Natalie Mcguire @ artavita

Natalie Mcguire

Natalie McGuire
Mixed Media Artist-creator of Photozaics

Natalie was born and raised in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Her mom came here from Germany and while dad was born here in Saint Paul. She currently resides in Saint Paul, she loves the small-town feel that the city offers, and the location, proximity in the US is perfect for her travels.
Natalie became interested in art at a young age, recalling that she grew up in an “ugly frame” household. Looking back, laughing, she says “I don’t blame my family, as this is what started my creative side to flourish”. Her favorite holiday memory, at seven years old, Natalie went in the local woods and found pine branches that the city parks staff trimmed off and decided to make a wreath for her parents that Christmas. She pulled all the materials into her room and began to tie each branch to an old wire coat hanger using mom’s scrap yarn. Her parents were so impressed with her talents that neither of them could take credit for them. That was only the beginning. Natalie could look at craft, study the formation, and replicate it. She went on to make crafts with other neighborhood friends and we would sell them on the street corner. She got my first camera in sixth grade with scholastic bucks (with the help of other classmates). The rest of the year Natalie photographed her classmates and fell in love with photography. She learned later in life that her grandfather (dad’s side) was a photographer, and this is where she received her natural-born talents from. Grandpa would shoot black and white and then would hand color the images as he didn’t have the money to shoot color film. Her Aunt Natalie (mom’s sister) is where she got my creative side. She would take her to plays as a kid and teach her to make Ukrainian Easter Eggs and showed her the star consolation sky. Her Aunt saw and encouraged her creativity and helped form Her into whom she is today.
Her formal training started with community education classes to learn the language of photography this was after high school. Natalie received her associate degree in fashion merchandising, but this didn’t pay the bills or fuel her creative side like she thought it would. So, she decided to go back to school and attended Hennepin Technical college to pursue her photography career. She studied under Paul Sinkler, Tim Gray, and Tom Hanly until the program closed. Natalie continues with her education in non-conventional ways like reading blogs, searching the internet for tips and tricks. She is involved with a few local Center for the arts and most recently she joined Minnesota Mosaic Guild, NEMAA, ST. Paul Art Collective, WARM, ACW(Art to change the world), and, Hallberg center for arts, and networks with other local artists. She started her photography career doing portraits and weddings, but her love of nature is what drove her creativity.
She started selling matted photos and simple framed artwork at local art shows in 1998. It was a trip to the north shore that gave her creative side a boost. While visiting a friend’s cabin on a day trip, she and another went to the shore to pick rocks. It was there that an annoying horse would not leave her alone, forcing her into Lake Superior for relief. Looking down in the water Natalie saw a great photo opportunity and snapped the shot of rocks underwater with a gorgeous light beam highlighting some of the rocks. Immediately the light bulb went off and she thought rocks in the photo, rocks on the frame! From there she toyed around with driftwood, acorns, leaves, flowers. People at the shows loved the unique frames and preferred them over just a plain matted photo. 2000 this same friend introduced her again to mosaics and it was a natural progression to use stain glass as one of her materials to bring the essence of the photo out on the frame. Natalie calls this process Photozaics (start with a photo and finish with mosaic). Her collectors went nuts for these Photozaics. Natalie enjoys mixing up her photography from color to infrared. Driven by Mother Nature’s drama from the weather and locations play a big part in Natalie's shots color or IR. She shows her art at a few local galleries; high-end art shows and exhibits around the US.
Natalie’s awards started back in 1998 when she won Editor’s choice award with the International library of photography. Her next major was 2003 when she took 1st place in the humor category from Lake Country Journal Magazine and received a cash prize and publication in the magazine.
2006 She placed 2nd in the photography category in the Brained arts in the park show. But her most notable is the Student photographer of the year in 2012 that she received from TCPPA (Twin cities Professional Photographers Association). Natalie has always been a fan of Ansel Adams and Bob Ross’ style, even though Bob was a painter, she loved watching his programs on the local PBS drove her to get out and be with nature. Her parents loved to travel via RV when Natalie and her brothers were younger. They believed the road trip was a part of the journey and they all got to see a lot of America that you just can’t get from a plane.

Portfolio:

Photozaics

Photozaics
In the presence of my art, you can open yourself to another plane of consciousness; it awakens your curiosity about what lies beyond the frame; what you see is personal to you.
My surroundings play a big role in my photography story. When I am out in nature with my camera, it’s through texture, lines, colors, etc., that I get my inspiration. I primarily use color images to capture the vibrancy of Mother Nature’s glory, but when the mood and setting are just right, I photograph in infrared. This style of photography brings another worldly look, almost a dreamlike state that has a 3D effect. I like to create images that make you feel like you are there with me in the scene.
I create wall art that brings happiness to you, whether it’s photography or mixed media art I call photozaics. As an artist, I am fascinated with how my life's views make up little mosaics of memories that I share with the world.

