Artist Statement

Fretta Cravens is an internationally known Portland, Oregon fine art photographer who loves nature, beauty, and the beauty of nature. Her work brings additional beauty into this world, that can sometimes feel filled with chaos and ugliness. Her art captures the time and space of botanicals through photography. Inspired by Georgia O’Keeffe, Cravens enlarges flowers and plants, inviting the viewer to take the time to fully engage in their beauty. Subtly confrontational, details are revealed, and a dialogue begins. The viewer and nature become equals, both deserving of care and study.

The images are an intersection of her interest in paper making, drawing and photography. The inspiration for her series began when dead flowers were placed on flatbed scanner to demonstrate the power of its camera head.The result was an image with detailed clarity and varied depth of field that was both surreal and painterly. That day the scanner became a new tool in her lexicon of artist’s tools. The bed of the scanner is seen as a blank piece of paper waiting to be drawn upon. The flora arrangements are done in one layout session that are reminiscent of her pastel drawings. All of her work is printed on archival rag paper imported from France in her studio.

She is represented at Portland Art Museum Rental Sales Gallery.