Grit Rocks

Badlands inspire an artist to create some gritty art


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Art Title: Badlands Abstract Landscape Series - 3
Artist: Lausen
Buy art prints at Lausen Gallery at ArtistRising.com
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"Grit Rocks!" No, those aren't the words screamed by a rock star, they are out of the mouth of an abstract photographer/artist—ME. You see, I have a special bond with rocks. Why? Well, because of one of my phobias. That's right, I am afraid of SNAKES!

Still don't see the connection? Okay, the story goes: One photographer, again that's me, who prefers to spend most of her time in a studio, was challenged one weekend, years ago, with the words, and I quote, "Get out. Get some fresh air. Get some exercise—let's go hiking!" Oh brother, how do you argue with that.

So, off we went and I discovered that I loved it. That is, until the fated weekend, while hiking a coastal trail, we came across snakes. Now I'm not talking about one or two, I'm talking Indiana Jones numbers. Well, that's a story for another day, but, for now let's just say, that day changed my life. It took me forever to walk on anything, unless is was made out of solid concrete. Now that age old adage about how time heals the wound, may be true, but believe me, it never leaves you paranoid free.

To make a long story short I had two choices. I could live afraid to hit the outback ever again, or I could try and find a way to hike again. I chose to hike. I hike in mountains and I hike in deserts now, and I keep my nerve by keeping one eye always looking down AND because of this I've developed an eye for abstract landscape photography. No rock or stone gets past me or my camera. When the rest of the hikers are marveling over a vista and how many miles they can see, I'm looking down at my next piece of art and giddy with, "Hey, check this out—it looks like a dark, gritty tidal wave of rich earth flowing down to meet a white, sandy beach of diamonds."

So, my friends, that is how one of the scariest days of my life broadened my horizons as an artist. It forced me to realize that I can't let a little fear cause me to turn away, or I was going to miss out on so much, and in this case, I may never have developed an appreciation for the way I create abstract landscape photography. All I had to do was LOOK a different way.

Art and Story by Lausen
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More Badlands art from the series
Oh, if the rocks art in the following badlands photos could talk. Would they tell us of a time long ago when buffalo roamed freely or would it extend further back in the earth's timeline and tell us about the bones of a dinosaur buried deep below the crust? That's what makes this type of landscape photography so amazing—each time you look at the art, an intimate and unique story surfaces.
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Badlands-Abstract-Landscape-1
Lausen
Buy art at Lausen Gallery ArtistRising.com
(a division of Art.com)

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Badlands-Abstract-Landscape-2
Lausen
Buy art at Lausen Gallery ArtistRising.com
(a division of Art.com)

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Badlands-Abstract-Landscape-4
Lausen
Buy art at Lausen Gallery ArtistRising.com
(a division of Art.com)

"A pile of rocks ceases to be a rock when somebody contemplates it with the idea of a cathedral in mind."
- Antoine de Saint-Exupery