Meet Shamalee
I grew up in Sri Lanka, surrounded by vibrant colors, nature, and creativity. With both of my parents being artists, making art was part of everyday life and shaped how I learned to observe and respond to the world visually and emotionally. Painting started early for me and never really stopped—over time, it became more than an interest; it became my language.
Painting is now a daily studio practice. I approach each canvas intuitively, starting with a mood or inner response rather than a fixed plan, and letting the work develop through layered color, form, and movement. I’m drawn to loose, expressive brushstrokes, allowing parts of the painting to remain open and imperfect.
I work in oil, acrylic, and mixed media, choosing materials based on what each piece calls for.
My recent work moves between abstraction and the human figure, exploring emotion, memory, and personal experience. I’m interested in the quiet presence a figure or form can carry, while leaving space for viewers to bring their own interpretations.
I’m drawn to abstraction because it creates space for ambiguity, interpretation, and personal connection. Each painting is meant to be experienced rather than explained, inviting viewers to bring their own stories and feelings into the work.
Now based in Oregon, I continue to develop my studio practice and share my work through exhibitions, local art events and my website. I also teach art classes for children, which has become another meaningful part of my creative life.
As my work continues to evolve, my goal is to create paintings that people can experience rather than simply explain. If a painting makes someone pause, feel something, or discover something new over time, then it has done what I hope it will do.
Shamalee Rajapakse
