Wildwood Artist Finds Beauty in Roadside Leaves

Wildwood artist Cindy O'Neill finds inspiration in nature. At the Wildwood Farmer's Market, O'Neill sold birdbaths, bird feeders, hanging gourds and outdoor art pieces. The colorful pieces are a reminder of the nature all around us, and of autumn.

"I read an article in a magazine about a woman with artwork similar to this, and I thought I could do it better than she did," said O'Neill.

O'Neill uses concrete for the outdoor art. While it is still wet, she makes an impression into the surface with leaves. The leaf is then peeled away, leaving the impression. Then the leaf is painted and decorated. Some of the birdbaths look too large to have been made with a real leaf, but O'Neill explained that her sources for natural materials are found in local woods and roadsides. 

"This one here is made from the impression of a large burdock leaf that I found off Woods Road," said O'Neill. "I have also used sycamore and redbud leaves. The elephant ear plant makes a great impression. At first you just don't notice these oversized leaves, but if you look closely, they're there for the picking." 

O'Neill's outdoor artwork would make novel holiday gifts — especially one "For The Birds."