I painted this series to shed light on the harmful truths of plastic pollution, and how it is on the path towards harming the way we see landscapes today. I plan to use this opportunity to teach my community about the severity of this current issue of plastic pollution.

I utilized local landscapes in Boone, N.C., and painted on-site at these chosen locations. I would paint these spaces on smaller canvases with a true appreciation for the beauty of the landscape. After I had finished painting, I would walk around the area and pick up all the trash that I could find. I would then replicate these scenes onto large-scale paintings, rendering the trash I had found in that area within the paintings. Some include plastic bottles, lottery tickets, raw chicken packages, granola bar wrappers, and so much more. 

This shows the differences in how we see landscapes with, and without the knowledge of the abundance of pollution that is hiding within the beauty. Globally, humans generate over two billion tons of trash annually. An average American will toss about four-and-a-half pounds of trash each day. What we are doing to the planet is irreversible unless we become more responsible with our actions. You can help on an individual level.