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.

In participating with the images she wants the viewer to envisage that flowers are beautiful like humans; humans are beautiful like flowers. Diversity is everywhere; diversity is needed. Each flower and leaf has a story to tell just like all humans. This portfolio has three sections, Flower Landscapes, Flower Compositions and Flower Individuals because when creating she lets  the flowers lead the way. The Flower Landscapes are about how flowers interact with each other to create a conversation. Flower Compositions are about the collective effort. They have large main flowers but they need the support of tiny flora. Flower Individuals are about isolating single pieces of nature allowing them to shine on their own, reflecting a similar need in humans.

Her studio  is equipped with an Epson P8000 because she loves the process of printing. It is very stimulating to her to see a five foot flower emerge. It is also just as rewarding to see  a twelve inch flower emerge because within each flower beauty is to be seen. After much research of archival paper her photos are printed on a rag matte paper. The non reflective deep black enhances the colors resulting in an image that brings the flora to center stage.

She is represented at Portland Art Museum Rental Sales Gallery.