Sasha Sheppard
MEET THE ARTIST
Aleksandra (Sasha) Sheppard is a Botanical and mixed media artist living in Bedford Nova Scotia. Her key vision is to celebrate the beauty and resilience of wild flowers and seaweed, and elevate this centuries-old art form.
As a landscape architect with over 20 years of experience her inspiration comes from daily walks on the beach (foraging seaweed on low tide) and in the forest (collecting plant material), observing nature.
She is using traditional slow pressing techniques at her studio to ensure her work is created with minimum impact on the planet. Each piece of Sasha’s art work is unique; she has a number of collections, ranging from contemporary collage styles through to more classic and vintage collection.
Her works are featured in Windsor Studio & Art market, Lunenburg Art Gallery, Flower Street Florist (Dartmouth, NS), Tides Contemporary Art Gallery, Windsor Studio & Art Market, and Lunenburg Art Gallery Society. She is a member of Nova Scotia Art and Craft Show, Windsor Makers and Lunenburg Art Gallery Society.
I want my art to be a reminder of the ever changing world around us and be a part of the conversation of how we can preserve it for future generations.
My art is inspired by elements of nature, diversity, colours, texture and movement. I am obsessed with the beauty of botanicals, especially seaweed. Walking daily on the beach during low tide, searching for pieces of seaweed, inhaling salty air and imagining new designs in my mind are part of my creative process.
Sustainability is very important to me. I am a small-batch pressor. I make sure seaweed is ethically and sustainably foraged, flowers and grasses locally grown and leaves for botany painting are harvested responsibly.
I use traditional slow pressing techniques in the studio to ensure my works are created with minimum impact on the planet. Slow pressing techniques have also allowed me to experiment with the shape of a plant and preserve vibrant colours. Working with delicate forms of botanicals always brings childhood memories of grandmother’s garden and my fist experiments with plants. Botanicals often lead me to which media to use: watercolour, acrylic, ink, graphite or collage.
With my art, I want to celebrate the beauty and resilience of Nature, bring happiness, colour and light into my life and maybe yours.
A Labour of Love
Each Botanical art piece is truly labour of love. Whatever it is – bridal bouquet preservation, baby’s initials, a memorial piece, personalized floral gifts, greeting cards or a frame filled with pressed botanicals—each of them full of love, emotions, memories and telling a story. I love pressing botanicals: flowers, leaves, glasses, moss and everything in between. I love to imagine how each of these plants will look in the frame, movement, colours, backgrounds and what kind of frame will suit. I love to help you to preserve your memories. When you look at your unique timeless gift, I want you to feel happier, lighter, loved.
Sustainability is very important for me and my business. I always encourage brides to choose locally grown flowers. My flower presses are made from recycled material. I also love to reuse pre-loved frames (especially vintage ones) and I press botanicals in the old-fashion way (I don’t use a microwave or silica gel). Locally grown flowers are always much fresher and most of them are no-spray. The freshness of the flowers is reflected in the quality and colour of the pressed botanicals.
Pressing flowers to perfection is a pretty long process (it takes up to 12 weeks), but a fascinating one! I never really know how each plant will turn out—if it will keep its colour, if it will get moldy, if it will be too dry and fragile. Each time I open the press, it’s magic. My absolute favourite part of my business is creating a keepsake and one of the kind piece of art; painting memories with flowers and telling your story. Please inquire for commissions!