Cypress Rabke is a senior at St. Mary’s High School in San Antonio, Texas, with plans to pursue a degree in fine arts. Inspired by the natural world, Cypress draws on the rhythms of nature to guide his creative process and aspires to spend as much time as possible in the desert landscapes he loves. His work is rooted in the dynamic relationship between art and nature, and he plans to attend Rhode Island School of Design in the Fall while always fostering his connection with the natural world. “I combine my interests in the natural world and biology with detailed pen-and-ink drawings, and occasionally loose sketches or watercolor paintings. Through my work, I explore the intricacies of nature, using close observation as well as my imagination to reflect the complexity of biological forms. Recently, I’ve begun incorporating geometric elements to juxtapose organic structures with precise, human-imposed shapes—highlighting the contrast between nature’s inherent order and our concept of ‘perfect’ order.”– Cypress Rabke