Nature art inspired by Andy Goldsworthy

As a teacher or parent you need to know about Andy Goldsworthy, the British sculptor, photographer and environmentalist, to better appreciate your children's artistic creations.

Goldsworthy, has an OBE, a university degree and has written many books but basically I think he works and thinks like a preschooler when he is creating. He is like the child artist, that Picasso speaks of, before we crush them with our concepts of colour and materials and what we think equates as art.
1. The materials used in Andy Goldsworthy's art often include leaves, flowers, mud, pine cones, snow, stone and twigs. I have seen most children around the world use these materials to create.
2. Goldworthy also works in nature, outdoors, where the materials are found. Most children love to be outdoors and with the absence of plastic play equipment start to use found objects for play in the place where they find them.
3. Many of Goldworthy's creations are transient. They are photographed and left where they are created to alter and deteriorate. Preschool children enjoy the art of creating but rarely care if they take their art work home with them, or even look at it afterwards.

I am not saying we need to show these photographs of Goldsworthy's creations to children as I believe we just need to provide the natural materials. In many circumstances this may just mean taking the child/artist to the beach or the forest. As Goldsworthy says "Place is found by walking, direction determined by weather and season. I take the opportunity each day offers: if it is snowing, I work in snow, at leaf-fall it will be leaves; a blown over tree becomes a source of twigs and branches."

Here is some art created by children, outdoors using natural materials.

Nature art for kids

Euphoria

Nature play along the way

Wandering Educators

 Goldworthy in 2007: "I think it's incredibly brave to be working with flowers and leaves and petals. But I have to: I can't edit the materials I work with. My remit is to work with nature as a whole."

Picasso: "Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up."

RESOURCES: Goldsworthy's site

Linked up at The Magic Onion's nature table