Erika Tsouras, Artist
Tree branches, roots, lightning, and even our own veins—notice a pattern? Looking closely at these repeating patterns in nature can teach us about the unity and variety of our world. What if you used art to go deeper into these patterns, re-creating them and experiencing them on a personal level? And what if instead of paint, you used items found in nature to create your work? The result is an amazing conversation with nature that anyone can have! Students in this workshop will draw inspiration from artists, discover what natural elements they are drawn to, and use natural materials to create their own outdoor art right here at the art center!
”And what if instead of paint, you used items found in nature to create your work?
This workshop will draw inspiration from two artists who use natural materials in their work. One is Shawn Skabelund, whose latest works will be on display in the CCA gallery during the workshop, providing a unique up-close experience for students. Skabelund uses items from nature to create powerful indoor installations that provide social commentary on human environmental and social impact. The other is Andy Goldsworthy, a Scottish artist who creates seemingly impossible outdoor sculptures entirely from natural materials. His work strives to understand and be in balance with the nature it is part of.
Connecting to Patterns in Nature is taught by Erika Tsouras, a local artist and art educator with 9 years of teaching experience and a Masters Degree in Art Education. Her own artwork explores themes of balance, emotion, and communion with nature. She has been teaching nature-based art lessons for years and finds that young people approach outdoor art with enthusiasm and a natural instinct for creation.
”Artwork that explores themes of balance, emotion, and communion with nature.
If you like to mess around with branches, rocks, or mud, this workshop is for you. If you are interested in deepening your connection to nature through art, it’s also for you! If you’re just curious and would like to try something different, it’s definitely for you! Come think, imagine, play, connect, and create.
Join Erika Tsouras, a local artist and art educator who creates expressive abstract paintings on canvas and wood with a colorful palette. She’s inspired by nature and emotion. Come to the workshop on Sept. 24 at 10 a.m. at the Coconino Center for the Arts. Ages 9 and up. Reservations required.
No materials or experience necessary! Please dress for the weather.
Board member, Adam Marsh, and lead paleontologist at Petrified National Forest, works with a team of scientists to uncover an approximately 300 million-year-old fossil skeleton discovered at Canyonlands National Park in Utah (June 2024)