Currently residing in Puerto Rico, artist Willow Rea was born and raised on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The youngest of three daughters, Willow's creative influence started at a young age. Being raised by parents who were lifelong musicians instilled a love for music which then led to an interest in visual arts and design. Willow sites her grandfather as a huge inspiration in her painting and printmaking. Although he died when Willow was young, he was a great influence in her life and his painting and drawing style often appears in her current creations.
Willow draws her inspiration from everyday life, the ocean and music, and describes her artistic style as semi-abstract, with impressionist influence. Most of her creations are made using recycled materials. She uses repurposed wood as the base of her paintings or will use wood scraps to create the frames in which she stretches her canvas. Willow incorporates fabric, plants and single use materials into her paintings, giving them a new life.
