I am eternally grateful to the Durham Art Guild for trusting me as their 2009–2010 Artist-in-Residence. Coming early in my career, this proved to be a pivotal time for me both as an artist and person—one that continues to yield connections and opportunities.

As part of the residency, artists must contribute a piece for the annual fundraising auction. While considering what to create, a thought struck me: "Why not document the entire year through a painting that was a journal or fossil?" I couldn't come up with any objections, so I began my residency work.

Paperchaser's substrate began as a studio table I built at Golden Belt Art Studios in Durham, NC. Made of plywood and cut to fit the space, this surface became my workbench for an entire year. I painted, cut, spilled, glued, sat, and taped on it—letting it collect the traces of my process. When the year drew to a close, I shaped the well-worn surface into a painting.

Paperchaser reflects the period of time I was living through. I had emerged from my own wilderness into new experiences. During this time, I found a renewed focus on my art, and opportunities began appearing. However, as a business owner, increasing demands seemed conditional for prosperity. Within the composition, I preserved untouched areas of the table's surface, fossilizing that year's work and experiences.

To put it simply, I transformed the tabletop from my Durham Art Guild Artist-in-Residence period into a painting about that very experience.