Second State

Using a mix of forms from both artists’ personal styles, Coombs and Patterson intertwine elements from the natural world and the constructed environment. The process is a spontaneous morphing of forms. Passing the work back and forth from state to state at each stage gives each artist a starting point as well as a puzzle to figure out and explore. Ironically, Coombs’ natural imagery of the forest landscape is made at an urban studio in downtown San Francisco, California. Patterson’s urban elements are melded together from her studio in rural Colorado. The balance of opposing forces that are played out in the collaborative Second State work hint at this dichotomy of origin. Over time, the work has evolved into a dynamic visual conversation between two artists in two states, linking two disparate methodologies into one.