Across Rhode Island, creativity is blooming in unexpected places, and makers are weaving nature directly into their craft. From meditations kits shaped with foliage to papers and prints built from sea plants, these artisans aren’t just creating beautiful objects; they’re telling stories of sustainability and connection. By working with the raw materials of the land and sea, they invite us to see the beauty of the Ocean State in a new light.
For papermaker and eco-artist May Babcock, creativity begins with what nature provides. She forages “abundant plant and seaweed fibers” and transforms them into pulp, embedding pressed plants and sediment and creating richly textured works of art. “Material engagement is foundational to my practice,” Babcock says, a belief that flows through her work like the waterways she honors. Each piece not only showcases her innovative papermaking techniques but evokes “the plants, waterways, stories, and materials of place,” inviting viewers to connect with the natural world on a more intimate level. Pawtucket, MayBabcock.com
Mary Chatowsky channels the ocean’s hidden life into her art. Chatowsky’s Seaweed and Tide Pool series captures “a moment in time when these species coexisted in between the tides,” giving form to the delicate balance between beauty and fragility in our changing world. She explains that the ocean “contains a wealth of environments, the known and unknown, with creatures, shapes and forms both strange and beautiful,” a vivid image that is brought to life in Chatowsky’s prints. Through her work at Saltwater Studio Newport Art and Design, Chatowsky freezes those tidal snapshots, offering us a gentle invitation to appreciate unseen stories beneath the surface. Newport, SaltWaterStudioNewport.com
At GrandeDesigns, flowers aren’t just preserved, they’re transformed into heirlooms. Specializing in resin art, Rylee Grande captures blooms from life’s most meaningful occasions (weddings, births, memorials) and turns them into lasting works of art. “Each piece I create is a tribute to the fleeting beauty of nature,” Grande explains, “preserved in resin to be cherished for years to come.” Inspired daily by the natural world, her work honors memory as much as it celebrates form, showcasing “the elegance and emotion each flower holds.” The result is art that keeps nature’s beauty and life’s milestones alive long after the petals fade. Smithfield, GrandeDesigns.myshopify.com
Jewelry artist Sema Gurerk draws inspiration from nature’s smallest details – a pinecone, a twig, a fleeting fragment of beauty. “Each piece of my jewelry begins with a quiet discovery in nature,” Gurerk says, describing how she transforms these unique finds using the ancient art of lost wax casting for her Botanica & Bazaar line. By preserving intricate textures in precious metal, Gurerk designs wearable sculptures that are as much story as adornment. “No two pieces are ever alike,” she notes, each necklace, ring, or earring becoming a reminder that “nature is the greatest artist, and I am simply its collaborator.” Under the brand name Floweredsky Designs, her work celebrates both traditional craft and the organic artistry of the natural world. Providence, Floweredsky.com. Find Gurek at Tiverton Farmers Market events
For sustainable floral designer and artist Nicole Montagano, nature serves as both inspiration and medium. In her event florals, Montagano relies on native, seasonal blooms and “earth-friendly, non-toxic, and low-waste practices.” In her work, she assembles elements including an original watercolor painting, genuine healing crystals, a tealight intention candle, a selenite wand, and more into meditation kits that “celebrate ephemera and the beauty of nature in all of its phases.” She also paints animals and landscapes with small-batch watercolors made from plants and minerals. “I am forever a deep admirer of the Earth and all of her beings,” she says, and her work is a testament to that reverence. Available at Jordan’s Jungle, Pawtucket. HalcyonHeroine.com
Vendor markets are filled with artists selling goods that make the most of natural resources. Here are some events happening this month. Find more at FarmFreshRI.org
Aquidneck Growers Market, Newport
Casey Farm Market, Saunderstown
Hope Street Farmers Market, Providence
Mount Hope Farmers Market, Bristol
Pawtuxet Village Farmers Market, Cranston
South Kingstown Farmers Market, Kingston
Foster Farmers Market, Foster
Tiverton Farmers Market, Tiverton
Scituate Art Festival: Artists and vendors take over the picturesque village green and beyond at this annual event, now in its 59th year. If you’ve never been, prepare to do some walking, as you may need to park up to a mile away from the action. There is a central food court run by town-based nonprofit groups serving up everything from apple dumplings to meatball sandwiches and soft drinks; many are cash-only, so plan accordingly. Pro-tip: Start your art-buying adventure with coffee and a muffin from Cold Brook Cafe. Rain or shine. Learn more at ScituateArtFestival.org
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