art in nature spring 2012-b

Art in Nature- Part 2Art in Nature- Part 2 Photos and Descriptions Photos and Descriptions by Judy M Johnsonby Judy M Johnson

As an artist, my eyes -and my As an artist, my eyes -and my soul- want to see art in soul- want to see art in everything.everything.

This is a collection of my own This is a collection of my own photos wherein I see patterns, photos wherein I see patterns, colors, shadows… that say colors, shadows… that say “Art” to me.“Art” to me.

Rocks are like living art to me.Rocks are like living art to me.This one large craggy odd-ball has foundThis one large craggy odd-ball has found

its way atop older, more wave-roundedits way atop older, more wave-roundedbasalt at Presque Isle Park Marquette MIbasalt at Presque Isle Park Marquette MIIt’s as if it knew the scene needed more It’s as if it knew the scene needed more

dynamism more angles…so there he sits!dynamism more angles…so there he sits!

Willow leaves Willow leaves duplicate duplicate themselves as themselves as shadows shadows in the water in the water and on and on the sand, the sand,

Marquette MI Marquette MI

Photo by Judy M JohnsonPhoto by Judy M Johnson

Like a Rousseau Like a Rousseau painting, thispainting, this

jumble of greenery jumble of greenery only needs a few only needs a few

wild animals to wild animals to become abecome a

“Peaceable “Peaceable Kingdom”Kingdom”



The Willow saysThe Willow says“I’ll frame this pretty “I’ll frame this pretty scene for you of scene for you of Lake and Clouds…Lake and Clouds…and by the way, and by the way, aren’t my leaves aren’t my leaves lovely?”lovely?”



A disheveled A disheveled Willow Tree flings Willow Tree flings itself this way and itself this way and that while enjoying that while enjoying the view of the old the view of the old oar dock over oar dock over there at Lower there at Lower Harbor .Harbor .

It is quite aware It is quite aware of the artistic of the artistic impression it impression it makes as it makes as it spreads its spreads its limbs and leaves.limbs and leaves.



Peeking through an opening frames the image beyond it and makes it kind of …well, Peeking through an opening frames the image beyond it and makes it kind of …well, more art-y. This is shot through an ore dock with a “zoom” from Presque Isle Park Marquette MI, to more art-y. This is shot through an ore dock with a “zoom” from Presque Isle Park Marquette MI, to

the not-so-pretty power plant for the oar mines. Not so much “nature” as it is USING it.the not-so-pretty power plant for the oar mines. Not so much “nature” as it is USING it.

This is the no-longer-used ore dock at “lower harbor” Marquette MI. This is the no-longer-used ore dock at “lower harbor” Marquette MI. The R. version I “art” altered by adding a pretty sunset taken at Lake Minnie, Ishpeming MI. The R. version I “art” altered by adding a pretty sunset taken at Lake Minnie, Ishpeming MI.

Anyone who knows this dock, knows there are no trees and no sunsets…as we are facing East.Anyone who knows this dock, knows there are no trees and no sunsets…as we are facing East.

Pontooning around Lake Michigamme is always a delight…good friends, adult beverages, Pontooning around Lake Michigamme is always a delight…good friends, adult beverages, snacks and wonderful art-filled views. Who could ask for anything more?snacks and wonderful art-filled views. Who could ask for anything more?

Sunset Reflections at Lake MichigammeSunset Reflections at Lake Michigamme

Ahh, now we get to the Ahh, now we get to the ROCKS! I love rocks, ROCKS! I love rocks, always have. Never always have. Never ceasing to intrigue and ceasing to intrigue and fascinate. They are fascinate. They are examples of the oldest examples of the oldest “living” parts of this “living” parts of this planet, and have so many planet, and have so many forms and substances forms and substances which make them up.which make them up.

This one gives me a kick: This one gives me a kick: it’s lake-smoothed white it’s lake-smoothed white rock (limestone) on top of rock (limestone) on top of “red rock” (Jacobsville “red rock” (Jacobsville Sandstone- which can be Sandstone- which can be white, polka-dotted or white, polka-dotted or striped red and white)striped red and white)Looking like a broken Looking like a broken dinosaur egg on an dinosaur egg on an ancient shore.ancient shore.

