The writings of Wendell Berry, Drew Lanham, Karen Armstrong, Mary Oliver and others, have deeply influenced Lillie and her approach to this body of work. These writers all reveal a deep reverence for nature and underscore its central place in their spirituality. Time spent in nature is obviously the nourishment required for their work and she, Lillie, is resolved to follow suit.

Preparing to work in the studio, for this artist, included a solo walk in the woods. This daily, intentional walk became an integral part of her artistic process. Lillie states: “I found that it sparked ideas and helped create a real synthesis between my observations in nature, my emotional responses to them, and what happened once I was in the studio…with paint, paper and canvas.”

Painting from memory has allowed Lillie to visualize the images from her time amid the woods and water to be expressed through intuitive, playful linework and emotive color. It is her hope that the time she has spent in nature and the work that resulted will have a ripple effect motivating others to do the same and, in the process, restore and strengthen their own bond with the natural world.

About the Guest Speaker: Franklin Kennedy is the Head of World Languages, while also teaching Latin to Greek at Augusta Prep. Franklin was born in Chapel Hill, N.C., spent some time as a child in New York City, but grew up mostly in Binghamton, N.Y. He grew up with several teachers and professors in his family, but he had no plans to follow that path. He majored in the Classics at the University at Albany (State University of New York). After spending a year abroad in Denmark before his senior year, he returned with the revelation that he enjoyed the linguistic aspect of the Classical World. After graduation, he obtained his Masters of Teaching degree at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

An avid traveler himself, Franklin has seen all continents with the exception of Antartica. His love for the arts is a great driver in his approach to life and travel. He loves seeing the way everything connects. Collecting art is a great way to visualize these connections on a more permanent basis. As an educator Franklin sees the importance of continuing one’s own education outside of school.