Serenity Captured: Kariba’s Spiritual Art and Nature’s Energy
In Kariba’s studio, light filters through the windows, casting a soft glow over her canvases, each one an invitation into a world where nature’s stillness meets the artist’s inner turmoil. Kariba’s work is an intimate reflection of her journey—of finding peace in moments of chaos, of capturing the ephemeral, and of making sense of life’s contradictions through art. Her paintings, born from deep connection to nature and spirituality, do not simply depict landscapes; they embody the invisible forces at work, the energy and motion within stillness.
Kariba’s brushstrokes echo her deeply mindful approach to life and art, flowing with a rhythm that feels almost meditative. Each stroke is deliberate, yet effortless, like the natural ebb and flow of water, creating layers of oil paint that transform her canvases into living, breathing experiences. Her work is more than a visual journey; it’s an invitation to immerse yourself in the delicate interplay between light and shadow, between motion and stillness. With every brushstroke, Kariba beckons the viewer to pause, to look beyond the obvious, and to feel the quiet energy that pulses beneath the surface. As she puts it, “Painting isn’t just a form of expression—it’s a way to channel the flow of energy, a way to connect with something vast and ineffable, something larger than myself.”
“Ojai Creek in Spring" – Capturing the Fleeting Serenity of Nature
One of the most striking examples of Kariba’s approach is "Ojai Creek in Spring," a piece that resonates with quiet energy. The painting captures a scene of serene beauty—lush greenery and a gentle creek running beneath an overhanging bridge. But the story behind the painting reveals how much more there is beneath the surface. During a day trip to Ojai, Kariba stood by the creek, her dogs running freely nearby, when the sunlight filtered through the trees in a way that took her breath away. She quickly snapped a photo, but as she went to put her phone away, it slipped into the water, shining back at her from beneath the surface. The image she recovered became the inspiration for this work.
Ojai Creek in Spring by Kariba
The brushstrokes in "Ojai Creek in Spring" mirror the soft, flowing movement of the water. Kariba uses long, fluid strokes to depict the creek’s gentle current, blending hues of aquamarine, celadon, and misty blue to create the illusion of movement. The trees, rendered in soft strokes of emerald and fern, seem to lean into the water, their leaves dappling with sunlight. Kariba’s use of color here is particularly nuanced—soft, earthy tones of olive and sage interwoven with brighter splashes of gold and lemon where the light touches the leaves. “I love how oil paints allow me to blend colors to capture the flow of energy,” Kariba explains. “The water here is not just still. It’s rushing, flowing. The colors bleed into each other, just like in nature.”
The peacefulness of the scene is almost palpable, yet it is underscored by a deeper meditation on time and memory. The water moves, yet it reflects; the moment was nearly lost, yet captured forever in paint. “When I look at this piece, it brings me peace,” she says. “It’s a memory, a moment that makes me smile, but also reminds me of how fleeting these moments are. That’s something I try to convey in my work—the idea that beauty is always moving, changing, just like life.”
“Lifeboat" – A Metaphor for Survival and Renewal
In contrast to the tranquil movement of "Ojai Creek in Spring," "Lifeboat" takes the viewer on a more introspective journey, where solitude and survival take center stage. The painting’s initial scene of a solitary boat floating on calm waters may seem serene, but beneath the surface lies a rich tapestry of symbolism and emotional resonance. The evolution of this painting reflects a pivotal moment in Kariba’s life, informed by the foundational lessons she learned from her early mentor, Giesla Dawley.
"Lifeboat" by Kariba
Ms. Dawley encouraged Kariba to embrace freedom in her work, allowing her to choose her subjects and teaching her that mistakes could always be erased or painted over. This notion of flexibility and experimentation was empowering for Kariba, as she began working with chalk pastels before transitioning to oil paints. In one pivotal project, she attempted to recreate a Renoir painting, which opened her eyes to the importance of brushstrokes, texture, and color choices. “I found replicating brushstrokes instead of real objects fascinating,” Kariba recalls. “I wanted to understand why certain colors were chosen and how textures were created.” These early experiments in texture and color continue to shape her approach to painting today.
