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New Title: Echoes of the Earth
Medium: Oil pastels on paper, 30×40 cm. Presented in a white frame.
Technical Explanation:
The artwork is a vibrant and tactile exploration of the feminine and natural worlds, rendered with oil pastels on paper. This medium is particularly well-suited to the artist’s expressive style, as it allows for a rich, layered application of color and a direct, painterly feel. Bernardeschi Nelson has utilized the inherent qualities of oil pastels to create a dynamic texture, with areas of thick, opaque color built up to give a sense of volume and movement, particularly in the roots and foliage. The artist has employed techniques such as sgraffito, scratching into the layers of pastel to reveal the color beneath, which can be seen in the delicate lines on the roots and branches. The foliage is rendered with a mix of scumbling and impasto-like strokes, creating a sense of natural chaos and life.
The composition is vertical and flows organically from the strong, grounded roots at the bottom to the ethereal figure intertwined with the tree at the top. The use of color is deliberate and symbolic; deep greens, earthy browns, and soft yellows dominate, creating a palette that is both lush and natural. The figure’s face, rendered with a delicate hand, is a focal point. The artist’s use of line and form in the profile, with its serene expression and classic features, does indeed evoke a similarity to classical Greco-Roman painting or sculpture. The elongated nose, the gentle curve of the lips, and the idealized form of the face align with the aesthetic principles found in ancient art, where human figures were often depicted with a sense of calm dignity and idealized beauty. This classical influence, however, is merged with a contemporary, almost Expressionistic style of pastel work, creating a unique synthesis. The white frame chosen for the artwork provides a clean, modern boundary that enhances the vibrancy of the colors and the organic flow of the composition, giving the piece a sense of both classicism and modernity.
Philosophical Explanation:
This artwork is a profound philosophical statement on the interconnectedness of humanity and the natural world, a core theme in Laura Bernardeschi Nelson’s practice. It presents a powerful personification of Mother Nature, but in a way that is deeply personal and symbiotic. The female figure is not merely standing next to a tree; she is the tree. Her hair and clothing are the leaves and branches, her body is the trunk, and her roots are firmly planted in the earth. This visual metaphor speaks to the deep, almost spiritual, link between the feminine and nature, a connection that has been celebrated in mythologies and cultures throughout history.
The similarity of the figure’s face to ancient Greco-Roman art is not merely an aesthetic choice but a philosophical one. It places the figure within a timeless lineage, suggesting that this connection to the earth is an ancient and enduring truth. The serene, closed-eyed expression of the figure suggests a state of deep meditation or communion with the natural world, a state of being rather than a state of action. She is a silent, powerful guardian, a nurturing force that is both beautiful and deeply rooted.
The title, Echoes of the Earth, speaks to the central theme of the artwork. It suggests that the natural world communicates with us in a language that is subtle and profound. The figure, as a representation of both a woman and the earth, hears and embodies these echoes. It is a call to listen to our planet, to recognize that its health and our own are inextricably linked. For an artist like Bernardeschi Nelson, who uses her work for personal healing, this piece can be seen as a form of self-portraiture. She is the woman becoming the tree, finding her strength and serenity in a deep connection with the earth. The artwork serves as a reminder that when we honor and listen to nature, we are also honoring and listening to a fundamental part of ourselves. It is an artwork that asks us to find our own roots, to find our own sense of peace, and to recognize that we are not separate from the world around us, but a part of its eternal, living story.
Laura Bernardeschi Nelson artworld and travels 