“Pine Edged Road 30x26x1”

Fall of 2017 I had an opportunity to go to Estes Park, Colorado; entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. This trip I decided to grab my digitally converted infrared camera and toy with it while in the mountains. Upon arriving in Estes Park, I filled up my gas tank and headed straight into Rockies. Being a typical tourist, I pulled off at all the possible location to take in the majestic views. This included the storms racing down the mountain side. I shot the scenes using both color and infrared, while editing the images I fell in love with the infrared as it accentuated the drama of the storms and landscape.

This shot was taken somewhere on Trail Ridge Road and because the storms were rolling over the mountains I pulled out my infrared camera to capture the raw moodiness of the storms coming over the mountains.

“Golden Gate Bridge 30x26x1”

I headed to San Francisco for an art show and decided to give myself a few extras days to explore this great City by the Bay. I packed both cameras, color and infrared. I loved walking the shores as the fog filled the bay and covered up Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and other land marks. As the fog lifted I snapped photos of the various areas in the Marina District. I chose to use infrared as this type of photography shows the textures and brings out the moodiness of a scene. I use this technique on heavy overcast days, or with storms rolling in.
The fog burnt off quickly for me one morning, so I walked the beach, up a long hill to capture this photograph. Nature can really make all these colors work together.

“Pine Cones 26x22x1”

I was drawn this photograph by all the texture and movement of the needles. Taken in my brother’s back yard years ago. I love when I make this one in a mosaic, each one has its own personality.

“Crissy beach 26x22x1”

While walking the beach I took this photograph because of the high contrast of white against the black, sky and water. Love how you just see a hint of Alcatraz

“Ghostly Golden Gate 26x22x1”

This infrared image really gives a ghostly look to Golden Gate Bridge. Reminds me of the old black and white noir movies.

“Yellow Gerbera Daisy 20x17x1”

I was shopping at my local grocery store and saw a lovely bouquet of flowers. I purchased them and when I came home, I took this photograph of the Gerbera Daisy cutting it off in my composition so I could make in a mosaic frame.

“Milkyway 20x17x1”

I was up at my friend’s cabin on Rainy lake in Canada. I wanted to go when there was a new moon so I could photograph the Milky Way. I adjusted my white balance to help give me the blue hue I was looking for. Best night light ever in my book.

“Rainy Lake Blues 20x17x1”

I was up at my friend’s cabin on Rainy lake in Canada. They have the best sun sets from their island, this one was no exception. August sun sets are much cooler in temperature than June or July that I have seen.

“Oklahoma Road 26x22x1”

“God's Entrance 30x26x1”

Ok, where do I begin! This is just past the entrance to “Garden of the God’s” park in Colorado Springs, CO. I got there early around 8:30 am Monday morning before the clouds could develop of Pike’s Peak in the background. I think I had to pick up my jaw a few times as I was in awe of Nature’s glory. I spent at least four to five hours driving and walking around the park.

“Path to Peace 16x14x1”

“Hill is alive w Color 16x14x1”

For years I would drive to the north shore of Lake Superior trying to get my fall colors only to arrive early or too late. While taking a nice walk through a local city park, I came across this photo opportunity. I wanted to hide the trail from the photo, so I trekked into the tall weeds stopping just before I hit the water. Moral of the story, check out your own backyard for beauty, you don’t need to travel far to see gorgeous landscapes.

“Loon 14x16x1”

I took this shot with my dad on their lake in northern Minnesota. We were trolling around on their lake in a 16ft aluminum craft boat. I saw 3 loons and told said to my dad, “quick cast your line out”. My dad did and the loons came right to the boat wondering what we knew that they didn’t…. I had my dad reposition the boat so the lighting was right as I wanted to capture the red colored eye. I had to zoom out to get this image as the loons were that close to us.

“Oklahoma Road 16x14x1”

sized small 16x14x1

“Orange Watercolor 16x14x1”

My first August trip to Rainy Lake and as soon as we dropped off my gear, we had to head out for a Lobster boil and steak dinner at another Islander. I could tell that the sunset was going to be great, so I packed the required camera gear and set up the equipment just waiting for the sun to set. I had my tripod up and I’m sitting motionless on a floating dock waiting for the perfect shot. This shot is a vertical zoomed-in version of Rainy Lake Calm.

