In May, our floral art theme continues with new paintings by Rachel Austin. Well known at Click for her paintings of birds on maps, Rachel has recently been taking inspiration from the plant world.
Rachel is our featured artist for the month of May, but we are hosting a preview showing Saturday April 22 from 2 – 4pm with an opportunity to meet the artist and chat about her new work. We asked a few questions in advance:
How would you describe what you make?
For the work I’ll be showing at Click in May, I am painting a series inspired by my love of plants both in the garden and out in nature. Some of the show will be from my shadow series, a somewhat abstract look at shadows of plants with watercolor and acrylic. Other pieces in the show will be in a more graphic and colorful look at houseplants in watercolor and gouache.
Can you tell us about your favorite piece in the current collection?
I like how the Dogwood piece turned out and have been enjoying having it up in my studio. I like that it is a little more abstract and has that shadow feeling to me of being in the garden and watching the light play with the shapes of leaves and trees.
If you could collaborate with anyone (living or not), who would it be and why?
I’m loving Milton Avery. Such beautiful paintings. I especially love his paintings of the sea.
When you are in the studio, what are you listening to?
So much Kishi Bashi right now.
What is your most treasured handmade posession?
Looking around my studio I would have to say artwork that has been given to me from other artists and from kids. I love a piece my daughter did when she was four of the two of us in the garden with our dog. It’s a funny little drawing and it makes me smile when I look at it because it looks like we haven’t slept in days and our hair sticks straight out around our heads.
UPDATED 4/20/2017 new photos:
