I believe everything on our planet shares a core energy, a vital life force that animates and supports all growth and renewal.
In nature, when this energy is balanced and uninhibited by human interference, the flow is smooth, perfection exists.
When I am truly in touch with nature, the feelings that I experience are incredibly magical, full of wonder and joy!
I create the nature and plant spirit images to share these feelings, and hopefully to evoke similar feelings in viewers and instill a greater respect for the immense value of our natural environment.

My visions of the nature energies evolved over many years of personal experience. I was first aware of them as a child playing in the woods and streams of my family home in the Catskill Mountains of New York. In the early 70's I read about the existence of nature spirits at the Findhorn gardens in Scotland. Fascinated by their stories, I began to experiment with communicating with the devas while gardening and hiking in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom. I read voraciously and learned that nature spirits have existed throughout time in almost every culture around the world. I soon realized that my intention was the vehicle that enabled me to see and feel the nature energies.

I portray my nature vision-feelings through a combination of photography and painting. I begin with a photo and enhance and subdue the balance of light, contrast and color to work an image into the most authentic visual interpretation of my experience that is possible.
My latest images are the 'e' series, for energy. These are more stylized depictions of the nature energies, the familiar faces of gnomes, fairies, and devas are still camoflaged within their natural habitats, but now the plants, leaves and trees vibrate in pixels and reflections, some whole, some fragmented, multiple dimensions, overlapping realities.

I am entranced by nature: the harmony, the patterns of symmetry, geometry, the vibrant and soothing colors, the protective camoflage for flora and fauna, healing energies, medicinal properties, the intricate beauty... I create art to share these observations and to expand awareness of how awesome and beneficial the environment is to all of us.

Cortese now lives in Miami with her teenage daughter and five bossy, but cuddly and lovable, cats. And... her yard is another work in progress. Still much to learn about growing in a tropical climate ;-)