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Jacqueline Saville's avatar

Congratulations on the shortlisting!

I’m reading GM Trevelyan’s Illustrated English Social History at the moment and I was struck by his sadness at the disconnect from nature that urbanisation brought. He mentions Bewick and the like at the end of the 18th century ‘taught their countrymen to observe and reverence the world of nature, in which it was man’s privilege to dwell’ , notes the growing popularity of landscape painting and later laments that in the 20th century urban thought and ideas ‘conquered the countryside’. Written in the 1940s I believe.

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Thomas Winward's avatar

ooh I'll have to check this one out!

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Offcut Salvage's avatar

So, I came here for your post about turning unused phone boxes into greenhouses, because I make things out of salvaged and repurposed materials and I thought that was such an excellent idea, but then I read this and it really struck a cord with me! You're so right about the way that nature and art are connected, and how we humans are inspired by our environment. Thanks for the creativity fodder!

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Thomas Winward's avatar

Thanks for sticking around, I'm glad you like it!

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Matthew James's avatar

Absolutely! How I go into abstract art was through a love of the infinite variety of textures and forms in nature.

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Thomas Winward's avatar

Love that!

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Claire V.'s avatar

Nature journaling is great for observing, feeling and being in nature

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Fialka Cote's avatar

This was an absolute delight to read. I think I’m going to spend some time outside today doing some observational art. 💕

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Thomas Winward's avatar

So glad it resonated!

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Gillian McMurray's avatar

Congratulations on being shortlisted for the RA Summer Exhibition, Tom. That is wonderful.

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Thomas Winward's avatar

Thanks!! It was pretty cool!

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Pip L's avatar

Congratulations on making the shortlist, Tom…that’s brilliant😊

A great read, too…championing an imperfect world :-)

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Thomas Winward's avatar

Thanks for reading!

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