Meet Kate Shaffer

Artist Statement

I use a mixed media approach to my series “The Healing Magic of Trees.” Charcoal, graphite, paint, texture mediums, and collage come together to create a multi-layered, sensory experience that brings you into the heart of the forest. Drawing on my Scottish heritage I use pen and ink to add Celtic-inspired details to evoke the surface of the bark.  

Approaching the canvas, I first consider what feeling I want the work to have. I choose my color palette to convey the most important traits of the tree. For me, colors have intuitive meanings: blue for peace, red for strength and resilience, green for renewal and new life, and yellow for joy. Each stroke, shape, and texture is meant to evoke the feeling of the forest. The strokes, whether rapid or long and languid, communicate a feeling of what it was like to be near that tree.

For me, trees are a powerful example of how we can respond to the unpredictability of the environment around us. Trees endure storms, drought, lightning, and even fire, and continue to grow, slowly making their way to the ancient wisdom of old age. Trees are also a source of sanctuary and hope: they listen and do not judge; they lift our eyes up to the promise of the sun. I wish to capture these restorative qualities in my paintings, offering those who may feel lost or hurt an experience of hope and healing.