Ellis O'Connor is a contemporary landscape artist based in Scotland. Ellis is called to interpret the landscape that she immerses herself in, she sits within it and even uses natures materials to create her work.
In our conversation we talk about the almost magical connection you can feel with nature when you spend time with it. The elements, tides, sun, moon, animals, plants all reach out and when you sit with yourself quietly in nature we can start to listen to what it has to say. Sometimes it feels that modern day living has almost completely removed us from nature and there seems to be a push back against that coming. We can see it with many artists, writers and activists that are feeling empowered to help find that connection again, because it's so important on many levels.
Robert MacFarlane, Agnes Denes, Andy Goldsworthy, Karine Polwart, Julie Fowlis, Nan Shepherd are just a few that come to mind that use art, music and poetry to express natures language.
"We walk on this thin crust above this raging space of life and matter in all its vibrancy and fury, and we know nothing of it.” Robert MacFarlane.
Ellis talks about having a desire to spend time in harsh, more rural places where the environment really lets you know who's boss. It's somethin