It’s clichéd to say that Mother Nature is the world’s greatest artist. While that’s most definitely true, the idea often seems overwrought and clumsy when people try to translate it into something that’s uniquely artful.
One creator named Hillary Waters Fayle is breaking that cycle with delicate works of art that celebrate nature without overstating its importance. Her collection of embroidered leaves is meaningful, refreshing, and totally unexpected.
Of Trees, which is the artist’s latest endeavor, underscores the importance of environmental consciousness by enhancing the beauty of leaves with sophisticated geometric patterns made entirely of thread.
Drawing connections between art and nature became reflexive for her at an early age.
“When I was 14,” she writes, “I attended a summer camp that focused on environmental stewardship and conservation, and it was a pivotal experience. It shifted the way I thought about the world.”
Fayle collects natural materials so that she can connect with nature through the creation of her work.
According to the artist, “I bind nature and the human touch by combining organic objects with traditional craft techniques.”
She seizes every opportunity to interact with nature, and she always collects materials along the way. The process leaves her feeling inspired, but that inspiration sometimes gets ahead of her.
“I have to tell myself not to collect more objects, because my desk is already too full of things I’ve brought home!” she jokes. But when it comes to art, a surplus of inspiration is far better than the alternative.
Whenever she adds objects to her growing collection, Fayle takes a moment to consider where each piece comes from, where it’s been, and where it’s going. In a sense, she curates beautiful endings for these natural stories.
When it comes to her flair for embroidery, she really enjoys “the simplicity and immediacy of working this way.”
(via Colossal)
That sense of immediacy might be the most critical aspect of her work. Thinking about leading a more sustainable, environmentally conscious life is a daunting experience. It takes serious work to change an entire lifestyle, and most rhetoric surrounding sustainability hinges on what we have to give up.
But with a needle and thread, Hillary Waters Fayle proves the opposite to be true. Tapping into the vitality of nature and vowing to lend a helping hand will add a level of richness to your life that will make you forget that you gave up anything at all.
To see more of her work, be sure to check out her website. If you can’t get enough, follow this incredible artist on Instagram and WordPress for regular updates!