Artist Feature and Art Give-Away

FutureDesert's minimalist world of nature

I'm proud to feature the gorgeous minimalist world of crystals,  minerals, succulents and other specimens created by Los Angeles artist Hamish Robertson, owner of the online FutureDesert art shop at https://www.etsy.com/shop/FutureDesert.

Keep reading to learn more about FutureDesert and to enter the random drawing give-away for a beautiful notecard set featuring his art.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/154209299/aventurine-mix-01-digital-giclee-print?ref=shop_home_feat

Hello, Hamish.  Welcome to my blog.  Could you tell us a bit about yourself?

Hi Vickie, thanks for having me on your blog. I am an artist and photographer originally from Yorkshire, in England, now based in Los Angeles. Having only moved to California less than a year ago, I'm a little overwhelmed—in the best way—by the state. It's incredibly inspiring to be around and among such a variety of nature and landscape—having grown up in the countryside and then spend a decade in New York City it's refreshing to find that inspiration again.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/154210718/calcite-crystal-03-digital-giclee-print?ref=shop_home_active

I love the clean, minimalist aesthetic of your art and whole FutureDesert store.  

The aesthetic of the store is merely a product of the work within it. The works are spare, often minimal, because I like to isolate the focus of the work to accentuate the beauty of the item(s) depicted. 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/154217953/desert-rock-succulent-1b-digital-giclee?ref=shop_home_feat

Why did you decide to make art based on minerals and succulents?

I collected mineral samples as a child and have always found them to be so interesting to look at and touch. I love that even though there are defined mineral families, no two are ever truly alike. As for the succulents, they're just so pretty and intriguing. They don't make sense to me, which I like.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/154210816/aventurine-mix-03-digital-giclee-print?ref=shop_home_active

When I first saw your mineral art, I thought they were photographs of single mineral specimens.  Upon closer inspection, they are photo collages.  Could you describe your process?

Each of the Aventurine Mix series is comprised of either two or three of my mineral photographs, collaged to make new forms. A lot of people have told me they didn't notice that but I think that's a good thing—it speaks to my earlier comment of there never being a set shape for each mineral and thus contrasting textures or patterns can surprise you but don't really seem incorrect.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/157712814/raised-rock-1-mineral-print?ref=shop_home_active

Lately you've added some gorgeous geometric art.  Could you tell us about those?

I'm really interested by the intersection of nature and man-made structures, even if they're just sidewalks or roads. I've been recording shapes and patterns in architecture, urban planning, and also just observations on urban walks, and recreating those in photo collage. The Made Rock series are all different concrete textures, Raised Rock is collaged from quartz mineral photographed, with the hues altered. The Black Rock series come from a broader view of the urban planning, looking at maps outlining the origins of some of my source material. They're almost like the other prints but I stop ten percent of the way into the process—hence "research print."

With such a new shop, what do you think you might introduce in the future?

I'm experimenting with inks made from plants… marble… and I would imagine there will be some cacti and bark soon.

Art notecard set give-away!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/157292828/future-desert-notecard-set-of-6?ref=shop_home_active

Hamish is giving away a set of six mineral notecards with envelopes to the lucky winner of a random drawing on my blog.  To enter, leave a comment below.  Earn extra entries by writing that you have posted about this article on your Facebook page, sent out a Tweet, added one of Hamish's art pieces to your Pinterest page, included his work in an Etsy treasury, etc.  The contest ends on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013.  So that I can contact you if you win, please write your email address in your comment.  To help protect your email account from spammers, write it like this:  janesmith at gmail dot com.