Art Inspiration: Emerson's Nature Essays

 

Hello My Fellow Art Lovers-  "Nothing is quite beautiful alone." - Ralph Waldo Emerson  Emerson's View of Nature, Acrylic on Canvas, 36" x 36," Hirschten, $400 I was assigned to redesign a book cover for a class I am taking with the School of the Art Institute Chicago. I chose Emerson's Essays on Nature.... This classic collection of essays shares the thoughts of Ralph Waldo Emerson on the sacred spirituality of nature. In the beauty of nature he found wisdom that he could apply to his life. He believed this wisdom to be a greater authority than traditional church doctrine.     What a rebel!!!                        When these essays were written they revolutionized the role of individual people in religious organizations. He viewed nature as the ultimate healer and unifier.  He viewed God, nature, and humanity not as separate entities but as a unified whole.    Check out this first edition.  So steampunk! He stated, "The reason why the world lacks unity and lies broken and in heaps is because man is disunited with himself." To unite with creation you must, "find something of yourself in every great and small thing. The mark of wisdom is to see the miraculous in the common." So many beautiful covers have been created over the years.... And have you heard of the transcendentalist eye?  This creepy cartoon was made in 1838 to illustrate this section of the Nature essay ... "I feel that nothing can befall me in life, no disgrace, no calamity, which nature cannot repair.  Standing on bare ground, my head bathed by the blithe air, and uplifted into infinite space- all egotism vanishes.  I become a transparent eyeball." Inspired by all of this I made a new painting for my cover design... "The eye is the best composer, so light is the first of painters.  There is no object so foul that intense light will not make it beautiful." If you need a graphic design I am now taking illustration and website design commissions.  Please keep me in mind for your future projects!   Join us for upcoming art classes at Studio Alchemy....        and more!  See the whole list of classes here     Our latest Studio Alchemy Podcast episode features an interview with holistic spiritual counselor, Laura Rain! May this message inspire you!  Feel free to share