I start by loosely painting large pieces of craft paper. Then I rip them into shapes, I make mountains out of them. I love the physical experience of tearing the paper. It is carefree and unsentimental. I want to feel the mountain shapes. Matisse and his late stage cutouts are a huge influence on me. Matisse found tremendous joy in cutting large pieces of coloured paper into shapes. Once I have these mountains I lay them out and move them around, like a giant. Remembered views serve as a point of departure. I attach the paper to the surface , then I sand them into a distressed surface. The experience of all these big movements really relate to my own outdoor life.