Sophie Frieda

Oil paintings

All plant life is filled with mystery and emotion. I want to explore and unveil this in my work.

When I moved to the Pacific Northwest, I became drawn to the local flora and fauna. After years of painting landscapes, I delved into the powerful, up-close world of florals and botanicals.

Combining the realism of the subject matter, and the abstract organic shapes, challenges and excites me. By zooming in, I’m able to explore the realistic image as well as observing the abstract shapes and values that combine to make up the subject and composition.

The energy, movement, structure and geometry of the subject matter, together with the strong contrast of dark and light, helps create a spectrum of various moods and emotions which emanate from the subject matter. I try to capture these feelings in my work.

Recently, making several trips to Seattle via the ferry, I have been intrigued by the city skyline with all the nuances of light and atmosphere at different times of the day. These images have inspired me to create a series of cityscapes where I am endeavoring to capture the magic of the urban landscape.