Sticks and Stones. Lesson 6 is all about finding inspiration for our art and our life in Nature :)

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1 2015: Year of the Spark Lesson 6: Sticks and Stones with Lynn Whipple Sticks and Stones Lesson 6 is all about finding inspiration for our art and our life in Nature :) Nature is gigantic source of inspiration for us all, especially artists. You can find any shape, color, texture, line, pattern, surface in the natural world, which can find it s way into your thinking and your artistic choices.

2 Supply list for Nature Soaking, our warm-up exercise: sketchbook a few favorite writing tools watercolors or paints if you wish a way to photograph if you wish Nature Soaking. So today our warm up will be a quiet time of deep observation. This exercise is somewhat like visual meditation, where we notice details and take notes. You will simply sit still, in a lovely place, outside in nature if possible, with a camera, your sketchbook, a few favorite writing tools and your senses. slow down. get quiet. wait. and look. now make a list of things as you notice them, could be smells, temperature observations, noises, living things are always nice, even that little spider busily making a web on the new leaf. make some sketches, be inspired. settle in. let your shoulders down. soak in your surroundings. document and record as if you were a scientist. appreciate. smile.

3 Sidebar of Inspiration: Sculptor Andy Goldsworthy Please take a few minutes to check out sculptor Andy Goldsworthy. (I would LOVE to be one of his assistants :) He rearranges natural elements in the most sophisticated and beautiful way. His work is often fragile and temporary. He documents his process with photography. Here is a link to a short video v=h60elngrtlq and if you have time, there is a full length documentary on Andy s work called Rivers and Tides Please google Andy Goldsworthy images and you will see a feast for the eyes!

4 Sticks and Stones Hi again!!! I hope you are having a good day :) The first idea behind this lesson is to be inspired by something from nature and incorporate it in your work. Supplies for Sticks and Stones: Sketchbook Favorite pens and drawing materials Acrylic paints and watercolors A copy of a photograph of an animal or a person or a few copies of one or two of your sketchbook drawings (creatures, people, places) scissors Yarn, string, ribbon, miscellaneous stuff: you have left over from your Wire Wrapped animals Adventurous Spirit

5 We will start out with the mindset of a crow :) Our task is to head out into the world and gather interesting bits and pieces that we find on our walk. Perhaps you live near a park, a body of water, a botanical garden, or you can spend time in your own backyard. This could also work on a city street or if you prefer to stay indoors, choose natural things you may have already collected. Heck, your refrigerator may have something :)

6 Once you have a nice pile of goodies, let s go about the fun of altering things, combining natural things with drawings or photographs or with other natural things! You may wish to paint or draw a message on a rock, twist yarn around a lovely stick, or add a small note to a leaf by stitching it on with needle and thread. You may choose to simply settle in and draw or paint something that you have found. You might make an installation in your work space of favorite goodies, just for the joy of arranging them in a pleasing way. Come up with 3-5 ways to use a natural item in your work and see where it leads. The world is your oyster, use any technique you wish with this exercise.

7 Feel free to take something from your sketchbook and alter it by adding a bit or two from nature. You might make a small note and attach it to a tree or a flower. Simple connections with wire or string work well with this lesson. Adding paint to a stick or a rock can elevate it in a new way. Many times, working with nature means your piece will be temporary and fragile, which in some ways makes it more poetic. The second part of this lesson is about the spirit of appreciation, artful sharing and giving back.

8 There is so much glorious inspiration floating about in our world. It might be nice to leave an artful and anonymous offering as a thank you!! and it feels great!! Take one of your artful bits that came from the first exercise or make something special as a free gift to leave out in the world. It s fun to think of brightening someone s day in a totally unexpected way :) Photograph your offering in the place where you decide to leave it. This makes a fun outing to share with your kids, a friend or family member. You might check back at a later date, just to see if your surprise has been discovered :)

9 As always, have fun!! thanks for sharing your sparks!! with love! xoxo Lynn and Carla