Pebble Art

Text : Divya Agrawal

Have stones ever been a source of wonder to you? They have been to me, every time I find one that has a line of color, a swirl of a pattern or a hint of mica. Not to forget one of my favorites - Amber (called a stone but actually resin), millions of years of history safely encapsulated. Stones - grey, black, yellow, reds - each is a carrier of a story, the journey it has undertaken and the events it has witnessed.  

Sharon Nolan, from Pictou, Nova Scotia, Canada uses stones to create pictures that tell a story. Materials become tools in an artist's hands - a means for personal expression. Sharon's pebbles beautifully convey emotions..

Using pebbles, sea glass, twigs and more, the artist creates pictures that reach out to the viewer. 

Sharon has a knack of choosing her materials just right - a curve in the silhouette where it is required, an edge here, and, just the right combination of color - as in this lovely group of coastal houses above.

"...To say as much as I can with as little as possible." Sharon Nolan

Aren't these artworks captivating? It's hard to believe that stones can convey so much..

Sharon has mastered her chosen medium. Note the picture (top left) - the choice of stone sizes and types perfectly conveys the setting and mood, like a realistic watercolor would.

These animal compositions are adorable!

I have never come across sea glass on my beach outings...The ones in these pictures must have been tossed around for hundreds of years to have such nicely rounded edges. And, what lovely colors!

Special moments..

 And more..

I can't have enough of Sharon's Pebble Art. Time to head to her Etsy Shop?

 

All images: Sharon Nolan

Text & creative layout copyrights: Onthedesignboat   

  

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N a t u r e   w i t h    G E N I N N E   and   a   G I V E A W A Y!

Text : Divya Agrawal

It's celebration time at On The Design Boat.
10,000+ views for our blog! 
We are celebrating this milestone with 

a  

Giveaway that celebrates nature

And

a feature on the very talented, Geninne Zlatkis's work

Images: Left: Gennine Zlatkis; Right: On the Design Boat (Giveaway)

All are invited to Participate:

1. Leave a comment on OTDB's FB page here (in the comments section of this post) The comment should include the thing/ things you enjoy in nature. Ideas? Try an exciting format : a poem, an acrostic, a haiku, or anything that makes for an interesting narrative.

 2. Double your chances of winning : If you like us, share this post on your timeline :)

One lucky winner, anywhere in the world,  takes home these lovely products (picture above): A pen stand and a 40 sheet 12x17 cm notebook, both made out of natural leaves, flowers and handmade paper, in Auroville.

The winner will be announced on OTDB's FB page on Saturday, 02 May 2015

Now about our featured artist..

Birds (other than crows and pigeons) are a rare sight in a dense city like Mumbai. A Koel cooing and a pair of parrots performing acrobatics on electric cables is just about the only avian treat I can relish in the mornings. However, as a little girl I had a treasure trove of bird feathers - a collection I used to build on during my walk back from school, while spotting kingfishers and blue jays. 

Recently my daughter reintroduced me to the world of birds with a lovely book she has picked up, 'Birds of different feathers' by Katie Bagli, a lucid collection of avian adventures featuring painted snipes, shrikes, cuckoos, flamingos and many more. 

And, 

a chance discovery - Geninne's drawings, made me fall in love with birds (and nature) all over again.

Geninne's birds frolic around beautiful flowers, they bring back memories when perched atop old postcards.

  

They talk to butterflies and yes, they also sew :)

Geninne calls Santa Fe, New Mexico home. 

"I’ve lived in Mexico on and off since I was a child and it has forever left its mark in my creative life. I am constantly inspired by the cheerful spirit of the people and their fearless use of color...." Geninne on taprootmag.com

Geninne's workspace is a melange of many things that she creates and is inspired from. Plants, feather, pebbles, textiles are present in her work in one form or the other, just as they are in her studio. Vases full of brushes, art prints and self created ceramic pieces line work spaces - all adding beauty and inspiring an artist!

Geninne's use of color and eye for composition, balance and detail makes each of her works a delight to breathe in.

"I am inspired by the culture, the colors and the diverse flora and fauna of the different regions that I’ve been blessed to experience...My environment is definitely a big influence in my work." Geninne on taprootmag.com

Geninne's imaginative collages are a treat to peruse - postcards with motifs, maps, stamps all have been incorporated to create artworks that leave one spellbound. 

Paper is just one of the canvases in Geninne's repertoire. She also works with pebbles, leather, clay, rubber, and, would you believe it - eggs!!

Geninne, besides being incredibly talented is also a very generous artist - she has shared detailed lists of materials and video tutorials on how she paints and makes stamps on her Blog. (I made my first stamp following one of her tutorials)

A self taught water colorist, Geninne sure does paint magic with a brush. Thanks for inspiring so many of us with your colors, birds, butterflies and endless imagination! 

Visit her Etsy Shop to get some of Geninne's birds and cats home! 

All images: Geninne Zlatkis

Text & creative layout copyrights: Onthedesignboat   

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