Matriarch 01 by Crystal Smith. Mixed media on paper. "The Asian elephant has been endangered since 1986. In Sri Lanka, the killing of an elephant carries the death penalty, a harsh reminder of our responsibility towards the natural world.

The subject of my works often returns to the natural world including animals that are being threatened, as a witness to this point in time, viewing our encroachment and interference. The method and materials of my work reflects the many layered complex problems and solutions of these issues. Each image works to capture the viewers attention and create empathy, understanding, concern and awareness.

I create work by building tangled layers of materials and techniques. Experimenting with combinations I resolve a mess of textures, blending and colour into emotions and images. From pencil lines to thick paint, transparent to opaque, I play with subtle and obvious to encourage further consideration.

Natural and industrial textures affect me. Turquoise rust on a wall, tea bag stains, or layers of trampled leaves on the sidewalk all become inspiration for my work. These visuals are starting points for experimenting with materials, translating images into artwork."