(UO Deady Hall – pen & ink, 17” 14”, 2010 (1 of 12 on permanent display at UO) by Natasha Novara)
I’ve been an artist for as long as I can remember. Art has always been my escape, my sanctuary, the place where the rest of the world fades away, leaving just me and my imagination. I’ve never been one to settle on a single medium; I’m always exploring, always searching for something new.
Growing up on a small horse ranch in southern Oregon, you’d rarely find me without a pencil and sketch pad in hand. I drew everything I saw, horses, trees, and the quiet rhythm of country life. That early curiosity stayed with me through the years and evolved into a lifelong creative journey.
While studying architecture at the University of Oregon, I discovered my love for pen and ink. That became my primary medium during what I now think of as my “line and light” phase, a time of exploration that deeply shaped the way I see form and structure today. One of my pen-and-ink works from that era is now part of a permanent public collection at the University of Oregon, a milestone that remains deeply meaningful to me.
After college, I moved to Central Oregon and dove into my career as a residential designer, my “3D art” phase. Architecture became another form of artistic expression, a way to bring imagination into the physical world. Through my studio, Sophiera Studios, I continue to design high-end homes that reflect the same sense of balance, detail, and creativity found in my artwork.
A few years ago, becoming a grandmother reignited my passion for drawing. With that spark, I began creating hand-drawn coloring books and launched Rogue Clover Press, a small art venture celebrating imagination and craft. My featured piece, Santa Dear, is a mixed-media work combining pen and ink with colored pencil and watercolor paint pens, a nod to my love of layering texture and tone.
Imagination is the thread that runs through everything I do, whether I’m designing a home, sketching by the fire, or working on my next creative project. For me, art isn’t just what I do; it’s the language I live by.