“Fantastic Creatures”, paintings by Cathy Sarkowsky, are multilayered meditations and extrapolations on various fantastic subjects such as seahorses, carnivorous plants, hummingbirds and jellyfish. Each subject has a quality which makes it unique in the physical world.

This work crosses the line between abstraction and representation, reality and imagination, by creating a hybrid in which the viewer may recognize an object and yet be challenged to see it differently, to regard it as a fantastic suggestion of a known subject.

A variety of techniques, including some which produce unpredictable results, were used to apply layers of ink, creating depth, light, intrigue and illusion.

The process of creating a personal vision of these beautiful, functional amazing creatures was driven by curiosity and inspired by the mystery of nature’s peculiarities.