Photos by: Devin Joubert and Annette Berglund
Nestled in the woods of Minnesota, outside of Twin Valley, about an hour from Fargo, Annette Berglund creates intriguing art inspired by the nature around her. On January 26, she will be offering the first of many “Creating In The country” art workshops to the public. Join her for a world of inspiration, art and fun with others who want to escape the hustle and bustle of life in the city.
ARTFUL BEGINNINGS
Inspiration has never been difficult for Berglund. When she was younger, she enjoyed coming up with new ideas such as painting with ink made from flower petals and berries she found in the woods. “I also wood-burned with a magnifying glass and only started a few fires,” she joked.
HER ARTISTIC STYLE
Berglund works with mediums from paint and collages to digital photography and art. “My medium changes all the time. Right now, I’m enjoying digital art and playing with new brushes while trying to make it look traditional. I also love landscape photography,” said Berglund.
PIECE #1: PERFECT REFLECTIONS
This photograph (see opposite page) is Berglund’s favorite print. She took it of the river in the woods behind her house early in the morning. “The mist was rolling o the water. That tree is no longer there since it fell a couple months ago. Maybe there is a lesson behind it. If you see something interesting, take the picture
right away or if you want to do something, just go do it, because later you might not be able to. It is a gi , just like life,” Berglund said.
PIECE #2: INTO THE WOOD
Berglund took out her sketchbook to show how this piece started on two pages. “I also made a brush from a branch with a twig on it. That’s what makes it look like a forest behind the trees. I wanted to create a light that draws the eye back, making the viewer want to adventure into the woods. This painting was about 20 layers of drawings, paintings and parts of photographs in Photoshop. Some people think digital art is easy, but a lot goes into it, so it can be hard,” Berglund said.
Dressed Up – First Frost Series
Lost In Time – First Frost Series
PIECE #3: FIRST FROST SERIES
“On a foggy morning, after the first frost, the woods were wrapped in spider webs. It looked like you were stepping into a fantasy land. I’m sure the spider webs
are there normally but they stood out with the frost. It added an extra dimension,” said Berglund. These photographs were taken with a macro lens closer to the ground. She loves using the macro lens to shed light on things in the forest that you might not notice otherwise.
Don’t Let Your Tinsel Get In A Tangle – First Frost Series
Frozen Stars – First Frost Series
Berglund believes that inspiration and creativity are missing from our day-to-day lives because we are always rushing from one place to the other. Instead, we should take time to slow down because that’s when we’ll start relaxing and noticing the smaller details in life. “When I was growing up, people didn’t know what the word stress was. I believe creativity helps a person think and become calm. It is a great stress reliever,” said Berglund.
Creating In The Country Art Workshop
With the first “Creating In The Country” workshop, Berglund will lead students through a guided lesson
to create a multimedia collage on canvas. It will be $35 and the price covers materials, a lesson and guidance. Appetizers will be served. It will be a safe haven for people wanting to get away from the busyness of life to recharge. You don’t have to be an artist, but make sure to register early, as class size is limited and will fill up fast.
“Creating In The Country” Workshop
January 26 at 6-9 p.m.
Cost: $35
Register: facebook.com/ABerglundArtist
address: 102 Main Ave E, Twin Valley, Minnesota
For more information, contact:
Annette Berglund
Annetteberglund.com
facebook.com/ABerglundArtist
Instagram: @aberglundart
