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Welcome to the finale of Artisan Nature! This week we're looking at how we can be inspired by nature through different art forms, and we'll be learning about local artists who combine art and nature professionally!
How might you try these different art forms involving nature?
How might you try these different art forms involving nature?
Visual
Drawing
Painting
Photography
Sculpting
Written
Storywriting
Poetry
Performing arts
Dance
Music
Theatre
Meet several local artists who find inspiration in nature!
Meet several local artists who find inspiration in nature!
Photo provided by Bonnie Zimmer
Bonnie Zimmer
Bonnie Zimmer
"The organic shaped objects in nature, with their unique textures and colors have always inspired my artwork and often provided the actual materials I use to create my art.
Sticks, rocks, bark, pods, leaves, all the parts of corn - the husks, stems, stock, are all materials I collect and use in my art. I especially love to make sculptures. I sew and weave my forms together usually."
Photo provided by Mark Vander Vinne
Mark Vander Vinne
Mark Vander Vinne
"Being a landscape painter, nature plays an important role in my art in a few different ways.
As a child, I was fortunate to travel much of the western United States and see the National Parks and grand vistas they provide. When travelling long distances by car, sometimes the only thing I could do was look out the window at the passing landscapes. That taught me to admire each location for what it was and find beauty everywhere in nature. I brought this love of the landscape home and soon began to see the beauty in what was familiar to me — the farms, fields and forests of the Midwest."
Photo provided by Patti Shaffner
Patti Shaffner
Patti Shaffner
"I'm a life long resident of Northwest Indiana. I was born in Gary and raised in the Miller Beach/Aetna communities. I spent a good deal of my childhood on a farm in the area and my days were often spent exploring closely everything that grew and walked and flew and crawled.....how trees grew from the earth and spread graciously into the sky...how the structure of things held space for small wonders.
Then too, the lakeshore was often our only vacation and so I also explored everything from a grain of sand to the way water looked as waves tickled your toes and the way patterns form as light hits beach stones in the late afternoon...how dune grass leaves etchings in the sand...how a beetle leaves behind a trail as it meanders. I've always been drawn to creatively express myself....and to see the smallest of things...and thus it feels natural, in my work to allow the intricacies of nature to show up....the ones that are often overlooked when we only take in the larger vista."
Click here to read and see more!
Photo provided by Lindsey Preston, background art by Corey Crum
Ryan & Lindsey Preston
Ryan & Lindsey Preston
Ryan's statement:
Growth Through Obstacles
"The phrase above is a concept that we apply to many facets of the world we continually build. It is a philosophy where adapting to unforeseen challenges enables us to evolve into stronger beings and creators. When presented with various obstacles, we deconstruct materials, thoughts, and processes and reconstruct those parts into a new whole. While the result may not be one we had planned for, it is our ability to react to and see past the moment where obstacles feel like limitations that actually empowers us all, giving birth to new products greater than the sum of their reconstructed pieces and nurtures our continual growth and evolution."
Lindsey's statement:
"My artwork is inspired by the natural work. I like to view nature from multiple perspectives such as aerial and microscopic views. I translate the shapes and colors I see into my work. I also enjoy using plant material in my ceramic pieces to make creative arrangements."
Photo provided by Kristina Knowski
Kristina Knowski
Kristina Knowski
"Nature, and her struggles, are highly present in my work. Birds are my main motif to express the pains and struggles of non-human life in our modern world. To respect and appreciate birds is to respect and appreciate nature. My art has become an act of reconciliation as I advance my artistic endeavors and spread awareness to these issues. I continue to find inspiration from nature through birding, hiking, and meeting others who share the same love and respect."
Photo provided by Suzy Vance
Suzy Vance
Suzy Vance
"The actual process of working with fiber is my way of embracing my journey from beginning to end. Through my creations I hope to imbue gratitude in each of us for all that we are and all that contributes to us,,,each day…every moment…and to inspire us to look beyond the picture…beyond what we see…into the possibilities we haven’t yet acknowledged or even considered…”
My inspiration!
My inspiration!
I love painting landscapes because nature is so beautiful to me, and it gives me so much peace. I love showcasing nature's beauty and learning more about nature through art. I love playing with light and reflection. Recreating something I see is both challenging and rewarding, and I find the finished work so valuable because I know I did it myself.
How can you be inspired by nature?
How can you be inspired by nature?
Here's a Summer Challenge Checklist for you to try, including different art activities to do outdoors!
Send a picture of your projects throughout the summer to curious@duneslearningcenter.org!
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