Mushrooms are one of my favorite subjects to explore, both in nature and in paint. The colors, patterns and variety of forms keep me always on the lookout during hikes. And there's an element of magic to them; they seem to occupy a space between plant and animal.

My husband forages for "chicken of the woods" every fall. It's an edible mushroom that tastes like chicken, which I find intriguing. There are some ways in which the formation is similar to plumage, I played with that idea in this painting. I rotated and repositioned the mushroom pieces together to create a visual flow similar to feather patterns I've painted off chickens, and maintained a softness even in the harder areas. I rested the composition on a bed of feathers to reinforce the visual relationship of plumage.

“Chicken of the Woods - Orange”
30” x 40” x 1.5” Acrylic on canvas
2023