Sophia Buddenhagen, Houston
Member Since January 2012
Artist Statement "Buddenhagen, who received her BFA from University of Houston in 2000, draws on travel and life experiences in creating mixed media canvases with a distinctive “surf art” style. Her layered graphic elements bring to mind features of street art, though authentic renderings of sea birds and playful depictions of other animals add stratum of visual interest to the works. Buddenhagen’s abstract canvases often incorporate her trademark textures and vibrate with the energy of broad, warm spectrum color palettes."
BIO
Sophia was born to Greek American parents in Fulda Germany. Sophia currently resides in Houston, Texas where she studied at the University of Houston and earned her BFA degree in 2000. Sophia’'s travels and life experiences are reflected in her Abstract and Surf inspired art. Each painting consists of color, words, letters, numbers and familiar imagery. She uses mixed media such as acrylic, water color, spray paint, ink and oil paint sticks to enhance the visual multiple layers and textural aspects of her paintings. Sophia believes art is a way to help people expand upon their creativity and to become more aware of their world and people around them.
ARTIST STATEMENT
My abstract paintings consist of color, random words, letters and numbers. I use mixed media such as acrylic, water color, spray paint, ink, and oil paint sticks to enhance the visual and textural aspects of my work. When I work with my various media I am reminded that each layer, color and stroke is a layer of moment in time, whether it being now, the future or the past. I begin a piece by creating a white wash followed by a water color wash. I know a piece is done when the layers work well with each other and the color and composition is balanced. I create the work I do to reflect upon my life, current, past, future experiences, thoughts, dreams and imaginations. I go through my process of layers, mediums and colors in hopes that the viewer can enjoy what I put into it and get something out of it. My goal is to continue keeping it real. My paintings have multiple layers just as people do. The layers of life, things we have done, thoughts that have gone through our minds, choices we make, places we have been and so forth. I use lettering and numbers to represent places, sometimes it can be words, phrases, places, birthdates, dates of special days, flight numbers, airport terminals, seat numbers, passport numbers, confirmation codes, random mixes of letters and numbers or just used for compositional purposes. In addition to abstract art I paint birds, waves and surfers. I am continually evolving my work. I am always pushing my boundaries. I continue to explore the meaning of my work and how I approach the subject. I believe art is a way to help people learn more about themselves and expand upon their creativity and to become more aware of their world and people around them.
Click to save as artist's preferred kit 
