Michael DeNatale

Artist Statement

With greater consciousness, mindfulness, and respect, we can seek to better understand ourselves and the world around us. My intention is to create and share art that ignites and inspires one’s personal, spiritual and emotional connection with the natural world. Whether designing my garden, digitally altering and layering original photographs, or sculpting organic forms in clay, I enjoy working with all “earthly” mediums as well as found objects. Using natural materials and exploration in photography and ceramics helps restore my connection to earth and spirit while honoring ancestral beginnings. This practice heals, grounds, comforts, excites, and inspires me, and I hope the resulting work can do the same for others. Much of my ceramic work resembles the forms of “wood” slabs and stumps, transforming clay into a lasting and often functional homage to our natural landscape and the life it supports. With perfectionist tendencies, I find balance, meditation, and comfort in sculpting tree forms and textures. Their unique, predictable, and irregular form provides structured guidance and undefined freedom, allowing me to express and explore my creative process. I create these forms and textures using custom stamps and tools made from natural materials and found objects. Recently, I’ve enjoyed exploring beyond our earthly, natural world into a connection with ancient cultures and an unknown source of consciousness. Guided by my spiritual beliefs and bond with nature, I am creating both two-dimensional and sculptural pieces that are personally transformative and reflect my life experiences and cultural influences. These works delve into themes of life, death, rebirth, and that which links us to the unknown.

Contact:

Email: mjcreativeandhealingarts@gmail.com
Website: https://michaeljohn.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaeljohncreative/