I am an oil painter, printmaker, and illustrator. My work blends my passion for nature and my fascination with the mystery and ambiguity of the subconscious. Through my mark making and attention to detail, I hope to convey my view of the natural world as both infinite and ethereal. The subject matter of my work generally consists of humans, animals, and/or imagined creatures in quasi-magical settings, blended with fantasy landscapes, and universal symbols inspired by dreams. Stylistically, my work could be considered contemporary realism or pop surrealism. I strive for a naturalistic depiction of my subject, while also taking textural and coloristic liberties. The core of my work across all mediums is to combine my lived experiences with imagined realities.

Clarissa Kear is a Philadelphia based artist who was born and raised in rural Bucks County, Pennsylvania. She is currently pursuing her BFA at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts with a major in painting and a minor in printmaking. It was here that she was trained in figure painting, portraiture, anatomy and printmaking. She also furthered her conceptual and technical training at the New York Academy of Arts 2019 Summer Undergraduate residency. 

Clarissa now applies these fundamental techniques to her more immersive subconscious expressions that are based off of reality, but done primarily from imagination. Her work aims to convey the connectivity of all living beings through a wide variety of mediums. 

She is currently pursuing a certificate at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts through the Von Hess Memorial Travel scholarship award.