Harpy Painting

Shana Patry is a painter focusing on animals. She works in a variety of mediums, but prefers oils and acrylics for elaborate projects. Dead animals are often portrayed, lying peacefully as if they were sleeping or waiting for nature to continue its course; illustrating the final step before decay, transformation and rebirth. She depicts surreal scenes as if suspended in time and silence, blending realistic animals with strange elements to create imaginary compositions. She aims to inspire the viewer in finding their own interpretation through their personal values and symbolism. Eyes are the window to the soul, which is why Shana is captivated by them. They appear frequently in her works, as an iconographic symbol or modified in some way, whether they are empty of any life, mangled, numerous, twisted or ghastly. Inspired by death itself, she views it as a crucial balance to life. She hopes to dilute the general apprehension of mortality and to instead help observers see it as something expected, necessary to existence and as the only thing we can be truly certain of... in a reassuring way. Fighting with both an impatient and perfectionist nature, she enjoys torturing herself by painting in a meticulously detailed manner every leaf, strand of fur and texture.