Rosita Herat

I am a self-taught artist, born and raised in Sri Lanka, now living, and working in Surrey, BC

My interest and enthusiasm for art began at an early age growing up in a tropical island surrounded by golden beaches, rain forests, mountains, lakes, rivers, and most importantly animal life.  My creations are mainly inspired and influenced by a diverse range of sources; to experiences I have had, and relationships to certain places. I learnt to appreciate and respect nature living in such environments.

As an adult, my travels to the wilderness have given me the opportunity to capture the beauty of nature and connect with my true passion.  Having been able to enjoy and experience wildlife in its natural habitat and sharing these moments with my audience is one of the greatest rewards.  My intention is to connect the viewer to the subject of my painting and tell a story be it wildlife, landscape, or flowers.  Conservation and protection of our environment is the deeper message depicted in my paintings.

My attraction to the natural world’s vibrancy of colours and life could be the reason I always come back to flora or fauna as the subject of my painting.  I first identify the shapes with lines and work through values from darkest to the lightest and block in the colours in relationship to each other. I then add highlights and textures to bring drama, life, and energy to my art. My colour palette is often limited but bright, and I strive to use realism as the style in my paintings since it is the best approach to capture the beauty of a bird or animal. I predominantly use acrylics as the main medium and interchangeably use oils, watercolours and coloured pencils depending on the mood and setting. I tend to paint three to four paintings at a time based on compositions I have created off sketches and photos.

I firmly believe that art is a calling and a gift. Being able to capture the beauty from the simplest expression and infusing life in a rendition is a true journey. This creative process ultimately brings me joy and satisfaction, true meaning, and purpose to life.