At this time of year where I live, and perhaps where you live too, you can see the seasons shifting before your very eyes. Trees are bursting into leaf and blossom, green shoots are appearing through the ground, and the countryside is full of new life.
It's a wonderful thing to be able to escape into natural surroundings and simply observe the changing scene. Even better, it's something we can all do, young or old. However, I'm not sure there is anyone quite as in tune with the shifts, both subtle and grand, of a year-round landscape as the artist. There is a perception that can only come from stillness, from being willing to become part of your surroundings and to forget yourself as you focus intently on what you see before you.
A rewarding experience indeed, and one that Martin, an artist known to many of us as EditionH, has shared in his beautiful forest diary. This talented man has spent over a year now exploring different spots of a nearby forest. On each excursion he has paused for a while with his A3 notebook and his art materials, and has recorded in pen and ink, pencil and paint the sights and colours before him.
Forest diary -- keeping a nature sketchbook is an opportunity not only to peek into this unique artwork and to see through the eyes of an artist. It is also an invitation to linger beside him as he recreates for us the places he visited, and the sounds and smells of the woodland around him. For this is not simply a visual journey, beautiful though his sketches and colour studies are. It is in equal part a diary of his experience as an artist, learning both about his medium and about the forest in all its detail.
EditionH is not a native speaker of English, but his writing is more than just competent, it is poetical. Here is someone who has eyes and ears wide open to the beauty of the world about him, and who has taken the time to see a year through its cycles. Here is someone who had the vision to see the forest in May as "40 shades of green" and now shares all the colours of his world with us.
Note: The artwork featured here is taken from Martin's forest diary.
Visit: Forest diary - keeping a nature sketchbook
Image Credit: art card Forest diary by editionha
Dear Nicki,
ReplyDeletethank you so much for this nice feature, I feel very honored. I appreciate that you picked this very lens and that you found it interesting enough to present it here to your audience.
Martin
Wonderful article to review for the springtime of the year. His artwork is quite interesting.
ReplyDeleteI thought I would drop by to see what you had written about this week and I am so pleased that I did! This lens is absolutely stunning and this gentleman is so talented. Wonderful! I can't wait to see what you have got lined up for next Monday!
ReplyDelete.-= Lucy (aka LKW31 at Squidoo!)´s last blog ..The Wonder Of Rainbows =-.
I thought I would have a look to see who you were reviewing this week and am so glad that I did! What a wonderful lens and talented artist. Absolutely wonderful and so original in style and content. I can't wait to see who you feature next Monday!
ReplyDeletePS: Sorry if this is posted twice, the internet is being a bit odd.
.-= Lucy (aka LKW31 at Squidoo´s last blog ..The Wonder Of Rainbows =-.
You are right that Martin's work and writing are poetical. This lens has such an intimate feel to it and your description of it was very inviting, as always.
ReplyDeleteMartin, it was completely my pleasure. Being able to share work like yours is one of the reasons why writing for this blog is so special.
ReplyDeleteLucy, thanks so much for looking back in and visiting this unique lens. You've both set the bar high!
Bev and Kim, I'm glad you enjoyed this very unique forest diary, when I found it I knew it was too good to keep to myself.
.-= WordCustard´s last blog ..Finding Authentic Happiness in Everyday Things =-.
The Forest Diary is fantastic! Thank you, Nicki, I am so glad you reviewed this lens; otherwise, I may not have seen it. Not only is it extremely good, it's an example of using Squidoo to its fullest power.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderfully beautiful lens. I always knew that green was my favorite color. Now I have 40 shades to choose from! (Hmm; is that good or bad for me?)
ReplyDelete