Thursday, August 9, 2012

PPF: Nature Three Ways

In the Alisa Burke class, Ode to Nature, the first assignment has been to reflect on nature.  I made this art journal page to record some of my thoughts and then added some collage elements. The butterfly and bee photographs are ones which I took. For the background, I wrote about some of my favorite memories of being in nature:
*bicycling through the Yosemite floor one Thanksgiving morning;
*watching whales in Glacier Bay, Alaska;
*cutting Christmas trees at Rancho Siempre Verde;
*seeing bioluminescence on a secluded beach in Mexico.
While journaling, I realized that I am inspired by the color and space and light in Nature. 
I also reflected on my natural environment, which I divide into four different areas:
I start with my yard, which has fruit trees, flowers and a garden to inspire me.
{Photos taken in instagram}
Further out are the open spaces - wild fields and farm lands - which surround my hometown. And then there's the beach. Of course.  Always the beach. For me, nature begins and ends with the sand and the ocean and the shells and the sky. I could never live far from the beach.  If I venture further out, I can visit deep forests where I find peace and serenity.  
Alisa encouraged us to go out and play in nature.  So, today, I went for a run in the Purisima Creek Redwoods, instead of in my neighborhood. It was beautiful!
I came home and and painted this simple watercolor of the creek.  Alisa just posted this fantastic Q&A/tutorial on sketching which totally inspired me.
It was nice to reflect on nature in an art journal page; photography; and a watercolor sketch. I think I'm going to like this class. 
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I'm posting this to Paint Party Friday.  For more painterly goodness, check out this link.

31 comments:

Peaceful/Paisible said...

Maria, it's so great to read your post...and your pages are great ! it's so extraordinary to meet women living so far away from yourself...and realizing we have so much in common. for example your apples ! the little herbs...
so happy to read you sweetheart !

Наталия Балабанчук said...

I like your artbook page! It's so NATURE! See you in Alisa's class ;)

Netty said...

smashing collaged artwork. Happy PPF, Annette x

Sian said...

Oh, yes I can already tell how inspired you are going to be by this class. I'm delighted you have something to get stuck into and inspire you

Cheri said...

loving the art journal page and photos! I've been inspired by nature on my morning walks lately. Need to go pull on some clothes and get my butt out the door!

Carolyn Dube said...

Your journal page is wonderful! Your memories of nature are so exciting- seeing bioluminescence is on my bucket list (even if it is tough to spell).

Elizabeth said...

Your art journal page on nature is beautiful, and so is the reason behind creating this page. They are nice memories to have.

Nancy McCarroll said...

Thank you for sharing this nature post. My mother used to say that nothing cheered her up like getting her hands into the earth. Your collage is cheery to me.

Melissa said...

I enjoyed seeing how nature has inspired you and how you've used that inspiration in your journals. I haven't enjoyed much outdoor time this summer with the temps over 100 so often.

Renee! said...

Really cool Rinda! I love being inspired by nature! Great job...
Happy PPF
Renee
Xoxo
www.fussitup.blogspot.com

Terry said...

Beautiful nature inspired creation! Love this and the post just takes me to the beach! Oh how I wish I was there instead of in the heat of the desert or at least today!! Enjoy the weekend!

Katie Jeanne Wood said...

Sounds like the class is really inspiring you, Rinda!! I only wish I lived near the beach. Well, I guess lakes will have to do since I'm in the middle of the US. lol

Valerie-Jael said...

Great post and photos, and a wonderful sketch. Valerie

Debbie said...

Your sketch of the creek is so good!! I've read some of Alisa's posts and find her to be very insightful and inspiring. She has some very wise words for us in this digital age.

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous art page.

GlorV1 said...

Great post Rinda. Your photos are great and you are really getting good at your drawings. Nice job. Happy PPF!

Marji said...

Nature is such an inspiration. Sounds like this class you are taking is very cool. Beautiful sketch. Happy PPF

Alison said...

Love the art journal page!
Alison xx

Karen Smithey said...

Love your sketch/painting. The color of your apples is just fabulous, too.

Molly said...

fantastic journal page. love your nature inspired sketch, too! thanks for sharing your inspiration!

Lynn Cohen said...

Your entire post leaves me feeling cool and relaxed...at peace. I too love the ocean/beach/rocks...the woods too...my own backyard. Just came in from the hammock for instance, with a good book but dozed too in the shade.
Lovely lovely lovely peaceful painting.

Natasha said...

Love your sketches. I could never live far from the beach either! :)

Irene said...

A great start to a wonderful class. Can't wait to see more of your nature interpretations.
Hope all is well x

carol l mckenna said...

Love your collage work and photography is excellent ~ (A Creative Harbor)

Irene said...

Nature is a great place to get inspiration. Sounds like you have inspiration all around you. Great collage.

carlarey said...

Brilliant sketch! It looks like you are really going to get a lot of inspiration from this class.

HeARTworks said...

What a great idea, to cover up your journaling with a collage, and what's that, stencilling? I think it is wonderful! I always like it when there's handwriting, because it adds so much of the artist in the work! Patsy from
HeARTworks and
papemelroti

Mary C. Nasser said...

Gorgeous artwork and post!
The Ode to Nature class looks so wonderfully inspiring!!
♥♥♥
Happy PPF!!
Mary
Mixed-Media Map Art

Unknown said...

Nicely written! Very nice what you made. You have written very special memories, such as whale watching in Alaska, that would be wonderful! I love the way you describe how you look at nature and what nature means to you. Greetings from the Netherlands, Inge

Anonymous said...

Rinda, your art journal page is gorgeous.I'm jealous of all the nature you have around you.

Cris, Artist in Oregon said...

Love your journal page and painting. I too am into journaling whats in my area in nature. Fun stuff here. HPPF late. Been so busy its been hard getting to everyone.