It’s always nice to see artists who are able to give back to nature in the form of art. Land artist Jon Foreman is one of them. His project, Sculpt the World, features various styles of land art and modern sculpture. And among his notable works are stunning stone art which he creates by the shore.
He gathers stones in different sizes, shapes and colors and arranges them in eye-catching formations. From giant circles, dynamic swirls and other intricate patterns, Foreman’s work reveals the unique beauty of stones. Indeed, working with stones has made him realize some of their unexpected qualities.
“There are so many ways of working with stone; the color, the size, the shape the angle it is placed, the direction it faces, endless possibilities. Although stone isn’t my only material of choice, it is currently my favorite as it presents so many different opportunities.”
Land artist Jon Foreman creates stunning stone art by the shore
The artist resides in Pembrokeshire, Wales, which is home to some of the finest beaches in the world. So, most of his works take place on the county’s gorgeous coastlines. On average, he spends four hours to complete one masterpiece. More often than not, he starts with nothing but partial planning of the finished piece in mind.
“Sometimes I will have an idea of what I’d like to try but I very rarely draw it out fully. I quite like not knowing exactly how it will turn out until it’s there in front of me.”
He carefully arranges and positions each stone to form dynamic and intricate patterns
Just like he finds comfort in arranging stones, Foreman also finds comfort in the unknown. That said, not exactly knowing the outcome of his creation pushes him to experiment more and explore other possibilities. In fact, it’s all part of his creative process which he finds therapeutic.
Similarly, the artist fully understands the ephemeral nature of his creations. He also shared how it often becomes a “race” against the waves that are waiting to wash away his masterpiece. Nonetheless, he still chooses to witness this bittersweet moment and just see the beauty in it.
“I create using material that is made from that environment for that environment. The tide washes it all back to the tide line, and I come back the next day with an empty canvas to work with. People often ask if it bothers me that the work has to disappear eventually. To that, I say: not at all. If anything, the fact that it’s short-lived makes it more special to me.”
The ephemeral nature of his creations are what make them more special for the artist
