About Sassafrass

I am an artist and designer, creating my work in my home studio in Somerville, MA. My abstract mixed media paintings, prints, coasters and tote bags are inspired by the complex shapes found in nature.

I have been experimenting with watercolor since about 2007 when I took an “exploration of painting” class as part of my M.F.A. It was out of this milieu that my focus on watercolor experimentation began. Early inspiration was drawn from glass objects, creating unique textures, capturing light and color. I’ve enjoyed putting a twist on some of these glass characters by placing them in multi-panel paintings that tell a little humorous story.

Over the past ten years, my work has evolved into more mixed media, abstract work. Nature and vibrant colors are my inspiration. I have been combining the watercolor patterns of my backgrounds with organic, abstract shapes and lines. I play with cutouts of shapes and add in elements of iridescent gold/silver paint, and/or pen and ink. The paintings usually “tell” me what they need through the process. We fight, we break up, and then finally we get back together and the result is the finished piece. Several creative collections have sprung forth from these concepts, such as the Iridescent Iterations, Pen & Ink, and the Tendril Series. In 2021, I began giving new life to my creations by creating Sassafrass merchandise in the form of prints, handmade coasters, totes, and tea towels.

One of my recent additions is The Cerebral Series, inspired from witnessing the impact of Alzheimer’s upon my mom. This painting series, based on neurons, transforming the brain’s complexities into a mesmerizing landscape. Neurons hold beauty in their power, and yet, when they degenerate and cease to function, the effects are devastatingly ugly on cognitive function. Watching how my mother has transformed as a result of this dementia has been heartbreaking. This duality of beauty and ugliness, strength and weakness is what I find most compelling.

I hope to continue evolving these concepts into new and interesting original work in the future.