Artist Katie Crawford has created a show where science and art meet. “The Whimsical Naturalist” opened Dec. 6 and runs through Jan. 10 at the Arts Council of Fayetteville | Cumberland County. The exhibit features Crawford’s paintings of North Carolina plants and animals.
“One of my favorite portraits right now is the Hoary Bat,” she muses. Crawford researches flora and fauna and uses the information to build works that tell a story about the creatures' habitats and their primary characteristics.
“Bats tend to be associated with darkness, horror, and creepiness; however they are vital for environmental balance. These bats in particular actually roost in Black Locust trees, a species with beautiful flowers and leaves. The Hoary Bat is naturally adorable pest control on wings. We should be thankful every time we see a bat swooping around!”
“The Whimsical Naturalist ” will include watercolor and mixed media paintings and needle-felted sculptures. Crawford will also debut four new large scale works created during her residency.
The Arts Council’s Southeastern Artist in Residence program provides visual artists the opportunity to lean into their craft through time, space, and financial support. SEAR was catalyzed by a $20,000 Grant for Art Projects from the National Endowment for the Arts to the Arts Council. Crawford is the first SEAR artist and completes her 6-month residency with the gallery exhibit.
“It has been so amazing to see the creative journey that an artist embarks on once they have an idea in mind,” says Arts Council President Robert Pinson. “To see a blank pad of paper come alive with rough pencil sketches of mere images in the artist’s mind, that later take a more defined form on the final canvas, is so exciting to witness.”
The four new works created during her residency are the largest pieces Crawford has ever painted. Her opening reception on Dec. 6 was the first time all of her pieces have been on display in the same gallery.
“I am excited to create a whimsical world that people can step into! A world where nature's wonders and realities are emphasized through playful character development, shifting perspectives, and scientific knowledge.”
Crawford also shares her knowledge with artists through her creativity workshops. Her second SEAR workshop, “Becoming Creative Again ,” is an invitation for adults to explore their own imagination through her guidance. Crawford hopes workshop participants will shake loose their own whimsical sides through creative icebreakers and guided blob paintings.
Through her work with The Arts Council, Crawford’s art encourages people to build connections in their community, with the natural world, and within themselves.
“I hope people will walk in, smile, learn, and leave thinking about how we are connected to our environment and each other.”
"The Whimsical Naturalist” will be on display in the Arts Council’s gallery until Jan. 10. The “Becoming Creative Again” workshop is on Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. To register for the workshop or for more information about the Arts Council, visit wearethearts.com. 

(The Hoary Bat, an image by Katie Crawford, is one of the pieces on display at the Arts Council. Image courtesy of the Arts Council)