We were lucky to catch up with Ari/Lost In The Woods recently and have shared our conversation below.

Ari, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear the story of how you went from this being just an idea to making it into something real.

My process is reminiscent of weather….some days a storm, erratically hopping between projects and pieces; sometimes a calm sunny day where I take my time absorbed in the process of one work. Constant experimentation, research and exploration are what I believe form the evolution of my style.

I’ve had the luck of working multiple jobs, across a range of creative fields: working in film, painting large scale murals, designing spaces, performing, graphic design and working in pretty much any traditional (and lots of non-traditional) mediums. Everything in life builds on past experience and this mindset has given me opportunities I never before imagined I’d be able to execute.

Currently, the point of origin for my personal works stem from interacting with the natural world, diving into the unique little details our planet has to offer. Anyone can look at a forest, an ocean, the mountains and see the beauty, but what liberates me and sparks inspiration is juxtaposing found artifacts and specimens. As I age, my collection of natural curiosities grows, offering me new ways to create and evoke an alternate thought process. My experience in graphic design has directly influenced my composition skills, and often times during the research and development phase, I’ll play with various elements digitally and how best to connect them. While some drafts fail and never see the light of day, I think it’s important to always stay trying new things, building up to the whole picture.

Ari, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Lost In The Woods makes surreal naturalistic pieces of work, harnessing juxtaposition and the natural world to form my style.

My approach is analytical and detail oriented with the world being my muse; I employ different mediums to capture the essence of nature’s beauty and explore the intricate connections within the life cycle. My creations showcase the wonders of the natural realm, often utilizing found resources to craft my pieces. Whether it’s integrating precious metals and minerals, making my own pigments from stones and dirt, or using the sun to print cyanotypes, I integrate nature into my work.

The watercolor series I perpetuate is probably the one I’m most fond of, but since I’ve been requested and urged for years to start tattooing, I finally have. While one of the most challenging mediums I’ve yet crossed, I have been slowing teaching myself (for now) to learn and refine my craft. I plan to further my development with the right artist(s) so until then, I am still a student with much to work on. Other projects I’m super thrilled about executing recently have been commissioned large scale paintings (normally my pieces are around 12”x12” or so), in mediums outside of watercolors.

I recently finished a 80”x56” where I built the canvas, used a base of spackle to carve textures, sanded and shaped the forms, then used acrylic paint mixed with cinnamon to paint. Some bugs even ended up in the wet paint as it dried and while not intentional, it literally has pieces of nature embedded inside. I currently have two more upcoming large scale commissions that I’m as equally eager about, but for now those will remain a secret. The recent shift into larger formats has opened up a new, while still nature inspired, abstract approach and I’m excited to be moving soon to a new studio space to accommodate even larger paintings.

I chose to pursue a career in the arts because it serves as a means of communication. As my work continues to develop, so does the insight and creative process driving it. This journey of experimentation enables me to explore the world, share my thoughts and discoveries, bringing my own interpretation of nature into physical form. Being a part of this realm is both exhilarating and humbling, and I aspire to continue to grow and evolve.

While I have multiple projects I have my hands full with at the time of this interview, I am still open to project proposals and commissions of any nature (pun intended).

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

We live in such tumultuous times right now, where we are feeling and seeing the effects of past choices hurting our world for the worse. There’s no denying that all life forms are being drastically impacted. My mission for years has been to shed new light on natural life, in hopes to spur others’ appreciation for what we have, look deeper, closer, and to protect our planet.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, the process of creation, when I get so lost in making something that I forget how to properly human is the highlight of creating. Humans have been making art since they could, and there’s something addictively beautiful in this primal predisposition. You can say so much with art, and whoever sees it will always bring their own unique perspective and experience to the way they digest it.

I also feel I foster more profound relationships when connecting with other makers, and love working with clients when you both essentially collaborate together to make something beautiful; it’s precious to me to have these interactions that I otherwise wouldn’t have if I didn’t create.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.lostinthewoods.ink/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lostinthewoodsart/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lostinthewoodsart/
• Other: TikTok: @lostinthewoodsart

Image Credits
Headshot: Richard Sumilang