“To see a World in a Grain of Sand

–William Blake, Auguries of Innocence

"I made this piece as part of my calming meditative painting practice - it was one of the pieces I made at an earlier stage of the pandemic, in the winter. I spent a lot of time at the Oregon coast exploring the stones and driftwood and in the forest looking for mushrooms, coming upon rocky streams with my kids. This piece evokes a quiet kind of study of the natural forms of the rocks in the river bed. The cool color palette reminds me of the colder weather, with a few warmer elements to create contrast and interest. I think when the world outside is feeling big and moving with large forces outside our individual control it can be soothing to take a break and focus in on something that feels more stable and the intricacy of the painting is a reflection of my intention to go deeper into contemplation of one ecosystem." –Betsy Walton