Grand Rapids artist captures Michigan’s natural beauty
Big RAPIDS — The Midwest is generally unfairly referred to as “fly-over” states by those people who do not reside in the spot, and even by some who do call the area their dwelling.
By way of his art, Jeff Wier is putting that certain title to mattress for fantastic, at minimum as far as the condition of Michigan is anxious.
Wier stopped by Artworks in Massive Rapids on Friday afternoon during its Brown Bag Sequence to screen some of his artwork, which was showcased in the venue’s Batdorff Gallery.
He presently resides in Hudsonville and originally hails from Grand Rapids, stated he is delighted to be capable to combine his passions of artwork, kayaking and woodworking into a single creative medium.
“I’ve generally beloved woodworking, and I applied to do it for a dwelling as a young dude, but then I bought out of it,” Wier stated. “Then I commenced kayaking, and I would see other people’s boats and resolved that I wanted to marry the two matters. I definitely like what I do.”
Wier also claimed that his passion for woodworking and his enthusiasm for kayaking are all he requirements to continue to be enthusiastic and go on his inventive enterprise.
In advance of he was capturing scenes reminiscent of one thing in a Natural Geographic journal, Wier owned his own transmission store, before ultimately promoting it in 2014.
“After that, I promised myself I would only do things in life that I wanted to,” Wier mentioned. “For me, that is kayaking, setting up kayaks, and images. I can do all of these jointly, along with camping and finding out to see Michigan.”
To day, Wier has made just one entire-sized kayak out of wooden, but has also taken a litany of pictures through the state, most showcasing a kayak with a scenic backdrop.
In some conditions, Wier reported individuals have been amazed to understand that all of his photographs have been taken someplace in just one of Michigan’s two peninsulas.
“I do travel to other areas, but there is ample magnificence listed here in Michigan that could retain you active for a lifetime,” Wier explained.
For Wier, it’s all about staying equipped to share anything wonderful with other people today and be in a position to encourage them to discover their respective passion along the way.
Through his photos, Wier is in a position to provide another person to a location they usually could not have ever visited, this sort of as ice caves in the UP.
“Just striving to share what I uncover stunning with other people today I want them to be equipped to see what I see,” Wier said. “I know not everyone is capable to go, so I wished to make it accessible to every person to see. Most folks never want to journey throughout Lake Excellent on a snowmobile.”