Gaia Pawar Shapiro

Artist Statement

Wandering shadows

on the border of unknown worlds,

multitudes of forms and colours,

losing the self.

Stepping out of myself

observing

theatre sets

contemplative gardens

early morning feelings

walls of trees

vulnerable minds

calm before the storm

secrets

Solitary figures

cool light

blue tones

How the individual responds to the world around them and the world they build for themselves are things I try and answer for myself in the paintings.

Music and literature are a big part of my process.

Music is essential when I am working; it sets the mood and takes me where I need to go for each piece.

Books give me images that I often take into the sketchbook and slowly develop.

The process starts with sketches in pencil, ink and sometimes watercolour.

Mapping out different possibilities for compositions and colours.

Sometimes the ideas sit with me for a while, and other times they turn into paintings pretty quickly.

Recreating the feeling of a solitary walk early in the morning is a mood that I like to capture in my paintings.

I visualise my inner world as a safe house surrounded by a wall of trees; outside, there is chaos.

An isolated figure in an imagined world is one way that I begin to explore within the frame.