This is on the west This is on the west shore of Presque Isle shore of Presque Isle Park, a very geologically Park, a very geologically diverse site.diverse site.

Here is a whacked out Here is a whacked out spinning version of the spinning version of the photo just before this photo just before this one.one.

it’s lake-smoothed white it’s lake-smoothed white rock (limestone) on top of rock (limestone) on top of “red rock” (Jacobsville “red rock” (Jacobsville Sandstone)Sandstone)Which, before I twisted it, Which, before I twisted it, looked like a broken looked like a broken dinosaur egg on an dinosaur egg on an ancient shore.ancient shore.

This is on the west This is on the west shore of Presque Isle shore of Presque Isle Park, a very geologically Park, a very geologically diverse site.diverse site.

Rough “red rock” away from the smoothing influence of waves (Jacobsville Sandstone) which can Rough “red rock” away from the smoothing influence of waves (Jacobsville Sandstone) which can be white, dotted or striped red and white) artfully arranging itself in an attractive tableau.be white, dotted or striped red and white) artfully arranging itself in an attractive tableau.

If stones are pretty in your hand, they are even prettier in the water when sunlight dances brilliant undulating If stones are pretty in your hand, they are even prettier in the water when sunlight dances brilliant undulating “brush-lines” across the varied stones: Black basalt, red Jacobsville sandstone, granite, quartz & more…“brush-lines” across the varied stones: Black basalt, red Jacobsville sandstone, granite, quartz & more…

Aren’t those clever little granite rocks, arranging themselves so artfully Aren’t those clever little granite rocks, arranging themselves so artfully near a lighthouse, on a beach near Brimley Michigan!near a lighthouse, on a beach near Brimley Michigan!

There is that sunshine painting wet patterns on the red and white sandstone…There is that sunshine painting wet patterns on the red and white sandstone…on a flat stretch of it off the Keweenaw Peninsula, Michigan.on a flat stretch of it off the Keweenaw Peninsula, Michigan.

To me, a variety of water-smoothed rocks basking in the sunshine of the Lake Superior Shore, To me, a variety of water-smoothed rocks basking in the sunshine of the Lake Superior Shore, becomes a living painting in 3-D, here on the Keweenaw Peninsula, Michigan.becomes a living painting in 3-D, here on the Keweenaw Peninsula, Michigan.

Showing again,Showing again,how an image placed how an image placed in a circle somehow in a circle somehow makes it more makes it more art-like.art-like.

Here’s a portion of Here’s a portion of Rhyolite streaking Rhyolite streaking through Basalt at through Basalt at the entrance to a the entrance to a magical beach magical beach called Hunter’s Point, called Hunter’s Point, near Copper Harbor near Copper Harbor Michigan.Michigan.

I love how this red Rhyolite streaked through Basalt millions of years ago, blended by earth-forming volcanoes, I love how this red Rhyolite streaked through Basalt millions of years ago, blended by earth-forming volcanoes, and worn smooth by eons of wave action, at a magical beach called Hunter’s Point, near Copper Harbor and worn smooth by eons of wave action, at a magical beach called Hunter’s Point, near Copper Harbor

Michigan. Small shiny red rhyolite pebbles display their beauty on a natural shelf.Michigan. Small shiny red rhyolite pebbles display their beauty on a natural shelf.

When the rhyolite is wet, it’s redder. When the grey basalt is wet, it’s black.When the rhyolite is wet, it’s redder. When the grey basalt is wet, it’s black.At Hunter’s Beach, Copper Harbor Michigan. Did the wave paint a man’s profile?At Hunter’s Beach, Copper Harbor Michigan. Did the wave paint a man’s profile?

Who is the angel artist who painted Who is the angel artist who painted this pointillist art in the rocks at this pointillist art in the rocks at Hunter’s Point, near Copper Hunter’s Point, near Copper Harbor?Harbor?

