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4 Gallery of Nature Inspired Art the ideas, photographs, artworks, and techniques in the preceding chapters are designed to guide you through the process of creating your own natureinspired art. The Gallery is all about inspiration. It’s an opportunity for me to share other works that use several of the ideas and techniques discussed in this book. The painting here, for example, began with an illustration on muslin fabric; the bird was then painted and its wings embellished with laces. The background was distressed with walnut inks, and bits of assemblage were added to create a completed piece. Enormous possibilities abound when creating mixedmedia art—the number of materials and techniques you can use seem endless. Sometimes, having these endless possibilities can cause confusion and hesitation—how do you choose just the right elements to include or the best technique to use when rendering a subject and background? The answer is to listen to your inner voice. Tap into your own likes and dislikes about particular colors, techniques, styles, and subjects. That voice can give your work direction by letting your personal style shine through.
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Each of my works embraces fundamental feelings regarding my joy of life, my love of home, and my enormous adoration of nature. Spending time with nature and being engaged in the moment can truly be life altering. Nature has helped me escape from the frantic and often hectic pace of daily corporate responsibilities. I am sincerely grateful for every step I have taken on this journey and for my discovery of the natural world. That gratitude has, in turn, revealed itself in my life as an outpouring of art, which has provided opportunities to create some of my most unforgettable and cherished experiences. I hope these works inspire you to create your own wonderful memories.