When I was a little girl, like every other kid, I loved going to places like the zoo, Disney World & Busch Gardens.  I reveled in the feeling of being in exotic places without losing familiar comforts and conveniences.  Then as I grew older and especially since Mr. F & I have been traveling, I’ve realized that there are far more amazing places existing in their natural states than man could ever conceive of.  In his mixed media work, Brooklyn based artist Shane McAdams addresses the duality of nature versus man-imitating-nature.

In these brilliantly detailed landscapes, McAdams uses familiar mediums like ballpoint pen and Elmer’s glue in unusual applications against traditionally rendered landscapes.  The result is what appears to be a pushing in or pulling apart of the scene, symbolic of artificial forces rendering their effect on the natural world.  I love the way bright colors seem to melt from the landscape, giving to me, the effect of revealing the artificiality of a constructed scene.  What we see isn’t always what it seems, especially when touched by the hand of man.

To see more of Shane McAdams‘ work, please visit his website.  Interested in another artist working in ballpoint?  Check out Joan Salo.

All images via the artist’s website.