Rebecca Shapiro | Portland, Oregon USA

Plants fascinate me. As an abstract artist, I am drawn to their exquisite architecture, organic lines and robust palette. The juicy, vibrant colors of a flower capture my heart. I love the folds of petals and rich hues, the way dewdrops glitter and soft shadows pull me deeper into the blossom. I find the lines of tangled branches and twigs enchanting and graceful; buds and leaves dancing on their ends. Complex patterns and amazing fractals, where the whole plant is comprised of identical smaller units, run riot and hold my attention with their subtle symmetry.

I have chosen to paint with encaustic because there is a satisfying unity between the plants that inspire me, the bees that pollinate them and the beeswax. Each layer of wax allows me to be innovative, building my subject with glorious textures and ethereal depth. Sometimes, forty to fifty layers of wax are fused in a piece to abstract the essence of a plant. This sensuous medium gives me the freedom to express my love for the wild braid of colors, lines and forms in plants.

Informed by a childhood in the Pacific Northwest, I strive for sustainable practices in my studio and earth friendly materials in my mediums. I have always embraced a green heart; the eco-movement is a global expression of my personal blueprint. My art stands as an example of what it means to be a sustainable artist seeking kinship between art, nature and the human experience. It offers hope so we may remember the interconnectedness of life.