When the wind dies down, and the rain grows gentle

When the wind dies down, and the rain grows gentle consists of large-scale pastel pencil drawings developed through close engagement with small arrangements of natural materials. The drawings depict leaves, twigs, petals, seed pods, and other organic elements rendered at a significantly enlarged scale, forms that are often seen but rarely noticed. The drawings are developed through a process grounded in direct observation. The artist begins by collecting found and foraged materials during long walks through the forests of Upstate New York, where she lives. These materials are in various stages of decay and part of the natural cycle of life, shaped by time and seasonal change. Due to the organic nature of the material, the sculptural arrangements shift over time. As this occurs, the artist casts the forms in plaster, producing three-dimensional records of the compositions at specific moments. The drawings are made in relation to the arrangements; however, the artist enlarges them substantially. This shift in scale slows the act of looking and supports sustained observation of form, proportion, and surface detail. The pastel medium allows for precise layering, enabling careful rendering of tonal transitions and fine structural elements. At the heart of Imani's project is an invitation to look. The drawings ask us to slow down, to pay close attention to subtle details, notice the changes of the natural environment and the passage of time. The works foreground a practice of attentiveness, patience, and close observation as central aspects of both making and viewing.