The Cream and Coal series was created alongside the vibrant Observations series in 2009 and 2010. These works, made in various sizes, combine acrylic and oil paints on either canvas or wood panel. Both series were exhibited in group and solo shows during the years of their creation. The images in this series evoke half-remembered dreams, where textures and colors collide with the central figure. Layers of playfulness, provocation, and humor mix with the conscious and unconscious, creating moments of surprise and insight that illuminate the narrative. The works combine drawing, painting, collage, and sculpture, all united by a deliberately hazy, one-of-a-kind photograph. The photos are either printed on watercolor paper, coated with resin and sanded, or printed on rice paper and integrated into fiberglass. This series was presented as a solo exhibition at Julie Nester Gallery in Park City, UT, in 2012.