Hello, there!
I'm Cassandra Shawver
an illustrator, nature enthusiast,
and lover of old things
I enjoy crafting meticulous illustrations - drawing on a desire for scientific understanding, turn-of-the-century design elements and a hereditary penchant for collecting. My most recent work brings these passions to one focus - aiming to highlight small details and connections in the natural world.
My illustrations are directly influenced by my tendency to become absorbed in the tiny, intertwining worlds of flora and fauna. From a very young age, I’ve been insatiably curious about the relationships with their environment and each other, often reaching for my family’s old field guides for context. As an adult, this curiosity has evolved to a desire to collect, record and share this knowledge through my artwork.
I also aim to share my appreciation for every-day objects of the past - particularly those that balance form and function, beautifully fulfilling their intended purpose. I come from a family of passionate Collectors - people who appreciate the stories behind these treasures, researching their histories and imagining those who might’ve used them. My personal collection involves antique field guides, tea sets, typewriters, tiny tins & boxes, and a prized 1910 working microscope, among many other trinkets!
I work from my southern Ohio home studio with views of the Appalachian foothills. Here I am constantly in awe of that wide and rolling expanse - and simultaneously absorbed by the tiny worlds of various critters, insects, mushrooms, and plants out my front door.
Between those two extreme perspectives, I try to live a slow and happy life with my husband, daughter, spotted hound, flock of chickens, and all the insects & animals that our garden unintentionally supports.
