Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Using Keywords | Ways For You To Make A Good, Lasting Impression

PICAYUNE - When was the last time you were tempted to draw a pattern in the sand with a stick? Or perhaps on a camping trip, you and your kids enjoyed stacking columns of rocks, adding one on top of the other in descending size for the next family to discover.

Human beings enjoy not only observing the patterns found in nature, but creating art that is based on them. Whether it's an elaborate painting or a simple doodle in the margin of our class notes, we find a sense of joy in the replication of nature's patterns, and incorporating them into our lives.

Oriental rugs reflect the beauty of the garden. In architecture, the design of many buildings and structures (including the Arboretum's Pinecote Pavilion!) can be traced to having nature as the source for their design. Are you familiar with the Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi? If not, search the Web for images of his buildings. You will wonder how it is possible for an architectural structure to appear so incredibly organic.

Gaudi often spoke of nature being perfect, and of his buildings being based on the perfection found in the natural world. One of his famous quotes was, "Everything comes from the great book of nature." In his famous Sagrada Familia temple in Barcelona which began construction in 1882, the geometry of nature is apparent everywhere. Honeycombs, diatoms, grasses, vines, leaves, seed pods, crystals, and countless other forms found in nature were the basis for his architecture.

Imagine German painter Albrecht Durer contemplating the delicate grasses and blooms of "Aquilegia", or his "Piece of Turf" painted in 1503. Later, the Arts and Crafts movement that began in the 1860's and continued a little past the turn of the next century also saw many artists inspired by nature, both for their writing, and for their art. Do an Internet search for the beautiful textiles and wallpaper designed by William Morris, and you will recognize patterns that are still popular today.

These are only a few examples of artists who have created works of lasting beauty inspired by nature. But such creating is also within the reach of you, too, if you spend time outdoors observing the patterns found in the natural world.

For those of you who either keep a nature journal or know children who have had this activity assigned to them, a quick and easy way to make an "impression" from nature is to use leaves, grasses, vines, and so forth to create a print on a journal page. On your travels, gather up potential plant materials, sorting them into the pages of your book (which will keep them flattened).

Later, add ink or paint to the leaves and then (with a piece of newspaper, wax paper or paper towel on top) press them onto the page to make a print. You can use any type of permanent paint, such as acrylic, or you may wish to obtain printer's ink in various earth-tones, available at hobby stores. A rubber roller is helpful for ensuring an even impression. Add notes, such as the plant name, information about the plant, and perhaps a story about where or how you found it.

You can also create nature print greeting cards using this method. Craft stores with stationery sections carry blank sets of cards, making this a great personalized – and useful – gift. Another easy project is to make leaf prints on larger sheet of papers, and frame them as a set. You may have seen these in decorator magazines or catalogs. Large leaves, such as sycamore, and ferns, are especially attractive to use for this type of project.

In addition to making impressions on paper, natural materials have endless uses on fabrics. Curtains, pillowcases, T-shirts, kitchen towels, aprons, tote bags, and so forth, can be embellished with fabric paints. The Internet abounds with step-by-step instructions for such craft projects, as well as examples of materials to use.

One important tip is to make sure that you know the species of each plant that would you like to use in your craft project. Acquaint yourself with how to identify plants such as poison ivy and poison sumac before going on a gathering trip.

Finally, clay is a perfect material in which to make impressions from nature. It is available in many types, from low-fire to stoneware, and many colors. Shops that specialize in slip-cast ceramics may be willing to fire pieces made from low-fire clay in their kilns. Search the Internet for supply stores on the coast that carry a variety of clays if you cannot find it in your area.

Oak leaves will offer a wide variety of interestingly shaped leaves to use in such projects. Hickory, maple, sweetgum, mulberry, tulip poplar, sassafras, redbud, and catalpa leaves make attractive impressions, and grape vines and leaves also have appealing shapes.

Children will have fun this weekend making "lasting impressions" at the Arboretum this Saturday morning at the children's field walk and clay class. On August 6, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., children will take a journey down the pathways to collect natural materials. Then, they will use them to press into clay and create bowls, tiles, or wind chimes. The clay is self-hardening, and projects will be taken home the same day. All children or groups of children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian (no charge for adults). Program fee is $5 per child for members' children, $7 for non-members' children. To reserve your child's seat in this class, please call 601-799-2311.

For more information on the Arboretum, visit www.crosbyarboretum.msstate.edu. The site is open Wednesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and is located in Picayune, off I-59 Exit 4, at 370 Ridge Road (south of Wal-Mart and adjacent to I-59).

FOR FURTHER EXPLORATION:

On your computer, search the artists mentioned above. Then, enter the keywords "designs inspired by nature", and enjoy browsing. Finally, take a walk at the Arboretum. Bring along your nature journal!

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