Isabelle Blum: focusing on the interconnection and relatability between people and nature

An interview with Isabelle Blum by Leah Bennett

Isabelle Blum is a multidisciplinary artist working between Switzerland and Portugal, whose creations celebrate the profound connection between people and the natural world. Her work spans across various mediums, each infused with a deep reverence for the fluid, uplifting energy of nature. Through her art, Isabelle invites viewers to rediscover the harmony and connection between humanity and the environment, offering pieces that evoke a sense of wonder, unity, and renewal.

Due to a love of mythology, water, and dragons, Isabelle publishes her art under her birth name as well as under ‘Plumed Serpent’. The name Plumed Serpent is a reference to Quetzalcoatl, an important Aztec deity which was symbolised as Feathered Serpent, and is related to arts, crafts, knowledge, and learning. It is also a reference to Ryūjin (⿓神, lit.”Dragon God”), the tutelary deity of the sea in Japanese mythology that was depicted as a dragon or serpent like being.

When asked about her creative process, Isabelle shared insights into how she taps into her artistic flow. She explained that working on paper allows her creativity to flow naturally and intuitively, with a direct connection to the medium. She explained that in contrast, working digitally offers her the ability to revisit, refine, and alter her work countless times, which unlocks a multitude of possibilities. However, Isabelle noted that this freedom to endlessly revise can sometimes disrupt the immediate creative flow, shifting the focus from the joy of the process to the pursuit of a polished final product.

All of Isabelle’s pieces have one common theme; they focus on nature, beauty, harmony and connection. Nature is explored not only in the sense of plants, animals, fungi, but also includes all other living beings, including humans. In her work, Nature presents as a living and unseen mystery of life, the “nature of reality,” as Isabelle calls it. This connection is shown in the sense of the multifold expression and multidimensionality of her work which reflects the artist’s deep love and connection she has with nature, beauty and harmony.

I believe this can be seen in all of Isabelle’s work, but notably in her digital artwork HumaNature Series: Regenerate, Rewild Realign, Nourish Yourself, Being Shaped by Gaia, Peace Within. This is a short comic series inviting you to react on the interconnectedness of your nature and the natural world, and can be seen below.

Regenerate, Rewild Realign

Nourish Yourself

Being Shaped by Gaia

What’s your inspiration?

I wondered what it was that inspired Isabelle to create her artwork, and where her ideas originated from. Isabelle explained that “one day I started drawing and painting without any formal art education, which is in stark contrast to my long-standing desire to learn and understand things. I create the work I’m doing because it simply comes out naturally. It’s a kind of innocent, playful, harmonious, beautiful and joyful way of expressing myself, and my connection to the source of creation.”

Creating the work I do is a deep communion with, and communication of the sacred mystery. The inspiration behind it is merely living on a planet that allows materialisation and dreaming relation.

Isabelle continues that “for a long time humanity materialised suffering, pain, fear, destruction, exploitation, and lack of anything, letting themselves enslave by various agendas and programs. But humans are beings of love, empowerment, and unique expression. And earth is a planet rooted in harmony and beauty. Beauty is very powerful. It changes this world and brings forward another reality. With my art I envision and carry this dream of another reality.”

This is a beautiful vision and I feel that it is prominent in Isabelle’s design, Heart Seeds. Isabelle describes that this inspiration for this piece includes the idea that “I have seeds of beauty within to sow in this world. We all have seeds within that can nourish in the right environment. And that is one of love and nourishment.”

Heart Seeds

What do you hope to create?

When asked what Isabelle hopes to create through her work, she stated that “creating my artwork is not connected with hope. I’m simply expressing the creative current that moves me. It’s an invitation to enjoy art, open up for beauty, and harmony, and reflect on the interconnectedness of your nature, and the nature of reality.”

Isabelle’s process, she said, is simple. When she sees something she is moved by, she is compelled to grab her sketchbook or paper, and begin to draw and paint. Sometimes, her ideas materialise mentally, and through using digital art, these ideas can be brought into the world, and play around with it, until it becomes the version she has envisioned. Isabelle says that the “main process is to tap into the creative current, let it flow, and express it without interfering too much.” – something I’m sure many artists would aspire for!

Poppy Flower Mind: My mind is a place where beauty can nourish. Our mind is not bound to the
brain. It is interconnected with all beings, open to receive and share information.

How do you hope your artwork may influence people’s ideas of climate change?

When asked how Isabelle hoped that her artwork might influence perspectives and behaviour surrounding nature and the climate emergency, she answered:

“What is within, shows itself without. I moved past the emergency mode. That doesn’t help me or
others to create the reality I dream of. A different consciousness is already emerging on earth.
People are increasingly focusing on getting back to nature, and their own nature. More and more
people are questioning the insane programming of endless consumption and growth, rooted in
exploitation and destruction of earth and all living beings. More and more people realise that we are
an extension of earth’s body. That we are nature, and profoundly interconnected with all life. More
and more people are the change by embodying that in their unique way. They work and show up to
show others that genuine care, profound love, peace within, and nourishing each other are truly
possible. My artwork is an expression of that altered consciousness.”

I think this idea is shown beautifully through Isabelle’s piece, Sharing Information. In this piece, Isabelle expresses that “by touching another being, plant or animal alike, I not only feel the other
one, the other one also feels me. Touch is an essential way of sharing information beyond words.”

What do you hope the viewer takes from your art?

I was intrigued to see what Isabelle hoped her viewers would take from her work. She said that “what the viewer does with my art is up to the viewer. We humans have the choice to act in a specific way. Which up to a certain point is not a choice anymore, but a deep inner knowing what is right and wrong when it comes to nourishing life on this planet.”

She continued, “when my art moves the viewers to connect more within and their surrounding, I’m more than happy. But I don’t decide that. What I can do is simply show my perception, my vision, my love for beauty, and my dream of a different reality in my artworks.”

Isabelle’s message to her audience would be to “relax, nourish yourself, and live the reality you dream of.”

You can find out more about Isabelle’s artwork on her website.

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Author’s Comment

Art is a powerful medium which helps us to connect to the world around us. It can be a way for us to remember just how intertwined we are to the natural world, and this is the reason I feel so inspired by Isabelle Blum’s work. She centres our focus not on nature as a separate thing to ourselves, but a part of us. Through her work, she cherishes and demonstrates how interacting with nature brings us back to ourselves, that is to say, brings us back to it, in a refreshing and affirming way. In our busy world, it is easy to get lost in the blur of just how fast life moves. Isabelle’s work reminds us that we need to take a break, submerge ourselves in the beauty that is around us, and work to positively contribute to its fulfillment, as it does to ours.

Creative expression challenges the way we think, it provokes us to question our sense of self and surroundings, and I think through Isabelle’s work, we are reminded to associate external stimuli with internal wellbeing. She shows this beautifully and in a way that inspires you to go outside and take it all in. It has certainly inspired me to do this, and I hope it has for you too.

Thank you Isabelle for taking the time to speak with me, I’m very excited to see what you create next!