Shades of red rhyolite dot black Shades of red rhyolite dot black basalt, while satin-smooth pebbles basalt, while satin-smooth pebbles sit and contemplate the beauty of it sit and contemplate the beauty of it all.all.


One scene is more entrancing One scene is more entrancing than the one before at Hunter’s than the one before at Hunter’s

Point, near Copper Harbor?Point, near Copper Harbor?

Both red Rhyolites and Black Both red Rhyolites and Black Basalt have been worn satiny Basalt have been worn satiny

smooth by eons of wave action, smooth by eons of wave action, forming endless arrays of natural forming endless arrays of natural

earth sculptures.earth sculptures.

No, I didn’t arrange those pebbles. They like to show off that way No, I didn’t arrange those pebbles. They like to show off that way sometimes at Hunter’s Beach, Copper Harbor Michigan.sometimes at Hunter’s Beach, Copper Harbor Michigan.

One Beach Sculpture One Beach Sculpture is more delicious than is more delicious than the next, at the next, at Hunter’s Point, near Hunter’s Point, near Copper HarborCopper Harbor

Can pebbles get much more Can pebbles get much more beautiful than these beautiful than these

lake tumbled stones atlake tumbled stones atHunter’s Point, Hunter’s Point,

near Copper Harbor?near Copper Harbor?

I just want to EAT ‘EM!I just want to EAT ‘EM!

Colorful lichen dapple Colorful lichen dapple craggy basalt along the craggy basalt along the north shore of the beautiful north shore of the beautiful Keweenaw PeninsulaKeweenaw Peninsula


Golden sunset Golden sunset intensifies the hue of intensifies the hue of

golden lichen on golden lichen on craggy basalt on craggy basalt on

“The Keweenaw’s” “The Keweenaw’s” north shore.north shore.


Leaving my beloved home in the Upper Peninsula, I visit family in Virginia Beach. This nearly Leaving my beloved home in the Upper Peninsula, I visit family in Virginia Beach. This nearly endless city beach offers many compositions using only water and sand as the medium.endless city beach offers many compositions using only water and sand as the medium.

Sea-foam scribes Haikus onto the sand, on Virginia Beach.Sea-foam scribes Haikus onto the sand, on Virginia Beach.

Shadows paint a Shadows paint a remembrance of meremembrance of meand my sonand my sonon the sandon the sandof Virginia Beach.of Virginia Beach.

Large CrotonLarge Crotonleaves dance a leaves dance a composition of yellow composition of yellow and green stripesand green stripes

Palm trees braid an Palm trees braid an intricate pattern on their intricate pattern on their trunks as old fronds leave trunks as old fronds leave making room for new making room for new young ones, as they live young ones, as they live and grow on and grow on Virginia Beach.Virginia Beach.

Paint brushes masquerading as grass, waiting for something to paint: Virginia Beach.Paint brushes masquerading as grass, waiting for something to paint: Virginia Beach.

That’s all for now, folks!That’s all for now, folks! All photos are copyrighted All photos are copyrighted

by Judy M Johnson, 2012. by Judy M Johnson, 2012.

They may be shared individually and enjoyed in such They may be shared individually and enjoyed in such locations as PINTREST, but never to be sold, locations as PINTREST, but never to be sold, reproduced or used in any form, digitally, in print, in reproduced or used in any form, digitally, in print, in media and the like.media and the like.If you DO put some up on Facebook-Pintrest, it would If you DO put some up on Facebook-Pintrest, it would be dandy for you to give me credit.be dandy for you to give me credit.

I surely do appreciate your respect of my copyright. I surely do appreciate your respect of my copyright. Thank you.Thank you.

I’m a paper doll artist and publisher. (+ cards and notes, post I’m a paper doll artist and publisher. (+ cards and notes, post cards, craft art, coloring books, old & new. cards, craft art, coloring books, old & new. If you’d like to visit, come see what I’ve got atIf you’d like to visit, come see what I’ve got atwww.papergoodies.comwww.papergoodies.com All Best, All Best, Judy M JohnsonJudy M Johnson

art in nature spring 2012-b

Art & Photos