Artist Statement

The Dryad’s Garden 

dryad (draɪˌæd) n. in Greek mythology, a nymph or nature spirit that lives in the forest and inhabits trees

 

Hello, my name is Eliana Kotsias. I am a visual artist located and working in Asheville, North Carolina. Throughout my entire life, I have been fascinated by the whimsy of the natural world we reside in. The life contained in plants and flora is something I find truly enchanting. I hope to capture that life and energy in my artistic creations. My work illustrates the connections between childhood, imagination, and nature. The natural world always provided a safe haven for me as a child, and I often found great comfort in being surrounded by trees and plants. I wish to create a whimsical and dreamlike portrayal of growth through youth, its connection to nature, and the growth of flora and fauna.

 

The story of my art dances back and forth between realism and surrealism. For many of my youngest years - more or less up until the age of 6 or 7 - all of my memories feel blurry and distant. At that age, it was difficult to discern between my imagination and reality. The concept behind The Dryad’s Garden represents my ethnic background and experiences making up my childhood. My Greek roots connect me to the beings that are dryads, and my German family introduced me to a love of plant life and flowers. 

My art is a gateway into the whimsical way I viewed the world in my younger years and my artwork encompasses what can be found in The Dryad’s Garden.

Thank you for reading. You can find more below:

 

Etsy Shop: The Dryad's Garden

Email: thedryadsgarden@gmail.com

Instagram: @thedryadsgarden

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