Category: Critters

Crittering Philosophy: Art in Harmony with Nature

I believe that art and nature can coexist in a way that honors the landscape, celebrates creativity, and leaves no lasting impact on the environment.

I love wandering the trails, finding connection with nature in my own way. Along the path, I see characters waiting to be discovered—not invented by me, but merely reassembled from their scattered components. Their existence is fleeting, yet in those moments, they come to life in a world that shows the real magic of nature.

For years, I created these Critters only for personal joy—many of them never photographed. Only more recently have I started sharing these Critters with the world, and in sharing I feel a sense of responsibility. I’ve been thrilled to see this art form inspire others to explore nature creatively. I wholly believe it is important to have a personal connection with nature while showing it the respect it deserves. Nature is delicate, and it’s important to me that Crittering honors the landscapes they emerge from without taking away. 

These are the principles I follow to allow art and nature to coexist responsibly:

Critters Come from Volunteers: As I hike, I find pieces along the trail. My Critters are built from freely fallen and abundant bits found along the trail. Rare or delicate elements remain untouched. A general rule is if I haven’t seen multiples of this item on my hike, I should leave it be.

Critters Are Ephemeral: Each Critter exists only in the moment—assembled, photographed, and left behind for fellow hikers to find, eventually—often immediately—reclaimed by nature. It is a labor that only survives in its memory.

Leave No Trace: Critters are made only from what I find on the trail I am on—nothing is taken home, nothing is brought from another habitat and nothing foreign is introduced. I occasionally reuse rusted bits of metal or other weathered litter I find on location. For every one I use in a scene, I remove another human artifact from the trail that was left behind. I leave the trail in better condition than I found it.

Keep It Minimal: Critters are small—only a few inches tall. I use staging and photography tricks—or at least try to—to make the Critters appear large and show the world from their perspective. The diminutive size ensures any impact they have on the area is gentle. Critters don’t require whole plants—just small bits of natural debris that often go overlooked.

Honor the Land: Every Critter’s placement is chosen to complement the natural setting without disturbing it. The backdrop for a Critter could be very small or very grand—its just a matter of paying attention to the beauty of nature to find the whimsical scenery that particular Critter calls home. No rearranging of landscapes, or interfering with living plants or animals occurs.

An Exercise in Patience: Each Critter is a delicate balance of creativity and physical limitation. Since nothing foreign is introduced, there are no adhesives or fasteners used in their creation—only nature’s own materials. Each piece must balance, fit, and hold together under its own weight. A small breeze or drop of rain can undo an hour of careful placement, making every creation a fleeting puzzle in both art and engineering. That’s part of the beauty—Crittering isn’t about control over nature; it’s about discovering what nature allows in the moment. It requires patience and a willingness to let the process guide you.

A New Perspective: Discovering these Critters helps me see the world in so many different ways. The minute details on the trail side that may hide a Critter bit for later use. Whimsical landscapes large or small. A trickle becomes a waterfall, a gnarled tree root is a home. Each of my Critters has its own story. I like to see those stories as paralleling those of the local wildlife and our own. What does the world look like from their perspective?

By following these principles, I hope to inspire appreciation for nature’s hidden beauty while ensuring that artistic exploration remains in harmony with the wilderness I cherish.