Larry Grob – Budding Environmental Artist

Larry Grob is an environmental artist.  Moved by the
natural world around him and his never ending quest to
learn new things, Larry’s creativity is finding new
expression. His courage to move into this new vocation is
inspiring and his pastels remind viewers of the awe and grace
of place.

We asked Larry to share some of his joys and inspiration related to the good works and difference he is making in the world:

1.  What do you do?
I am a change artist. And I don’t say that in any way facetiously. I am an artist in transition–emerging from a life doing other creative things–and trying to find the path that will take me to being able to contribute fully as a working artist, subcategory: pastelist. So while I may take on a variety of assignments in what I used to do, career-wise, to float the boat, I take as much time as my other obligations allow…and I paint. And frame. And observe. And take workshops. And immerse myself in local art associations. And do the ‘marketing’ part. And take photos. And then paint some more.

2.  Why do you do it?

I suppose I am driven to learn and to teach myself new things. For 30 years or so, that was partly fulfilled by learning to run a business and oversee a creative process focused on promoting innovations in science and medicine. But now it means figuring a way to master the nuances of those finicky sticks of pigment called dry pastels, and capturing with them discreet stories of the world around us. Stories of beauty, and of intricate and delicate natural balance. The images I try to create, while frozen in time, are attempts to speak to an ongoing relationship between us and our earth home, and to the need to tread lightly on a planet whose health we literally hold in our hands.

3.  How does “what you do” & your approach to life nourish you?

‘Nourish’ is a great word, and this is an excellent question. In a way, I feel that committing even a part of one’s life to creating art gives one ‘permission’ to take the time to stop, and look…really look. My ‘looking’ heretofore has been largely like a rapid data-acquisition process, if you will. Quick photo images, quick mental pictures. Thousands of them. Now, I look and take things in in a more belabored, but much richer-for-the-effort process. I see the light change, the subject cool and warm as the hours progress. And though I’ve always connected, visually speaking, this is for me a new way of touching the life force around and within us. When I’m lucky, the impression rendered exudes a little bit of that mood and atmosphere.

4.  In what ways do others find what you do nourishing?

OK, so two things here. First, I have been doing this long enough now to sense that some view my journey, as imperfect for me as the actual course is, as inspiration for their own transition thinking. It’s both tempting and timely to want to do something that matters–and something that one really wants to do. I see it all around me, especially in my own generation. And if my trip inspires, even just a tad, without making it seem easier than it really is, then I’m pleased to provide that little bit of spark.

Second, and even more immediately gratifying, is the way pastels seem to make people want to talk about, well….pastels. I get a ton of questions about the medium, and how it’s done, and what papers are used, and about framing…and for me this is a two-way street. It’s very rewarding to hear the interest, and very rewarding to be able to teach what I know and am learning.

5.  What would you say is your biggest source of inspiration?

Renowned Canadian environmentalist and long-time earth activist, Dr. David Suzuki, wrote a book called The Sacred Balance. For me, this opened my eyes to interconnectedness of it all (which I had long suspected but never truly appreciated) and fueled my attempts to work to raise what I call eConsciousness…through my art, and through my weblog called theunlikelyactivist.com. Artistically, I am inspired by the California impressionist landscape painters, by the marvelous Canadian ‘group of seven’ painters of the north, by Swiss alpine painters Hodler and Segantini, and by the numerous working artists with whom I’ve had the privilege of taking workshops of late.

6.  Where can we learn more?

Readers may want to browse theunlikelyactivist.com. Albeit a little thin in new content the last few months, there is much there to inform about the challenges and opportunities of sustainability.

Several art albums can be viewed on Facebook at the following links (am still working on a full artist’s web site):

Pastel landscapes

Land’s Sake Farm images