A BRUSH WITH PLACE
100 counties. 100 landscapes. countless stories.
A Brush with Place is a portrait of our state in paint, a collection of 100 landscapes celebrating the unique character of each of North Carolina’s 100 counties. This project reveals the intimate bond between people & place, translating our state's spirit through the artist's palette of light, color, & form.
ARTIST’S STATEMENT:
What started as an idea for a creative outlet, to stretch my craft beyond the portrait work I am most known for, became a larger concept that I couldn’t ignore. A Brush with Place is North Carolina in 100 paintings—each one a window into a county's soul, born from the marriage of my brushstrokes and your stories.
At its heart, A Brush with Place is a collaborative endeavor. Each county’s contribution is shaped not only by the artist’s eye but by the lived experiences and insights of local residents—people of note, vision, and deep roots. Whether farmers or foresters, historians or healers, teachers or teenagers, these community members help guide the selection of views that best reflect the spirit of their home ground.
Maybe it's the way morning fog settles in your valley, or how the light hits that old barn you pass every day, or the curve of creek that hosted your childhood summers. I’m asking people who truly see their counties to share their view with me. The one that makes you catch your breath on the drive home.
JOIN OUR PROJECT
In 2024, all eyes were (briefly) on North Carolina as hurricane Helene devastated the western communities of our state. Now, we invite you to help us shift that narrative back to what makes our state extraordinary: its breathtaking natural beauty, resilient communities, & deep-rooted sense of place.
If you would like to contribute to the project, please share a few photos (high resolution or “actual size” file please) of a place that feels like “home” in your county. It could be a field, forest, quiet road, family farm, town view, river bend, or a trail only locals know. Greenspace focussed rather than urban - so if it’s Raleigh - try a public park with the capital in the background not just a photo of the capital building.
In addition to sharing the photos, please also share a bit about what “makes” your county - your favorite place to eat, a local festival that brings everyone together to celebrate the natural landscape or any memory tied to the land, essentially what makes your county special.
If I choose your photo to paint, you will get first right of refusal on the painting when the project is complete.
I can’t wait to see your views!
SUBMISSION FORM
“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.”
— Albert Einstein