Science and Nature

Like the idea of a black and white botanical, but thinking you might need a little something fresher?  Edgier?

A quick blip in the Kansas City Star on Sunday caught my eye.  We are getting ready for the Plaza Art Fair, a Kansas City tradition, and the listing of artists was in this week’s paper.  A tiny image of Albert Koetsier’s work appeared in a side bar.

Koetsier is fascinated with the interplay between science and nature.  To explore this relationship, he uses x-ray to examine nature.  Once he has developed the negatives, he chooses the most pristine then produces prints.  Koetsier then paints the images with translucent paints used on antique daguerreotypes and post-cards.  The negative is retired once fifty prints have been produced.

A grouping of any of his botanicals would be classic and stunning.

I have had the beach on my mind, well, I nearly always do, and these shells would give a modern edge to your nautical decor.




Not satisfied with the cow-jumped-over-the-moon?  How about a snail shell and a lizard skeleton for Jr.’s room?


And these, of course, held a personal appeal for me.  Pods.  



I asked about peonies and Albert told me they haven’t x-rayed well in the past.  (You think I’d be happy with over 2000 x-ray prints, but no, had to throw in the “How about peonies?”)  Albert tells me he may try again.
If you are in town look for Albert at the Plaza Art Fair this weekend on Nichols Road between Pennsylvania and Wornall or on-line here.  
rssrss      FacebooktwitterpinterestlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterpinterestlinkedinmail

30 thoughts on “Science and Nature

  1. O Mrs. B! Those are simply breathtaking images. I thought the ferns were as good as it could get until I got to the pods. What is it about pods and shells that is so endlessly fascinating?

  2. I would love to visit,.. why Kansas is so far away. I hope they will be available for online shoping.
    Love your inspirational blog.
    Thank You

  3. Now that is what I call shedding new light, from the potting shed. If only my x-rays looked so aesthetically pleasing.

  4. WOW. I love the starfish and sand dollars. How large are these prints? Does he have a web site?
    Thanks
    Ed at Swank

  5. These are wonderful! One of my artists, Kathleen Patton will also be showing at the Plaza Art Fair, so be sure to look for her art work as well. Her creations in done in laquers is very unique!

  6. Albert Koetsier’s images are really beautiful. You’re right, these are definitely the edgy alternative to the traditional botanicals. They’d also be a nice compliment to a black and white photography collection.

  7. Wonderful, wonderful images.

    I particularly like the fern and the shells. Those star fish, though, stopped me in my tracks. Wow! Simply amazing.

    Thank you, Patricia, for your thoughtful, inspiring posts on your blog. Not only is this eye candy, it’s mind candy, too, as are all of your offerings.

    Admiringly,

    Sheila

  8. athenaeus – As an owner of almost entirely black and white art of one genre or another – I completely agree.

  9. These are fabulous! I went to his website and would love a collection of these down my hallway!

  10. Lovely work, reminds me of an artist named Amanda Means. I’m really writing to thank you for inspiring me to subscribe to World of Interiors. I’m going to be studying the October issue for weeks.

  11. These are fascinating. I am drawn to the shells. They are so simple and so intricate at the same time…beautiful.

  12. Edgy… sort of. In a good way, I think.

    I’ve got x-rays of me as a four year old and 3-D animated PET scans as a 42 year old. I thought they’d be nice as a “then and now.” Do you think Saatchi is buying?

  13. Courtney – I agree, but then I usually think more is more when it comes to things like this.

  14. Chris – I’m intrigued by the age 4 x-ray. I have one of Mr. Blandings with a penny clearly visible in his throat!

  15. I just found your piece on Albert Koetsier and thought you’d might be interested in my röntgen etchings.
    I’m a Dutch artists who for the past four years has used röntgen photo’s, I etch new drawings into them thereby creating a second layer within the photo.
    Recently I completed a whole new series called the ‘butterfly suite’, if this is something you’d find interesting than you can visit my site here:

    http://benkruisdijk.com/rontgen.html

    best regards,

    Ben Kruisdijk

Comments are closed.