Nature Inspired Design - A Guide for Artists

Are you looking for inspiration for your next masterpiece? Just step outside your front door and you’ll find it.

Claude Monet said, “The richness I achieve comes from nature, the source of my inspiration.” The French impressionist painter had a unique ability to capture nature's mood. He immersed himself in it and almost 100 years later, we are still awed by his work.

Nature stimulates all of our senses. It is art at its core. God is the ultimate Artist and His creation is a pathway to the imagination.

For artistic incentive, look to nature. Here are five features of nature that are sure to inspire your ingenuity.

1. Flora

Plant life is an opportune subject for artistry. Notice the details in individual and collective foliage. Observe the patterns, textures, colors, shapes, and movement.

Carry a sketchpad or notebook so you can record your observations. Notate how your senses are stirred and try to capture that mood in your artwork.

2. Fauna

If you have the talent to capture animal life in an artistic medium, you will have an abundance of interest in your art.

Domestic animals are increasingly popular muses. Many people have close bonds with their pets. They feel joy and comfort in things associated with their pets. It makes sense that people seek to decorate with, wear, and enjoy pet-themed art.

Wild animals have been a source of influence since ancient times. If you use wild animals as your subjects, be aware of the required ethical standards and practices. The CAA lists ethical guidelines for artists and professionals working with wildlife.

Our favorite fauna subject is birds because of the diverse ways they contribute to the world of art. As of 2022, there are over 11,000 species of birds worldwide. Each species is unique.

Throughout history, birds have been viewed as symbolic, representing ideas such as freedom, love, and bravery. Birds are highlighted in Greek mythology, ancient superstitions, and cultural customs.

Birds are wondrously charming, often colorful, and animated. They are visually and lyrically in a class of their own. They fly into our hearts and sing to our souls.

3. Landscape

Depicting natural scenery in art is a timeless method of connecting people to the earth.

The main types of landscape art are impressionistic, representational, and abstract. Some ideas include fields, mountains, wilderness, sea, sky, valleys, farmlands, gardens, plateaus, marshes, bodies of water, cliffs, tundra, desert, and glaciers.

Represent the view by spending time assessing before you begin. Keep the essentials in mind: Balance, unity, lines, paths, focal points, transitions, form, color, scale, harmony, contrast, proportion, repetition, and texture.

4. Weather

Ready for a challenge? Snap a photo of some ominous weather and try to capture it on canvas. Look for nature's wonder in a sunrise, foggy morning, thunderstorm, and even sweltering heat in the atmosphere.

Look for the subtle effects of weather. Regard raindrops on flowers, a rock broken from ice wedging, an uprooted tree from substantial wind, robins catching worms in a drizzle, or a cascading rainbow.

5. Colors of Nature

Nature often displays vibrancies of color. Science teaches us that the color we see in nature is a result of wavelengths reflected by an object. Essentially, what we view is filtered.

We can only try to replicate the beautiful, natural colors we see by creating artificially made colors. That realization, makes the wonder of natural color and light, even more fascinating.

Some of the most renowned artists used color palettes inspired by nature. Take a look at their work again and study how they based their masterpieces on the harmonious colors found in nature. Study the work of Vincent Van Gogh, Claude Monet, Georgia O'Keefe, and Helen Frankenthaler.

Just in case you haven't noticed, we want to encourage you to get out into nature and be inspired. The beauty of nature is unlike any other muse. Let us know if we can help you on your journey as you create amazing art!