Nature -The Muse of Art
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By Michele Laughing-Reeves
Buckle by Darryl Becenti
Pendant by Mary Tom
Weaving by Michele Laughing-Reeves 30 November 2020
here is one question that artists are often asked, and usually there is no clear way to answer it. “How are you so creative?” Yes, that might sound weird, but a lot of artists find themselves struggling to answer without a tone of sarcasm or derision. Creativity is a character trait, which is innately part of an artist’s being and psyche. Like any other talent, creativity requires training, refining, and a lot of hard work. So, the more appropriate question would be, “What inspired this piece?” In most cases, inspiration comes from a moment in history or from everyday life or from our environment. Nature, including animals, is a big part of our environment and is found in all works of art. Artists’ creativity has always been a part of human history. From the Stone Age to the Ice Age, Homo Sapiens had invented tools and weapons for hunting and gathering in a time when land bridges and colder climates determined nomadic paths. With the invention of tools, carving of figurines and painting of cave walls were also made possible. The artistic attention to details is as old as the human DNA. The cave people carved realistic figurines and decorative objects that could be carried with them from place to place. The cave paintings were painted by someone who was dedicated enough to use scaffolding to reach up to the high ceiling. What was left for discovery and awe were artistic representations of animals, nature, and daily activities. The visual ode to nature can be found in prehistoric artifacts and on cave walls. As ancient civilizations of the Bronze and Iron Ages made sturdier tools and weapons, their artists also modified their creations. Everyday items like pots, helmets, and swords did not only meet functionality purposes but were also embellished with decorative metalwork. Metallurgy and stone inlays were found on jewelry and religious artifacts. While people had become less and less nomadic, their paintings and sculptures also became larger and more realistic. The Terra Cotta Warriors of the Qin Dynasty and the sculptures of Greek gods and goddesses are examples of artistic mastery. Archeologists discovered frescos on the interiors of many surviving walls, which was a painting method that lasted far into the 1st century. Regardless of which medium an artist used, the subject of the piece was still found to have elements from nature, such as flowers, trees, animals, or stars, and scenes from everyday life, such as dancing, eating, and sporting events. Many famous artists, from the Italian Renaissance to modernday Native America, have used nature and daily life to inspire their creations. Van Gogh painted irises and sunflowers, Faberge created eggs to resemble a tree, Hokusai painted the ocean waves, and Klimt painted “The Tree of Life.” Closer to home, RC Gorman painted women in their natural settings, Maria
