book feature: andy goldsworthy

When I was in high school, art was my very favorite period of the day. I felt like it was a break from the rest of my life. I got to put in my headphones, listen to whatever I wanted, and zone off into a world where I was so focused on my art that my brain couldn't think about anything else. If you know me well, you know that turning everything 'off' in my brain is almost impossible. I think this was one of the reasons it really felt like a break to me. 

I remember the day my art teacher introduced Andy Goldsworthy to the class. We spend 20 minutes or so just looking at some of his work online. The concept for his work includes using nothing but the natural environment around the piece to create it. He's able to manipulate bright and bold colors, form intricate and unique shapes, and really create beauty with what nature has to offer. For some reason, I fell in love with this idea! I spent hours at home looking up things that he had done. I'll admit, some of it is out there, but he is an artist in every sense of the word.

To me, Goldsworthy's concept relates directly to design and architecture. Frank Lloyd Wright believed that every structure should "appear to grow easily from its site and be shaped to harmonize with its surroundings if nature is manifest there." How true that is! Harmonious architecture, design and art create an environment that is not only easy to live in, but also stands the test of time. Now that I've said this.. we still love to throw in "conversation objects" or story-telling items into our designs that might not seem to make sense upon first glance. To us, telling a story about who lives in the home is just as important as the story that is told outside.

So back to my story.. Griffin knew I had a small obsession for Andy Goldsworthy's art. So when Christmas rolled around this last year, he surprised me with this gorgeous coffee table book with his work! A lot of you collect books to read, I personally like to collect picture books. :) Don't judge... 

Wren seems to be an immediate fan of his work as well! It might just be that anything new is her next favorite toy or teether, but I think deep down she really likes it. Every weekend that we are blessed with good weather is a weekend we pull out some good books and a blanket in order to spend some time outside. I think this is a Sunday tradition I'll try to keep for as long as I possibly can. 

Wren even decided to create her very first art piece! She was actually just the one to take it down, but she enjoyed it all the same. 

If I take anything from this book, it is that beauty can be created from anywhere with anything. There is always something you can do with what you have to improve your surroundings. I also believe that beauty is everywhere, it just takes the right person to come along and realize it for the rest of us.

If you're looking for a fun and unique coffee table book, this one's a real winner! Find it here at Amazon, or in a lot of your local design book shops!