Gratitude Hearts. Formed and Found.
“The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched, they must be felt with the heart.”
Eco-Art, Discovered, Ephemeral, Assembled & Found Objects.
♡ There are so many ways to engage creatively and mindfully with the heart image around the theme of love and gratitude. This organic form can weave layers of process and contemplation, prompt further mindful curation of gathered nature finds, inspire simple mark making or expressive gestures captured quickly with found and discovered materials, or encourage noticing of existing lines and heart shapes in our surroundings.
“Finding reasons to be grateful at any given moment is a practice which gives us more time to live in a state of acceptance and peace. This in turn provides more of the health benefits that come with gratitude, such as lower levels of stress.”
Heart Photo Credit: Laurel Storey
Shared Heart Art… Formed and Found.
Thanks to Aldona, Elizabeth, Erminia, Heather, Jenny, Laurel, Nafisa, Naomi and Susan for sharing their heart-art creations and discoveries below.
Heart Art. Formed.
Heart Form Credit: Susan Beniston
“This heart-leaves, eco-image was created in direct response to a creative prompt, reflecting on the need to support/tend/care for the yearnings of my own heart and hold our collective hearts in compassionate, moving resonance at this time.”
Heart Form Credit: April
“This recent heart sculpture in the snow was created with gratitude for my many blessings, while understanding the present need to gently nurture healing of a wounded heart and the layers of ‘repair’ needed from both experienced and witnessed losses.....”
Heart Form Credit: Elizabeth Needham
“This heart is made from my collection of sea glass—gathered from the north shore near Boston on many visits to a dear friend. This heart signifies this and the calming presence of the ocean.”
“Even when the winter chill and biting wind shortens my outdoor time, I still feel gratitude, and take the time to reflect and truly be in the moment outdoors. Both the gestural rope heart (below) and rock heart outline came from that mindful place.”
“I created this rock heart early in the pandemic when I was just so happy to be out basking in the light/sun, and sitting on the beach looking out at the beautiful water and everything that was around me.”
“I love to leave art creations out and witness the transformative states related to snow, rain or wind. I especially like leaving the heart shape that visually prompts gratitude and interest each and every time I step outdoors.”
Heart Form Credit: Elizabeth Needham
“I love collecting chestnuts in the fall—it reminds me of playing “conkers” with my uncle ( where you tie the chestnuts to string and then try to “conk” the other until it breaks). It is always satisfying to make hearts from natural materials.”
Heart Form Credit: April
“Heart in the snow - playful doodling and peaceful moments as the sun sets within this magical winter-wonderland setting... A little Keith Haring inspired I think!!”
Heart Form Credit: Jenny McSpadden
Jenny shared this heart art creation she has hanging in her window. As a Horticultural Therapist it is meaningful to have all the pressed leaves incorporated in her stained-glass window decoration.
Heart Form Credit: Naomi Kates
“Sending warmth to the neighourhood one wintry morning”
Heart Form Credit: Aldona Morrison
Aldona shared this 2020 photo of one of the frozen hearts that she hung on her tree out front—inspired by her friend Marilyn.
Heart Form Credit: April
“Taking a break from my online work recently ...a mindful moment sitting in the attic, rummaging through pieces of my pounded jewelry copper and creating a heart still life... daydreaming about future art projects... and potentially ‘heart’ projects...”
Heart Form Credit: Nafusa Mansure
“Vibrations of love fills our hearts with joy and embraces every living entity.”
Heart Form Credit: Laurel Storey
“This heart photo is part of photo-a-day challenge – it’s a great way to get inspiration and take photos you might not otherwise have thought to capture.”
Heart Form Credit: Heather Johnston
“It was just before Valentine’s Day & I wanted to do something different and brighten the day for my family during this Pandemic.”
“Just like the sweet taste of cherries, creativity brings me joy.”
Heart Form Credit: Laurel Storey
“This formed heart was also captured in response to a photo-a-day prompt”
Heart Art. Found.
Found Heart Credit: Elizabeth Needham
“I discovered this “found heart” in a closeup of one of my abstract paintings—it feels serendipitous and delightful! I love spotting hearts in unusual places. They are reminders of kindness and love and always make me smile!.”
Found Heart Credit: April
“A discovered heart.....within my daily morning coffee ritual... prompting a moment of gratitude and hope for the day. ”
Found Heart Credit: Elizabeth Needham
“Another message from the universe!! A found heart on my hand!! Can you tell I don’t like using brushes!.”
Found Heart Credit: April
“While facilitating a creative open studio art group in a retirement home recently, I noticed this heart form in the paint just as I began to mix colours for one of the artists. It was a beautiful moment (and message I thought) as the appearance of the heart followed an appreciative comment from a participant who shared that she found the weekly group very relaxing, enjoyable, warm and connecting.”
Found Heart Credit: Elizabeth Needham
“These are like heart kites, too. I put ice into this glass and it shattered—into the shape of a heart! What a wonderful gift from the universe!! ”
Found Heart Credit: April
“Discovering another coffee heart gently forming bringing gratitude and care into the day.”
Found Heart Credit: Erminia Diamantopoulos
“I recently came across this rock that I found years ago on a film set. I have kept it all this time because it looked like a beautiful heart and had such pretty colours.”
Found Heart Credit: April
“Looking down and noticing this well-worn heart etched in the sidewalk during a recent neighbourhood walk.”
Found Heart Credit: Laurel Storey
“This found rock and discovered heart form is another image captured in response to my photo-a-day project .”
EPHEMERAL ART.
“There are many forms of ephemeral art, from sculpture to performance, but the term is usually used to describe a work of art that only occurs once, like a happening, and cannot be embodied in any lasting object to be shown in a museum or gallery.”
Ephemeral art is art that only lasts for a short amount of time • Retrieved from www.tate.org.uk, 2022
