Sandra Benhaim

In my artwork I use oil paint and pigment sticks on canvas, wood panels, and prepared paper. The amazing wonders in the world offer me enormous inspiration. My paintings are an expression and celebration of my passion for nature and all its splendor of color and variety. Layers of color, as well as juxtaposed hues, are used to create a visual energy that fascinates me. After working in a representational manner for many years, “little pieces of landscapes” began to mix in my artwork with true abstractions of color and texture.
For some time now, many of my images have been purely abstract, expressing in unabashed, exuberant color my enthusiasm for the natural world. I have also begun to investigate collage much more fully, by creating works on paper and other surfaces. Besides paint, crayon, and oil pastel, my collages use colored, textured papers, flyers, maps and such. Visits to Paris, the “City of Light” and also to some exotic isles have provided many of the items I’ve used in my collages. In essence, my abstract works are about “place” and are landscape-inspired, but they are not a representation of a specific location. The viewer is welcome to enter my “worlds” through imagination, memory, and reverie.