After he moved from Brooklyn to the nature-filled region of Upstate New York, artist Jason Middlebrook felt inspired to use discarded wood as a canvas for his intricate designs. Initially, the artist was motivated to use the organic medium because he was fascinated by how trees are records of history. He started out painting on knobby pieces of timber and quickly realized that, in working with the grain of the wood, he was initiating a unique conversation with his natural surroundings.
Many of Middlebrook's motifs follow the organic patterns that can already be found in lumber. Others go against the grain to exaggerate the shapes that are present in the recycled material. At times, the painter even creates colorful works of art that resemble the minerals found in rocks. No matter what the design, this nature-loving artist aims to symbolically portray how human beings have made their mark on Mother Nature. It is this sense of tension that makes his work stand out.
Jason Middlebrook: Website
via [Design Faves]