In "Lifeboat," Kariba’s mastery of these techniques is evident. The water, painted in layers of thinned oil, is rendered with translucent blues and greens—shades of cobalt, aquamarine, and pale turquoise—that evoke both depth and movement. Each brushstroke creates ripples across the sea, capturing the soft undulations of the water’s surface. The boat, painted in muted ochre and terracotta, seems to hover between reality and memory, its presence both grounding and ethereal. The sky is softly blurred, with blue and white blended directly on the canvas to create a horizon that mirrors the fluid transitions of life.
Originally, the painting depicted a palm tree on the shore, but during a difficult period in her life, Kariba revisited the work, replacing the tree with the lifeboat. The boat became a symbol of survival and the support system that helped her through turbulent times. “The boat represents that support system,” she reflects. “But it’s also about solitude, about waiting, about the moment of stillness before you start again.”
Kariba’s early lessons in brushstroke and color blending still resonate in this piece, as she continues to apply multiple colors to the brush, creating a delicate interplay of hues. The translucent waves and blurred sky combine to form a painting that captures not just a visual moment, but a deeper emotional experience of transition and reflection.
"Blazing Sun Over Cool Water" – The Elemental Struggle of Fire and Water
If “Lifeboat" is about quiet survival, then “Blazing Sun Over Cool Water" is an explosion of elemental energy. The painting depicts a blazing sun setting over cool, rippling waves, a study in contrasts—fire and water, heat and coolness, movement and stillness. Here, Kariba’s brushstrokes take on a much more aggressive quality, with thick, swirling strokes of fiery orange and goldenrod radiating outward from the sun. The energy is palpable; the sun appears almost molten, its tendrils reaching out toward the horizon in a cascade of saffron, amber, and copper.
The water, by contrast, is painted in smooth, undulating strokes of deep cerulean, viridian, and cobalt. The transition between the fiery sky and the cool water is seamless, as though the two elements are locked in a dance. “I love working with opposites,” Kariba explains. “There’s something about the tension between fire and water, light and dark, that fascinates me. They’re opposites, but they’re also connected—they create each other.”
"Blazing Sun Over Cool Water" by Kariba
In "Blazing Sun Over Cool Water," the contrast in brushstrokes mirrors the elemental struggle. The sky is alive with texture, with thick layers of paint creating a sense of heat and movement, while the water is smooth, cool, and reflective. The sun, rendered in tangerine, ochre, and marigold, radiates a warmth that seems almost tangible, while the water, painted in shades of indigo and emerald, offers a sense of calmness beneath the surface. The balance between these two forces is what makes the painting so compelling—it is a study in duality, in the way light needs darkness, and fire needs water.
For Kariba, this painting is deeply connected to her spiritual philosophy. “I’ve studied Taoism and Zen meditation, and one of the things that resonates with me is the idea of balance—how we’re all connected, even in our differences. This painting is about that, about how opposites can coexist and even enhance each other.”
Mindfulness and Meditation in Every Stroke
Kariba’s artistic practice is intricately woven with her mindfulness and spiritual path, each gentle stroke and every subtle blend of color reflecting her deep connection to Zen meditation and Taoism. For her, painting is not just an act of creation—it is a meditative journey, a portal to a deeper state of flow where body, mind, and spirit harmonize. "Painting is where I find my peace," she explains. "It’s a space where I can release control, letting the process breathe and evolve organically. I don't impose my will on the canvas; I allow the painting to reveal itself, unfolding naturally, like a soft current."
This approach is evident in her work. In "Ojai Creek in Spring," the flow of water mirrors the flow of energy, the movement of the brush mimicking the movement of nature. In "Lifeboat," the quiet stillness reflects the artist’s own contemplation of survival and solitude. And in "Blazing Sun Over Cool Water," the dynamic brushstrokes capture the tension and balance between opposing forces.
Kariba’s art is not just about capturing beauty—it is about capturing the deeper rhythms of life, the balance between light and dark, stillness and movement, peace and chaos. Each brushstroke is a meditation, each layer of paint a reflection of the artist’s own journey toward balance and peace. “I want my work to bring people into a moment of reflection,” she says. “To help them find their own peace, even if it’s just for a moment.”
