Interview with fine art artist Scott Gieske

February 25, 2020
"I constantly feel like most humans try to control the uncontrollable. To counter this notion with my art, I began getting input directly from nature. I leverage the natural world to influence and create beautiful images. I do not control the formation, just like we do not really control life. I started sending sheets of paper into the heart of nature, leaving them to the wind, the streams, and the forests. I left them in the natural environment for extended periods of time, letting mother nature imprint upon them what she would. The interplay between color and texture, creates intriguing and indescribable ambiances. The aesthetic production of nature oriented in such a way, proved to be something fascinating, a finesse of refined compositions evoking feelings of harmony, motion and nature itself. For some of the collage pieces, the final step is to take the paper out of the natural environment and bring the image into Photoshop to create the final composition." Scott Gieske is a new artist in the Boston area. We have conducted a short interview with him.


Why do you think there is a tendency that most humans try to control the uncontrollable?

It’s unfortunate, but most of us understand far more about our iPhones than we understand about ourselves, our connection to one another, and our profoundly intimate connection and dependence on the planet that provides so much for us. There’s definitely a price we each pay for living in today’s fast-paced society. We prioritize just about everything over taking time to explore the inner dimension of ourselves and our intimate ties to mother nature. Our focus is completely outbound, which can never be controlled. Having control means that you can change things with your own thoughts, emotions, and actions. It means you have power over them and you can change their course at will. We’d all love to be able to control the world around us, but the truth is there very few things we can control. At the theoretical level, this is nothing new, and we’re pretty aware of it, but at the emotional level we tend to forget it very easily, which can make us uneasy or upset. In general, we tolerate uncertainty and frustration pretty poorly when our expectations aren’t fulfilled the way we wanted them to be. It’s quite unpleasant when this happens, just as it sometimes is when we don’t know what’s going to happen in a given situation.

What can I control in the external world? Nothing. What you can control is yourself. We can feel free and content if we remember this and believe it. You can control and try to change the way you see the world, because no one else can enter your thoughts, but it’s completely absurd to try to change the external world around you. I use my art to remind me of this everyday, which in turn, makes life so much more enjoyable.



How did nature help you counter this notion?

The natural world, by definition, is all of the animals, plants, and other things existing in our environment that are not made or caused by people. Nature is incapable of being controlled, so when I’m out in an environment getting input directly from nature, it reminds me of this notion. I do not control the formation, just like we do not really control life. I send sheets of paper into the heart of nature, leaving them to the wind, the streams, and the forests. I leave them in the natural environment for extended periods of time, letting mother nature imprint upon them what she would. The interplay between color and texture, creates intriguing and indescribable ambiances. The aesthetic production of nature, oriented in such a way, proved to be something fascinating, a finesse of refined compositions evoking feelings of harmony, motion and nature itself.


What do you consider an aesthetic piece of art should consist of?

Art is a diverse range of human activities in creating visual, auditory or performing artifacts. That said, the definition of what constitutes art is constantly disputed and continues to change over time. My feeling has always been that art is subjective and the considerations that a person has should remain their own. Aesthetics covers both natural and artificial sources of aesthetic experience and judgment. It considers what happens in our minds when we engage with aesthetic objects or environments, such as viewing visual art, listening to music, reading poetry, or exploring nature. Beauty is always in the eye of the beholder, so ff the piece of art that you are interacting with has made you feel something, then it has done its job.


How challenging is it to complete an art piece?

The most challenging aspect of creating a new piece of art is remaining patient. In most instances, patience is not an essential ingredient in creativity – in fact, patience undermines the path of discovery. Because I’m collaborating with mother nature, I have to have the restraint to let her do her thing and give her permission to perform her magic. If I practice tolerance, I believe beautiful images can be produced. Even though I check on them almost everyday, knowing when to remove them from nature can be tough. The passion I feel when I show up to see what changes have taken place, is what makes this form of art so exciting and fun.


Whose work inspires you the most?

Jacek Tylicki is the artist I most relate to in association with my style. He started the natural art movement back in the early 1970’s. The abstract images created by his collaboration with nature fascinated me. Other abstract, modern artist that I am drawn to are Jean-Michel Basquiat, Jackson Pollock, Jeff Koons, Cy Twombly and Molly Scannell.


Where have you exhibited?

I’ve taken quite a long hiatus from creating any new work, so I have not exhibited in a physical gallery. My work is currently represented on the Saatchi Art online gallery.


Where do you wish to exhibit next?

Since I am relatively new to the art scene in New England, if I was given the opportunity to exhibit in any local gallery, I’d consider that an honor.


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