In Backyard Shadow Happenings I am interested how drawings can emerge from light and shadow interactions from my everyday surroundings. I mark sunlight on paper as it shifts and interacts with plants in my yard . Recording light fluctuations allows one to observe what is happening beyond the foliage. It immerses one in nature’s textures and fragrances to expand the experience. As the wind blows the hand delineates movements of the evergreen. After several hours of marking, the resulting drawings become a record of moments spent.

This extended activity encourages mindful observation of latent, momentary phenomena in my local surroundings and fosters a rapport between hand, mind, and subject. During the tracing process, the movements of my hand merge with those of the plants, forming a semiotic relationship.