I met Thea years ago while waiting for our daughters outside their kindergarten school. She introduced herself as a photographer, but I soon discovered that she was far more than that, more an abstract artist who played with her images, painted them, and was always exploring different techniques. Indeed, the only constant in her work, her muse, was, and is, her fascination with Nature.

Her technique is elaborate and provides an extraordinary effect.  She uses heated beeswax to develop deeply atmospheric images, richly veiled with hues of honey and amber, soft gray and bluish tints.

Her ‘encaustic’ paintings remind you of ancient Byzantine iconic paintings but the role of the saint is replaced by images of swaying grass, ripe persimmons on the winter branches, and rolling hills where the only visitors are flying birds. Her work has a calming edge, a point at which abstraction and figuration meet.

Thea views nature in its most serene state. It’s also a vision of complete harmony between artist and subject.

Here is what my questions were to Thea Schrack

What is your favorite place in San Francisco?  North Beach

What is your favorite garden?  The Lost Gardens of Heligan in England

Who inspires you the most?  Writers in general.

The latest great book you read?  With Out a Map: a Memoir by Merdith Hall

The latest great show you visited?  Pam Sheehan at the Paul Thiebaud Gallery