A New Direction: Art, Awareness, and the Road Ahead

For years, I’ve used this space to share my journey as an artist—my inspirations, my process, and the stories behind my paintings. Art has always been my way of connecting with the world, of shining light on the beauty I see around me. But lately, I’ve been feeling called to something bigger: to use art not only as expression, but also as advocacy. That’s why I’m changing the direction of this blog to focus on a subject that has weighed heavily on my heart—reducing roadkill, or more broadly, wildlife traffic collisions.

You might wonder, why this topic? For me, it comes down to love and connection. My art has always been rooted in nature, whether I’m painting animals, landscapes, or star-filled skies. I feel deeply connected to the natural world, and seeing the sheer number of animals killed on our roads each year is devastating. I’ve realized that while my paintings celebrate wildlife, my voice—and this blog—can help raise awareness about the dangers animals face when they cross paths with our vehicles. Art, in its essence, is about communication. And this is the message I feel compelled to share.

The scale of the problem is staggering. In the United States alone, studies estimate that over one million animals are killed on roads every single day. That includes everything from small mammals and birds to deer, moose, and even endangered species. But it’s not just wildlife that suffers. Human lives are impacted too. Vehicle collisions with deer, for example, account for over a billion dollars in damage annually, not to mention injuries and fatalities for drivers and passengers. Roadkill isn’t just a “nature” issue—it’s a human one, too.

So what do I hope to accomplish with this shift? My goal is to make this blog a place where knowledge truly becomes power. I want to share research, ideas, and practical ways we can all contribute to reducing wildlife collisions. Whether it’s learning about where and why roadkill happens, exploring successful solutions from around the world, or understanding the role that individual drivers can play, my hope is that readers will come away more informed—and maybe even inspired to make changes in their own lives.

Going forward, you can expect to see posts on a variety of related topics, such as:

• The science behind wildlife movement: why animals cross roads, and how seasonal patterns play a role.

• Hotspots and high-risk areas: what makes certain roads more dangerous than others.

• Innovative solutions: from wildlife overpasses and underpasses to roadside fencing and new technologies.

• Personal stories and perspectives: sharing both my experiences and those of others who care deeply about this issue.

• The role of art and awareness: how creative expression can inspire compassion and action.

• Practical tips for drivers: what you can do to reduce the chances of a collision.

This blog will still reflect who I am at my core: an artist, a thinker, and someone who loves wildlife and the natural world. But now, instead of only painting animals, I’m also writing for them—using words to create a new kind of canvas, one that spreads knowledge and sparks change.

Thank you for being here at the beginning of this new chapter. Together, perhaps we can make the roads a little safer—for wildlife, for drivers, and for the world we share.

For the wild.