of the ritual objects.

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I always like that flip from sacred to rubbish in a single gesture. It reminds me that the only thing standing between the mundane and the profound is perspective. In any given moment, both are present. We choose which one to notice.

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In my practice, I mix the pedals with incense ash to create a natural pigment. Then, one stroke at a time, the portraits come to life