A Journey Toward Balance and Expression
Kariba’s artistic practice is a living embodiment of her mindfulness and spiritual journey, with each brushstroke carrying the deliberate, flowing grace of her connection to Zen meditation and Taoism. Her strokes ripple across the canvas like soft waves, and the colors she layers blend and bleed together like mist rolling over a quiet landscape, merging without losing their individuality. Painting, for Kariba, is not merely the act of placing pigment on canvas—it is a meditative ritual, a portal into a space where body, mind, and spirit move in quiet unison. “Painting is where I find my peace,” she explains. “It’s a space where I can release control, letting the process breathe and evolve organically. I don’t impose my will on the canvas; I allow the painting to reveal itself, to emerge naturally.” In her work, each evolving form feels like a breath of air, every brushstroke a whisper of tranquility, inviting the viewer to feel the quiet rhythm of her inner calm and the deeper energies at play in her art.
Looking ahead, Kariba envisions expanding her artistic endeavors into new territories, particularly through murals and community-oriented projects that embed art within the everyday fabric of public life. Public art holds a unique capacity to transcend traditional boundaries, turning commonplace environments into spaces of contemplation, connection, and shared beauty. By bringing her work into the streets, Kariba aims to create moments where people can pause amidst their daily routines, allowing art to disrupt the ordinary and provide opportunities for reflection. “Art for me is like breathing,” she says. “It finds its way in and out of my life, despite everything else. I want to share that experience—how art can provide balance, a way to express gratitude for life’s beauty even when things feel overwhelming.”
Murals, in particular, embody this philosophy by integrating art into the pulse of communal spaces, creating accessible works that belong to everyone. In Kariba’s view, public art fosters an essential dialogue between the artwork and the community, transforming otherwise mundane surroundings into sites of aesthetic and emotional engagement. Her commitment to public art is driven by a profound belief in the interconnectedness of all things—a recognition that art can serve as a bridge, offering a delicate balance between the complexities of chaos and calm, between light and shadow. Public works thus become an inclusive invitation for individuals to experience art in a deeply personal way, nurturing moments of serenity and gratitude in the shared experience of everyday life.
Her current work involves revisiting older pieces, refining them in ways that reflect her own growth as an artist. In her Ventura studio, she continues to explore themes of serenity, nature, and personal transformation. "I love revisiting older paintings, especially when I’ve grown as a person," Kariba reflects. "It’s like they evolve alongside me. I can take something that once felt unfinished or unresolved and give it new life."
She is also focused on using her studio space to teach and share her process with others. "Teaching has helped me articulate my voice," she says. "When I teach students, I see how creativity unfolds in front of them, and it echoes my own process. Helping others find their voice through art is one of the most rewarding parts of what I do." Kariba has also connected with at-risk youth to provide them with a creative outlet, offering them a space to express their emotions and find personal empowerment through painting.
Kariba’s journey as an artist has evolved into a mission not only of creation but of fostering community, collaboration, and visibility for other artists through her project Free Form Life. Understanding firsthand the challenges of marketing art, she seeks to provide a platform where artists can share their work more widely and collaborate on projects, helping them navigate the often difficult landscape of self-promotion. "I’ve spent years finding ways to market my art, and now I want to help others do the same," she explains. For both artists and collectors, art is a powerful medium of expression—collectors choose pieces that resonate with their personal experiences, while artists imbue their work with their unique voice. This shared connection is what makes art so vital in the world; it serves as a bridge between creator and viewer, offering moments of reflection, inspiration, and emotional connection. Kariba emphasizes that art should not remain hidden—it needs to be experienced, touched, and seen. By offering support and guidance, she helps ensure that art, with all its personal and collective significance, reaches the people who need it, allowing both artists and collectors to express and connect through the beauty of creative expression.
Balance Through Color, Connection Through Art
Color forms the very soul of Kariba’s work, not merely as an aesthetic tool but as a profound metaphor for the human experience. She often likens the dynamic interplay of colors to individuals within a community—how they blend, enhance, and complement each other, yet remain distinct, each retaining its own identity while contributing to something greater. “When colors come together, they don’t disappear into one another—they retain their individuality while creating something larger. It’s the same with people,” she explains. “We’re all distinct, but we bring something unique to the whole. That’s what I try to capture in my paintings—the individuality and connection, all in one.”
