Process & Preservation of the Landscape
Last year, I had the incredible opportunity to collaborate with the Documentary Film class from the Seattle Film Institute. When filmmaker and instructor Vaun Raymond first reached out to me with the idea of a video interview for a short documentary film, my initial reaction was a mix of emotions. Terror may have been the first—after all, talking on film felt like uncharted territory compared to the familiarity of chatting with people at events. But that fear quickly gave way to excitement, and the voice inside me saying, "DO IT!" ultimately won out. So, with a blend of nervousness and enthusiasm, I said, "Yes, please! I'd love to!"
Images: Left: Me with members of the film crew (Director Jennifer Porter on the right, and Interview Lead Doug on the left. Right: Sharing the red carpet with friends Gwen and Pearl.
The film explores the intersection of art and activism—specifically, my commitment to preserving the natural landscapes that inspire my work and using eco-friendly options as an oil painter. Sharing my creative process and background felt very personal, and the talented students from the Documentary Film class brought their own perspectives to the table to create a great film. It was such a collaborative effort!
With a vision in place, we dove into the project last summer. The team brought an incredible level of professionalism and energy to every step, from planning and filming to the final edits. After a couple of months of post-production, and then final edits, we celebrated the film's completion with an in-person, red-carpet premiere at my studio in September. It was a wonderful opportunity to gather with friends, colleagues, and art lovers to share my story in a whole new way.
Now, after an action-packed holiday season filled with exhibits and events, I’m thrilled to kick off the New Year by sharing the film with all of you. This project shares highlights of my journey as an artist, along with my hope to inspire others to see the beauty in nature and the importance of preserving it.
So grab some popcorn, sit back, and hit play. I can’t wait to hear what you think!
Behind the Scenes
Like painting, much goes into creating the finished product. Here are a few fun facts from the process:
We managed to fit 4 crew and 2 cameras into my tiny studio. Thankfully we were able to use an empty studio as our greenroom!
The interview, and painting at 2 locations were all filmed in one extra long filming day! (I flew to Ireland the next morning!)
The team transcribed the recordings into 16 pages of script, and then edited, remixed, and wrangled it all into a short yet mighty 3.5 minute tale.
The satisfaction of dabbing that final highlight onto the sailboat while on camera felt like winning a Gold medal!
Thank You!
And, as with many things, it takes a team! I'd like to extend my deepest gratitude to Jennifer, Sydney, Zach, and Doug from the Seattle Film Institute for their hard work and creativity in crafting this film! Thank you also to instructor Vaun Raymond for following the thread of referrals that led to our connection! And, a big thank you to my friend and fellow artist, Susan Schneider, who was able to join me for the beach filming - you're a natural!
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