Phyllis Shafer’s plein-air paintings are a mesmerizing blend of fantasy and the serene beauty of the American West. Her work captures natural landscapes with verdant foliage, surreal skies, and swirling clouds, creating illustration-like paintings that twist reality. Shafer’s intricate details and beautiful plants depict the flora of the American West with remarkable accuracy, yet her compositions are tinged with an almost magical quality.
Shafer’s artistic philosophy intertwines space and time. She believes that the spatial stretch in her paintings relates to the progression of her life, with each piece offering a glimpse into her personal journey. Her plein air techniques allow her to capture the immediacy and changing light of the landscape, while her unique perspective adds a layer of depth and meaning. The mountains and biologically accurate plants in her work are not just backdrops but integral elements that contribute to the narrative of her art.
The longer I’ve painted, the more I’ve extended my focal range. A spatial stretch in my paintings relates to time and maybe the progression of my life. Space is a way of laying out time.
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