Reciprocal Nature prompt: 1st week of March

The Beauty of Nature Inspires Man to Create Wonders Himself

“The richness I achieve comes from Nature, the source of my inspiration.” — Claude Monet

I am a child of the mountains. The various facets of Nature surrounded me daily. She comforted me when I was sad. She caused my spirit to soar to the heights. She encouraged me to play. She thrilled me with color and texture. She trained my eyes to catch nuances around every bend. She created sounds that delighted my ears. She imbued me with a sense of wonder and awe. She fed me when I was hungry. She lifted me up when I doubted myself. I am not the only one who has to express myself in artistic pursuits. I look to Nature for my humble expressions. 🌲

Raccoons are smart. They’ll overturn garbage cans to forage for food. They’ll beg for treats from humans. Their antics make me laugh. In the wild they’ll wash their hands before eating. They have adapted to humans by coexisting. The crafty little buggers inspired this carving of a raccoon caught in the crook of a tree trunk. 🦝

Cottonwood bark is a delight to carve. I am always surprised to uncover the textures revealed beneath the bark. This carving of a Rocky Mountain sheep had swirls in all the right places. Like it was hiding for me to unveil it. It won a first prize at a woodcarving show. 🐐

One of my favorite artistic activities is doing counted cross stitchery. The colorful threads paint a picture as the needle moves in delicate Xs across a piece of fabric. The elusive wolf is one of my spirit animals. That is why most of my dogs have been huskies. Their behavior closely resembles the wolf. 🐾

“In nature, nothing is perfect and everything is perfect. Trees can be contorted, bent in weird ways, and they’re still beautiful.” — Alice Walker

An eskimo carved this whale and its calf out of whale bone. I fell in love with the artist’s use of natural material to express himself. Simply and elegantly rendered. 🐋

A school teacher carved this caribou using an antler of the actual mammal for his canvas. I couldn’t leave the store in Alaska without buying it.

Great Blue herons are a bird that I admire. They can blend into an environment so well that it is mistaken for driftwood. Then surprise — as it extends long wings and lifts off with grace to fly. This treasure was found in Sweden, created from cut glass.

I found this tiny creation at an art fair. It is copper enamel molded into a yellow violet and mushroom on a pine knot. Both are woodland gems found on forest trails in spring.

Here is a wood carving of a loon carrying a chick on her back. This is a frequent sight in the Northwoods of Wisconsin and Minnesota. Its distinctive mournful cry can send shivers down your spine.

“Should you shield the canyons from the windstorms you would never see the true beauty of their carvings.” — Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

Anyone who has seen the Grand Canyon is aware of the inspiring artistry of the Great Spirit. The elements of wind and water have sculpted beautiful landscapes for us to admire. Erosion is a powerful tool for manifesting the magnificent creations of God.

Composers, conductors, songwriters, musicians, dancers and writers are mesmerized by our National Parks. All of it offered to us as a free gift. The words of “How Great Thou Art” portray the grandeur of planet Earth. Photographers like Ansel Adams and David Muench captured the wonders of Nature.

Who of us has not gasped in awe at the spectacle of a vibrant sunset or northern lights dancing across the sky. What child can resist picking up crayons to compose a picture on blank paper. May nature continue to inspire all of us until we take our last breath. 💚

“Sunsets are proof that endings can often be beautiful, too.” — Beau Taplin

This article is written in response to the prompt offered by editor Sahil Patel to stimulate our creative juices.

I found these delightful posts worthy of passing on to you.

Dr. Preeti Singh presents the magic of the Holi festival in India. It combines colorful flowers and clothing worn by participants to express a joyful spirit.

GnanVi_Speaks writes about her dream to be a nature wizard. Her journey to various places on earth is a marvelous creative expression inspired by nature.