Vanessa Swenson: Artist & Designer

For some people, the best way to really experience the beauty of plants is by being outside.

For Artist & Designer Vanessa Swenson, the way she connects with plants is with her pen or paints and by getting her hands in the dirt.

Growing up outside, Vanessa’s connection with the outdoors hasn’t changed much. Her way of sharing that joy she feels has turned to mixed media paint and really fine sketching to get every detail of the plant she’s capturing.

In the beginning, it was all about the art but then she and her husband began managing a Christmas Tree farm in Green Bluff, Washington.

“It’s one of those experiences that just has made me have a whole other appreciation for what it takes for things to grow and what they give back to us.”

From there, she started experimenting with flower farming for her own journey into the plant world.

“[It] mainly started as just a way for me to get closer to plants.”

While the flower farming has been a personal experience for Vanessa and a way for her to better understand the growing world around her, she’s also felt joy in getting to share the beauty with others.

“It was for my own growth, to learn more about plants and the flowers themselves, but a secondary aspect to that is being able to share them with people.”

Being so close to the plants allows her to better pay closer attention to the intricacies of plants. She hopes that other people will begin to stop and take notice of those things as well. 

“Plants just give me a lot of joy which I would wish for people…that awe of your surroundings is something I hope for everyone.”

For more information about Vanessa, visit her website and follow her on Instagram.

This episode was filmed by Charlie Pierson.

Music is by Lane King.