"I am an artist.  I view each canvas as a playground for my psyche. Each painting evolves sponaneously and intuitively."

Raina was born and raised in Southern California. As a young adult, she moved to Arizona to attend Prescott College where she earned a BA degree in Environmental Studies.

Art had always been a part of Raina's life, and she had often dreamed of becoming an artist, but she was reluctant to fully commit to her artwork because of typical fears that people have about choosing that career path. One day while browsing through a roommates copy of a Griffin and Sabine book, an overwhelming feeling came over her, and she knew she could no longer ignore the yearning inside her.

In the year 2000, Raina decided that she had to act, and within a weeks' time she had applied to the University of Arizona's art program, quit her job, and gave notice to her house mates that she was moving to Tucson!  From that moment on the Universe seemed to support her in her decision, and propel her forward toward the goal of becoming a true artist, making it obvious to Raina that she had made the best decision of her life. 

Raina's artwork incorporates her studies in printmaking, life drawing, and painting.  She views each canvas as a playground for her psyche. Each piece evolves naturally and intuitively with little structure or expectation about the final outcome. Through this organic approach to artmaking, Raina believes that she taps into and expresses universal themes that many people can identify with.  Through complex layering of acrylic paint and ink, with a focus on nature or the female form, she creates meaningful, evocative works that draw her viewers in, and expresses her deep love and connection with the natural world.

www.raintree-studios.com/