photography – Page 5 – Water :: Earth :: Wind

Nature is inside art as its content, not outside as its model.

–Northrop Frye

Nature is the source and content of most of my artistic and creative work and it’s right outside our home. In Helena, it literally takes just a couple of minutes to get from “town” out into a more natural environment. But even right in town, all I have to do is get down on my hands and knees with my eyes, my camera, my sketchbook, my sense of wonder… to find something inspiring and worth using in my artwork. Not only am I inspired to draw/paint/photography and write when I take in Nature’s sweetness — I also know when I look closely and pay attention, that I am part of Nature. Try it! It feels so good.

I also love discovering other artists whose inspirations are obviously directly from nature. Danish ceramic artist, Lotte Glob fits that category. I came across her work during the winter of 2006 and since then she has built an incredible home and studio on her land. It’s really one of the coolest houses I’ve ever seen.

Ceramic bowl by Lotte Glob — Geyser Pool by Danish ceramic artist, Lotte Glob

Glob’s ceramic vessels make me swoon! Her work is intimately inspired by natural forms she finds, especially around the “Ultimate Rock Garden,” as she calls her studio and home on the shore of Loch Eriboll in Scotland.

Glob has a beautiful online portfolio exhibiting her ceramic sculptures, books, fountains, tiles and bowls. These are incredibly beautiful pieces — if you are at all attracted to artwork based on natural colors, shapes and textures, check out her portfolio.

Sculpture of floating stones by Lotte Glob — Two of Glob’s environmental installations, **ceramic floating stones** photographed in place. She often places her sculptures in nature to take photos of them before delivering them to the buyers.

Bubble on water surface — Photo from Glob’s book of inspiration reminds me of her floating stones

Some Links to Art from Nature

Lotte Glob website
Lotte Glob Recent Ceramic Work (including her awesome bowls)
Lotte Glob’s Award-Winning Home and Studio designed by Gökay Deveci
Cues from Nature, a letter from Robert Genn of The Painter’s Keys
Lotte Glob’s Sculpture Croft (the land where she lives and works, transformed with scattered artworks)
Archie Bray Foundation for Ceramic Arts (where you can wander the grounds to find art in the tall grasses and between the old structures)
Ernst Haeckel, a 19th century zoologist and amazing artist.
Photographer, Karl Blossfeldt
A set of my own photos and artwork titled, Threads of Continuity. If you see anything you would like to buy as an archival-quality print, please email me: [email protected]. I would love to have a piece of mine hanging in your home.

At first I thought about showing this shot (in-camera) to Ema and saying “try not to look so worried, Ema…” but I resisted and I am glad I did. Somehow, the way her brow is lifted, the way her eyes are focused on some thought far far away … the way her mouth is slightly turned down and so relaxed, the way her hair falls to half cover her face … that light, the soft animal body of Ema … somehow this is who she really is and I am glad I did not try to change her today.

My best portraits are the ones that have reached into a person’s soul and somehow let it shine out through the facial expression, eyes, body language. Not the ones where they were smiling at the camera, being their “perfect selves.” But the shots where there might be a sadness. A thoughtfulness, some discomfort — or deep comfort. The shots where they weren’t wearing makeup or the clothes they thought they should wear, or perfectly styled hair. Those best portraits are the ones where I captured a moment dis-armed. The space between two heartbeats. The true heart of a person. When I can do this, I feel deeply satisfied.