Natasa Vretenar

I was born and raised in Sarajevo, ex-Yugoslavia. I lived in a city, but spent many summer and winter breaks with my family in the country, breathing fresh air and surrounded by nature hardly touched by human hand. It was in the mountains of Bosnia that the seed for lifelong love of nature, animals and human interaction with them was planted in my heart. My carefree life was shattered by the war that fragmented the country I grew up in, and I found a new home in North America.

My art is bursting with images from my travels through mountains, prairies, farmlands, deserts, beaches, and badlands. Being in nature, away from city’s hustle and bustle makes me happy, and I hope to transfer some of these feelings on my canvas via bright colors and thick textures. I observe animals in their natural habitat every chance I get, and try to capture not only their likeness on canvas but also their personalities. I find inspiration in fables, myths and legends of my ancestors.