Andrea Williams of Bound Earth is devoted to nature in all aspects of her life, from collecting seedpods on her frequent outdoor hikes to using only non-mined materials in her work and encouraging other jewelers to do the same. Her goal is to share her sense of wonder and reverence for the earth, and to help develop a communal sensitivity and respect for the gifts that it provides. Her pieces bear that message beautifully…bold balanced designs, gently uniting person to place.

Andrea seamlessly unites her playful creativity and her love of nature with her holistic work ethic. She uses metals from reclaimed and recycled sources, and she never uses mined gems…instead she chooses alternative materials such as smooth cool beach pebbles. Her New England home was designed by a green architect and is powered by renewable energy. Her studio was built in a renovated barn alongside her beloved bees, chickens and organic garden, and it too uses renewable energy. In her practice she opts for organic solutions such as citric acid in place of the harsh chemicals often found in the metalsmithing process. Her message to other craftspeople is to do the same…question the process, educate yourself and change what you can to better align your work with the natural world.

Andrea’s commitment to truly ethic-driven craftsmanship is inspiring, and her talent for elegantly harmonious designs is remarkable. In fact in 2011 she won a well-deserved First Place in the 11th annual Saul Bell Design Competition, which recognizes artists for exceptionally innovative designs. Hopefully more artists will follow in her footsteps and commit to creating a world in balance.

This post was contributed by Nik, self-described metalsmith-gemologist-designer and artist. For more of Nik’s insights and perspectives visit her blog, moonswordchamber.blogspot.com.

Related: more eco fashion finds on The Alternative Consumer

Canadian designer Benjamin Wieler loves vintage books and and has a passion for turning them into decorative items, like the group of 9 abstract, ‘paper cog’ sculptural wall ornaments pictured above. Each decorative piece of art is formed from the folded pages of recycled paperback novels and then dipped in wax.

The ornaments ship in a box with sufficient recycled shredding to keep them safe.

@ the bookBW Etsy shop

Related: more eco art on The Alternative Consumer

Artist Dee Dee Morrison and her Morrison Studio created and installed her solar-powered Sun-Catcher sculpture as part of Clearwater, Florida’s Sculpture360 program.

The 15 foot tall Sun-Catcher is constructed of recycled aluminum and vibrant yellow lucite panels. The solar-powered totem features a solar panel that is integrated into the top of the piece. The sun’s energy captured by the solar panel during the day is used to illuminate the piece after dark – lighting up downtown Clearwater and serving as a testament to its marriage of art and sustainability.

The Sculpture360 art program is sponsored by Clearwater’s Public Art and Design Program in partnership with the Downtown Development Board.

An artistic use for an energy-hogging lightbulb… Designer Steve Witteveen creates his nifty little terrariums inside upcycled incandescent lightbulbs. Witteveen carefully places mosses, wood and stones inside the bulb to create tiny green environments.

The 150 watt moss terrarium featured here will cost you $45 @ the SteamedGlass Etsy shop

The low maintenance terrarium comes pre-assembled.

Related: more eco art finds on The Alternative Consumer

Let’s get one thing out of the way right off the bat -  this lovely primitive piece of art looks a little more like a salmon than a trout.

The rustic piece of art is entitled ‘Rainbow Trout’ and has been created, cut and framed from discarded shipping pallets. The pieces of the fish were cut by hand and stained with earth friendly milk paint. The frame was stained and sealed with a danish oil finish. A great gift your favorite fisherman, or woman.

Created by artist Beth Anderson and sold at her RepurposedonPurpose Etsy shop.

The artist covered pieces of trash and industrial waste with shreds of the Financial Times newspaper to form the cacophononous sea of words that comprise the Seahorse’s surface.

Bryce created the Seahorse to pose questions to anyone viewing the piece. The Seahorse symbolizes the challenges faced by many creatures in today’s environment – a world too often dominated by waste, greed and excess.

Related: eco art

Via: recyclart

Reduce, reuse, recycle takes hold in the art world…This elegant “Anenome” sculpture (above) was created by cutting recycled paper towel rolls into thirds and hand-painting them with an old sponge brush.

The artist, Erika, creates collages and sculptures from an eclectic array of found materials … @ Erikaceous.org

The landscape of our eastern farmlands is often dotted with the rusting remains of old farm machinery that’s outlived its usefulness. One couple is re-using this material with great results. Kate and Ben Gatski design and fabricate their folk art, furniture and sculptures with the reclaimed metal recovered from outdated farm machinery and the salvaged barnwood they gather from their rural Pennsylvania area.

The couple’s studio overlooks the Gatski family farm which provides inspiration for the couple’s folk art. The metalwork is welded by Ben and embodies the character and patina of the original farm machinery derived from years of work in the fields.

Find more handmade folk art and furniture @ The Steel Fork’s Etsy shop

Designer Axel Yberg and his furniture design firm, Akke Functional Art, create furniture that explores the juxtaposition of industrial, man made components and elements of finished and raw-edged wood. The pieces pictured here, like the evocatively named “Plumber’s Crack’ (photo above), feature a skeleton constructed of recycled plumbing fixtures and pipes that supports surfaces of live-edged, reclaimed wood.

What better way to add some country style to your kitchen or weekend home than by adding some original art painted directly on a rustic chunk of reclaimed wood.

The original acrylic paintings pictured here are part of a series of food-based designs created by the husband and wife team of John and Gigi. All of the reclaimed boards in the series are chosen for their natural beauty and innate character. The calligraphy is hand painted and each piece is signed and dated by the artist Gigi.

Find these pieces and many more @ the John and Gigi at Home Etsy shop.