Reflections on My Residency at The Caumsett Foundation

As an eco artist based on Long Island, New York, my work is deeply rooted in place. During August and September 2025, I had the incredible opportunity to complete an art residency at The Caumsett Foundation. Over these two months, I created a variety of work, shown below, exploring the park through color, texture, and material experimentation. During my time in residence, I was thrilled to share the studio with two incredible artists, whose presence, creativity, and conversations made this experience all the more meaningful. In August I shared with Peter Tresnan, and in September I shared with Natasha K. De Armas.

From the very first day, I remember being intimidated by the blank walls and the large work table. What was once empty is now bursting with paintings, experimental studies, and sculptures inspired by the land. That large table now holds my largest painting to date.

I carried a wood stump from the beach, which sat in the studio until it was ready to make marks and become a work of art itself. Each piece captures the process of translating Caumsett into color and texture. After the paint, water, and sand fully dried, I brushed off the excess to reveal hidden patterns underneath—a dialogue between materials and nature.

The residency was a whirlwind of teaching, crushing rocks, making paint from the park, and creating artwork inspired by my time here. What started as an experiment evolved into a new series. Some pieces have already found their forever homes (thank you!), some are going to be exhibited this year, but if you see something you connect with, reach out and I’ll connect you with details.

This series, Caumsett in Color, celebrates the elements of earth pigments, paper, sand, salt, water, sunshine, and air. I would also like to acknowledge that this work was created on the ancestral lands of the Matinecock people, who named this place Caumsett, meaning “place by a sharp rock,” and whose enduring connection to this land continues today.

Christie Jones 2/24/26 Christie Jones 2/24/26

THE ROUNDUP: FEBRUARY 2026

Welcome to The Roundup, my monthly collection of interesting, inspiring, and important stories I’ve found about coastal ecosystems, environmental news, and the local arts and conservation scene. Each month, I’ll share links, highlights, and resources to keep you informed, inspired, and connected to the work happening in our communities and the natural world around us.

Big Oil’s Not-So-Secret Weapon For World Domination? Plastic.

READ THE ARTICLE AT ATMOS
Photo Credit: Lara Giliberto

Eyes on the Water

READ THE ARTICLE AT THE NATURE CONSERVANCY NEW YORK
Photo Credit: **Awakened** Surging upward from below, a humpback whale lunges to feed on menhaden. © Joanna Steidle/Hamptons Drone Art

SBU Researchers Seek Global Solutions to Conserve Coral Reefs

READ THE ARTICLE AT SBU NEWS
Photo Credit: SBU News

Christie Jones 3/24/25 Christie Jones 3/24/25

ART PROCESS: ANDY WARHOL PRESERVE PIGMENT COLLECTION

Rocks and pigments on my desk from the Andy Warhol Preserve in Montauk, New York

I’m proudly introducing the five rocks I sourced from the Andy Warhol Preserve in Montauk, NY.

In October 2024 I had the privilege of teaching a handmade watercolor plein air (outdoor) workshop through a grant provided by The Nature Conservancy, and The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts ( @nature.ny & @warholfoundation )

With permission from @nature.ny I carefully selected these five rocks at the private preserve. I’m processing them into fine pigment to turn into paint this spring. The paints will be used as the color basis of a new art collection inspired by the coastal landscape of the Andy Warhol Preserve. This work mirrors my process during my upcoming two month artist residency I will be part of @caumsettfoundation later this summer.

The work is labor intensive - I am literally breaking rocks multiple times over. I will need to grind them, sift them, clean them, dry them, and more. Each time the color passes through my hands I connect more and more with it. This work is a privilege and I don’t take it lightly. I’m grateful to the wisdom of all the paint makers, pigment grinders, conservationists, artists, and indigenous practices that led the path for me to step into this alchemy.