My name is Niki Young, I am the owner of Studio Nature of Things. In my small Amsterdam based studio I make botanical art.
Since I was young I have always had a passion for nature; collecting leaves and shells, taking pictures of stones and drying flowers in my notebooks. Besides my love for nature I have an adoration for art, photography, interior design and stationary. In my spare time I take every opportunity to visit a museum, create collages or go for a walk accompanied by my camera and notebook.
For a long time I have been searching to find my own creative style. A few years ago my mother got a garden house. Walking around in her garden I found myself drawn to nature more than ever. Inspired by the beauty of nature, I started to collect and dry flowers and plants. Recently things began to fall into place and I started to follow my creative instinct.
In the spring and summer months my studio is full of flowers. From old wood and stones I make large flower presses, so I can dry botanicals in all sizes and shapes.With the pressed results I design unique, botanical art works, using varied methods like photography, painting, drawing, collages and digital design. Sometimes I start with a flower composition on a large piece of old glass and paper mache. Other pieces start with a photograph or something painted. My works are ever evolving, I often revisit them and try to make a new piece in a different style.
My work is very personal to me. In the first place I create because it helps me to be more in touch with myself and with nature. It has become a necessity. A calming engagement to distract me from the busyness of daily life (I work full time as a notarial lawyer, executing people’s last wills for a charity company in Amsterdam). With my work I try to create something lasting from something that is brittle and impermanent. The process of creating something and seeing the transformation gives me immense joy.
Everyday I feel grateful to be able to do something I love.
Love,
Niki
