The Art of Becoming
I’m Linda Drysdale, the artist behind Systir Studio, where I create botanical sculptures and dimensional landscapes primarily from paper.
I’ve always been drawn to the beauty of the natural world, especially the little details we sometimes overlook. The curve of a leaf, the texture of tree bark, the way light filters through a forest. These are the things that inspire me.
“Nature has a way of revealing its beauty in the smallest details. My art is simply my way of holding onto a little of that wonder.”
The Journey of Making
Paper is an endlessly fascinating material.
With a little imagination, patience, and a fair amount of experimentation, it can become something entirely unexpected. I work with fine crepe papers, wire, pigments, and whatever other materials help bring an idea to life. I love discovering new ways to create texture, movement, and depth.
My path to becoming an artist wasn’t exactly a traditional one. I discovered my passion for creating art later in life. What started with individual flowers and botanical forms has gradually grown into more involved sculptural pieces and landscapes.
One of the things I enjoy most about creating art is that I’m always learning. Sometimes a piece begins with a clear idea, and other times it takes me somewhere I hadn’t planned. Either way, I love the challenge of figuring out how to turn what I imagine into something tangible.
My hope is that my work encourages people to pause, look a little closer, and appreciate the beauty and wonder found in nature.
The Story Behind Sysitr Studio
“My sister Judy is the only artist in our family.” Or so I always thought.
She was endlessly creative and frequently tried to persuade me to join her in whatever project she was working on. I usually declined, insisting that she was the talented one.
A few weeks before she passed away, I surprised her by painting a small landscape with her alcohol inks. She loved it and proudly shared it on her Facebook page. At the time, I had no idea how much that little painting, or her encouragement, would eventually mean to me.
When I began my own artistic journey, I wanted my studio’s name to honor her. Systir is the Old Norse word for sister.
Judy had a bright, creative, energetic, and wonderfully magical spirit. Her belief in me helped open a door I might never have walked through on my own. Systir Studio is both a tribute to my sister and a celebration of the creativity she always encouraged me to embrace.
