Rhea O'Neill

Lives and works in Scotts Valley, CA

Artist statement

Artist Statement- I make oil paintings that elevate the natural world. Often modest in scale, but brimming with life. My paintings focus on small environments, exploring their intricate structures with vibrant colors and delicate details. Historically, people have viewed flora and fauna as separate from humanity. My work seeks to challenge this distinction by acknowledging the vitality and sentience of the world around us. Through intimate perspectives that bring the viewer to the level of my subjects, I aim to foster a sense of empathy, closeness and connection. My dense, richly layered compositions are influenced by the forest-floor painters and naturalists of previous centuries. While careful observation and accuracy remain important to my practice, I sometimes depart from strict representation in favor of more dramatic, animated scenes that capture the exuberance of the natural world. I have become increasingly drawn to the sense of escape that nature offers. This may seem frivolous in these tumultuous times, yet perhaps, now more than ever, we need to find solace in the everyday wonders that surround us. My paintings invite a closer look at the lives unfolding beyond our immediate awareness, encouraging a renewed appreciation of the complexity and beauty of our natural environment. A hectic, overstimulated existence has deepened my desire to focus on lives untethered from technology and human concerns. The natural world holds complexities we barely understand; it...

Artwork