Cypress Rabke

My name is Cypress Rabke, I am currently attending RISD with a major in printmaking, I like to make watercolors and pen and ink illustrations of nature, specifically depicting arid ecosystems such as West Texas, and recently I have been very interested in tapestry patterns. I have always been interested in the small things in nature like lizards and frogs, and I have always had an interest in biology. I combine my interests in the natural world and biology with detailed pen-and-ink drawings, and recently watercolor paintings. Through my work, I explore the intricacies of nature, using close observation as well as my imagination to reflect the complexity of biological forms. Recently, I’ve begun incorporating geometric elements to juxtapose organic structures with precise, human-imposed shapes—highlighting the contrast between nature’s inherent order and our concept of ‘perfect’ order, I plan to continue adding more interesting patterns into my work in the future.– Cypress Rabke