I think better with my hands.

The mind and hands are co-conspirators when it comes to drawing, painting and printing – so rather than just thinking about what to draw, paint or print, hands that are busy in the process of doing leads to more imaginative results.

Would I have figured out how to print eggshells without holding them in my hands, moving them around and cracking them into little mosaic bits? I doubt it.

The same goes for trying to figure out how to print stiff, sturdy tomato vines, complex flowers like iris and orchids, and a whole stalk of celery.

Hands can work things out. They have a direct link to sensitive, nonverbal brain parts that just know. Taking lots of photos and making sketches are important to my working process. Touching, holding and manipulating the objects I want to portray is critical.