Outdoor Art
Continuing our focus on the great outdoors, here are what some very talented artists are doing to create outdoor art that interacts with nature. This is not a paid post and I’m not connected to the artists. I simply find their work interesting and would like to share my excitement with you in the hope you find some inspiration and excitement as well!
Andres Amador Arts: Sand Drawings
Artist statement: “This piece was made in between bouts of rain and captured just as the sun was setting. Part way through I had to go to my car to get out of my soaking clothes, figuring that I would have to stop for the day. But then the clouds parted and I decided to get back to it (after changing!). The design is part of a continuing exploration of geometry and patterns, inspired by Polynesian art.”
![Enormously-scaled geometric circular pattern created on beach sand using only brushes and water, with the artist Andres Amador standing at the center, arms upraised. The pattern is broken by rocks at the edge of the water, between the sand and ocean.](https://kimballstarr.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Kimball-Starr-Interior-Design_Outdoor-Art_Andres-Amador-Arts-1-580x580.jpg)
Photo courtesy Andres Amador Arts via Instagram.com
The artist was inspired by Polynesian art, but I also find this intricate sand drawing reminds me of a Celtic knot. It’s placed spectacularly on the edge of where land meets water, to then slowly dissolve away with the tide. Look closely and you can see a person standing in the center of the pattern, which gives you an idea of the colossal size of the artwork.
![Multiple geometric shapes at enormous scale are created on the beach, using only brushes on sand and water, by Artist Andres Amador. In this view, the ocean is on the right and the sand is on the left, and we're looking all the way down the beach, while tiny people walk past.](https://kimballstarr.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Kimball-Starr-Interior-Design_Outdoor-Art_Andres-Amador-Arts-2-580x582.jpg)
Photo courtesy Andres Amador Arts via Instagram.com
“[Above] is the longest artwork I’ve yet created- 1/2 mile of flowers floating in the wind for a mini run hosted by Wanderlust Festival in Los Angeles. Fun!”
![View from directly above, a person walking past a circular central pattern, created with individual long strokes, appearing as if a huge dandelion head landed in the sand for a moment. By artist Andres Amador, who works entirely with brushes and beach sand to create geometric patterns and shapes.](https://kimballstarr.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Kimball-Starr-Interior-Design_Outdoor-Art_Andres-Amador-Arts-3-580x435.jpg)
Photo courtesy Andres Amador Arts via Instagram.com
![Several people outlined by sunlight on the beach, at the edge of where the water meets the sand, walking with brushes dragged behind them to create shapes and patterns, under the guidance of artist Andres Amador.](https://kimballstarr.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Kimball-Starr-Interior-Design_Outdoor-Art_Andres-Amador-Arts-4-580x387.jpg)
Photo courtesy Andres Amador Arts via Instagram.com
![A geometric shape at enormous scale is formed on the beach using only brushes on sand by Artist Andres Amador and his workshoppers.](https://kimballstarr.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Kimball-Starr-Interior-Design_Outdoor-Art_Andres-Amador-Arts-5-580x354.jpg)
Photo courtesy Andres Amador Arts via Instagram.com
[Above] “From the archives, “Sliceform”, 2008, Ocean Beach, SF. Made during my geometric phase and based on a design I found in a book on 3-dimensional ‘Sliceforms’. These are essentially interlocking folding paper that creates 3-D shapes when opened, in the vein of pop-up books.”
Jayson Fann: Spirit Nest Creations
Jayson Fann’s larger-than-life spirit nests are inspired by birds but built for humans. Fann uses fallen tree branches harvested in local forests in the Big Sur area to construct the big, beautiful creations.
![Looking out over foggy countryside, a wooden ladder leads up to a human-scale nest, created by folded tree branches. Artist: Jayson Fann.](https://kimballstarr.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Kimball-Starr-Interior-Design_Outdoor-Art_Jayson-Fann-Spirit-Nest-Tree-580x384.jpg)
Photo courtesy Grist.com
![Looking out over ocean waves at orangey sunset, a wooden ladder leads up to a human-scale nest, created by folded tree branches. A child hangs white fairy lights while a man sits among brocade pillows, inside the nest. Artist: Jayson Fann.](https://kimballstarr.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Kimball-Starr-Interior-Design_Outdoor-Art_Jayson-Fann-Spirit-Nest-Lights-580x387.jpg)
Photo courtesy beheadingboredom.com
How fantastic to live in a human-sized bird nest with a bird’s eye view of the sea!
![Artist Jayson Fann talks with schoolchildren, seen from behind, about his Nest Creations outdoor art, while seated in the center of the bent branches of one of his nests.](https://kimballstarr.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Kimball-Starr-Interior-Design_Outdoor-Art_Jayson-Fann-Spirit-Nest-Students-580x435.jpg)
Photo courtesy Jayson Fann via Instagram.com
![The view out, seated inside a human-scale nest, created by folded tree branches. A few pillows on a mattress, scattered beneath dappled light, mostly shaded by the branches, created by artist Jayson Fann.](https://kimballstarr.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Kimball-Starr-Interior-Design_Outdoor-Art-Jayson-Fann-Spirit-Nest-Inside-View-580x429.jpg)
Photo courtesy Beheadingboredom.com
Jaume Plensa: Sculptures
Spanish artist Jaume Plensa is one of the world’s foremost sculptors working in the public space, with over 30 projects spanning the globe in such cities as Chicago, Dubai, London, Liverpool, Nice, Tokyo, Toronto, and Vancouver. Over 25 years, Plensa has produced a rich body of work, both in the studio and the public realm. By combining conventional sculptural materials such as glass, steel, bronze and aluminum with more unconventional media like water, light, sound, video, and often integrating text as well, Plensa creates hybrid works of intricate energy and psychology.
![Artist Jaume Plensa creates two silver wireframe heads that appear to float on calm waters, as if listening, by green grasses. The reflections are equally as detailed as the wire sculptures.](https://kimballstarr.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Kimball-Starr-Interior-Design_Outdoor-Art_Jaume-Plensa-Wire-Heads-Water-580x387.jpg)
Photo courtesy ArchitecturalDigest.com
I’m mesmerized by these floating head sculptures. They appear surreal or otherworldly and when placed in the water create a visual calm.
![Wire frame sculpture of a human seated on a rock on green grass, contemplating across purple flowers and waving treetops, out towards the sea. Created by artist Jaume Plensa.](https://kimballstarr.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Kimball-Starr-Interior-Design_Outdoor-Art_Jaume-Plensa-Wire-Garden-580x387.jpg)
Photo courtesy JaumePlensa.com
Plensa’s sculptures show the power of placement. Perched in lush natural settings, his meditative figures are beyond fantastic! The sculptures emanate human thought and emotion in an ethereal manner that perceive them to be part of the surrounding air and land, reflecting back to us our innate connection with this planet.
![Metal sculpture of a seated human facing the ocean under a blue sky with puffy clouds. The sculpture is made up of words and shapes, by artist Jaume Plensa. To the left are green cliffs, and the water fades from deep blue down to lighter blue as it nears land.](https://kimballstarr.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Kimball-Starr-Interior-Design_Outdoor-Art-Jaume-Plensa-Tokyo-580x387.jpg)
Photo courtesy JaumePlensa.com
What outdoor art has moved you recently? Would you install art in your backyard?
If you have an idea for an art piece you’d like to incorporate into your outdoor residential spaces in the Northern California areas, contact Kimball Starr today!