In pieces like "Lifeboat" and "Blazing Sun Over Cool Water," Kariba harnesses vivid, contrasting colors to evoke deep emotional resonance. The scorching oranges, burnt siennas, and radiant golds of the sun in "Blazing Sun Over Cool Water" swirl aggressively against the calm, midnight blues and rich indigos of the water, embodying the eternal tension between fire and water, creation and destruction. These hues are not just aesthetic choices; they symbolize life’s paradoxes—how light emerges from shadow, how chaos births order. Similarly, in "Ojai Creek in Spring," the soft aquas and muted earth tones whisper of serenity, the gentle motion of water and the quietude of nature. The interplay of celadon greens with sandy ochres, touched by flashes of sunlight in delicate lemon, conveys the peaceful energy Kariba draws from moments of reflection and stillness.
Each brushstroke Kariba lays on the canvas is not merely a technical gesture but a conduit for emotion and energy, pulling the viewer beyond the surface of paint into the depths of her personal journey. Her paintings are not simply visual artifacts; they resonate with the lived experience of growth, resilience, and the profound connections that tie us to the world around us. “Art speaks where words sometimes fall short,” she says. “It’s a way to connect with others, to share my journey, and to invite them into their own.”
A Vision for the Future
As Kariba envisions the future, her aspirations extend beyond personal growth as an artist; they encompass a broader goal of art as a catalyst for social transformation. "I feel like now is the time to really take my work to the next level," she says, emphasizing her shift toward subjects that evoke joy—flowers, pets, music—and how these themes can foster a sense of communal well-being. "I’m exploring new subjects and looking for new ways to connect with the community."
Murals, a prominent feature of her evolving vision, offer not only aesthetic enhancement but also a deeper social dialogue. Her plans to collaborate with local businesses to create public murals reflect a conscious effort to democratize art by embedding it in the everyday lives of people. "There’s something powerful about bringing art into the everyday," she reflects. "It makes it more accessible, more integrated into people’s lives. I love the idea that someone could be walking down the street and encounter my art—maybe it will make them pause, reflect, or simply smile." However, the murals also challenge the transient nature of modern life, urging people to confront art in moments they least expect—an accidental engagement with creativity that disrupts routine.
From this perspective, Kariba’s murals transcend mere decoration; they become sites of emotional resonance, where public and private reflections meet. Her work blurs the boundary between art as a passive experience and art as an active conversation with the viewer. It invites a shared space where individual interpretation can flourish, linking personal introspection with communal experience.
Kariba’s desire for connection runs deeper than community engagement; it intertwines with a spiritual pursuit of balance and mindfulness. "I want to help people find balance in their own lives, just as I try to find it in mine," she says. "Whether it’s through art, meditation, or simply slowing down and appreciating the beauty around us—there’s always something we can do to bring more peace into our lives."
In Kariba's hands, the brush becomes an instrument of dialogue, not just a visual medium but a way to bridge the inner and outer worlds. Through her art, she creates sanctuaries of contemplation, inviting stillness in an otherwise hurried existence. Each piece becomes more than a painting; it is a quiet call to mindfulness, a gentle reminder that even in the fast-paced flow of modern life, moments of tranquility and connection are always within reach if we allow ourselves the time to notice them.
The Heart of Kariba’s Artistic Voice
At the heart of Kariba’s work lies a profound reverence for nature, not merely as a backdrop but as a mirror reflecting life’s deeper currents. Her brushstrokes don’t just capture landscapes; they invite us to examine the shifting landscapes within ourselves—the delicate balance between chaos and calm, between movement and stillness. In each piece, whether it's the serene waters of *Ojai Creek in Spring,* the quiet solitude of *Lifeboat,* or the explosive energy of *Blazing Sun Over Cool Water,* Kariba speaks to something far beyond the canvas. Her art transcends time and place, evoking universal themes of contemplation, resilience, and the search for inner peace.
As an artist, Kariba’s journey is one of perpetual growth, yet her central philosophy remains unwavering: art is a reflection of life’s intricate beauty and interconnectedness. Her work offers a sanctuary for viewers, a space where they can pause and reconnect with the stillness they might have forgotten amidst life’s relentless pace. Kariba’s paintings are not just visual experiences—they are emotional touchstones, guiding us back to the balance we all seek.
But just as her art evolves, so too does Kariba's creative path. As she delves into new themes and pushes the boundaries of her own expression, a question begins to surface: what will emerge next from this artist’s ever-expanding vision? Her next creation might just change the way we see the world—and ourselves—forever.
