To approach her work is to momentarily enter a world imbued with something sinuous with life; as if for a suspended time she can reach in and pull some of that essence onto the podium or canvas. If she stays present enough the clay, stone or canvas becomes saturated with the stuff of that river and is transformed into an emotion in physical form.

When figures show themselves to Rive, speak to her of emotions that she might not consciously have been aware of prior to their taking shape ; this is divine communication. This process she considers the first phase of the work.

The second, is the work's necessity to be in the world; to be seen, to inspire its own language that is not hers, but a dialogue that is specifically spoken between viewer and the work. It is the viewer's interpretation and relationship with the art that keeps the essence of the work alive.

There is a moment in the act of creating where Rive feels with absolute clarity that the veil is lifted and she is in the presence of more than herself. It is this moment that she covets, that she continues to come back to, afraid it won't be there, afraid she has used up all her dumb luck, afraid she'll be busted for trespassing onto sacred ground. But she comes back and if she is present enough, hungry enough, humble enough, she lets Rive in and she feasts.

Such feasts can be found, not only in Rive's sculptures, but in her paintings. The subject that earned her recent fame was a tiger. This very naturally led to exploring a niche creating colorful portraits of pets.

Her designs are now available on hats, t-shirts, mugs, pet bowls, and even ornaments.

The essence of her creations have become all the rage at The Urbän Pet in the heart of San Francisco's Presidio Heights.

“Painting, Sculpting”

“Pet Portraits”

“ThePetStar.com”