“Rainy Lake Calm 17x20x1”

“Jemez Springs 17x20x1”

My destination for the Summer of 2019 was a trip to Santa Fe, New Mexico for an art show and decided to extend my trip to include an extra week of driving the New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Colorado, South Dakota landscapes. This trip I documented both in Color and Digital Infrared photography.
Hwy 4 Valles Caldera to Jemez Springs I found many beautiful opportunities to capture in both color and infrared. This image is of ship rock from a different angle.

“Red Wood 20x17x1”

I researched a trip to head to the U.P. of Michigan for a scenic byway named “Black River byway”. From the photos, I found online I knew I had to check this place out. So, my girlfriend and I headed to the U.P. for a nice long weekend. Our drive out there was filled with a nasty rainstorm that we were stuck driving in until we arrived at our hotel. I was bummed as I didn’t want to have cloudy, gray, and flat photos. But we got up the next day, the rain stopped, the sun started to come out as we headed out on the byway. This photo was taken at one of the stops, I remember climbing the stairs up from viewing a waterfall, looked left and the red bark tree caught my eye. I knew I had to take the picture.

“Frosted Tree 20x17x1”

It was early on a February morning when we had a nice thick coating of Hoarfrost. When I noticed this, I grabbed my camera and drove around my home town snapping pictures at local parks. This one is taken at Mounds Park, that tree has been there for years. I can remember that tree from my teenage years and like to photograph it at different seasons.

“Colorado Bound 22x26x1”

My destination for the Summer of 2019 was a trip to Santa Fe, New Mexico for an art show and decided to extend my trip to include an extra week of driving the New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Colorado, South Dakota landscapes. This trip I documented both in Color and Digital Infrared photography.\
As I was heading out New Mexico to explore Colorado this single lane highway was recently repaved by the local DOT. I loved the jet black popping off against the mountain range in the background and the bright blue sky holding the white puffy clouds. The infrared has this 3d effect that draws you in and explore the scene.

Infrared photography

My images are little mosaics pieces of my memory that I capture and share with the world. Photography is second nature to me and allows me to express how I see things in day to day life. This gift was given to me by my father.
My subject matter is driven by my ability to go out shooting with an open mind allowing Mother Nature to show me what she wants me to capture. I look at my scene and decide am I going for color, texture, lines, mood, or drama? This helps me decide if I shoot color or infrared.
My photography is many things, depending on my environment when capturing the image. When shooting infrared, this style of photography brings another worldly look to my photographs, almost like a dreamlike state and has a 3D effect. My images in color I primarily use to grab the vibrancy of Mother Nature’s glory. I create images that make you feel like you are there with me in the scene.
My photography can stand alone or be combined with my photozaics.

Beached “Beached”

I loved how this abandoned wood boat was just left beached with its ores still attached.

“Crissy Beach”

While walking the beach I took this photograph because of the high contrast of white against the black, sky and water. I also wanted to give that feel to draw you into the photo and did this by centering the board walk. Love how you just see a hint of Alcatraz

“My Happy Place”

This infrared photograph is taken on my parents’ home in northern Minnesota. The lake is named Duck Lake; it’s a quiet lake with just around 2 dozen homes and feeds various birds Like Swans, loons and Bald Eagles. At any given time, you can sit out on the dock and watch a Bald Eagle catch a fish; land in a nearby tree for lunch. I love this place for its peaceful tranquility and allows me to recharge my soul.

“Ghostly Golden Gate”

This infrared image really gives a ghostly look to Golden Gate Bridge. Reminds me of the old black and white noir movies.

“Golden Gate Bridge”

I shot the Golden Gate bridge using infrared photography to I could capture the bridge’s grandeur. I love how the black and white really adds drama to the photograph

“Pine Edged Road”

“Storm if Forming”

This was taken on Trail Ridge Road almost to the peak at an area called Forest Canyon overlook. I really wanted to show how the storm popped off the mountain, it has a 3D affect for me.

“Rolling Peaks”

The pine tree on the right captured my attention, so I took this shot with focus in the foreground as well as the backdrop. Looks like a painter came in brushed black across the mountains.

“Bridge To Wonder”

I was going for a dreamy wonderland look when I took this photo. The Willow tree on the right and the path wondering out of the scene are what drew me to capture this image. The contrast of black against white really works in this image. Located at of my favorite local parks- Lake Phalen in Saint Paul.

“Under the Tracks”

This is one of my favorite places to shoot (when not fenced off). Graffiti artist use this area as a blank canvas and the dilapidated docks; old pillars add character to the scene.

“Timmy's View”

As I was driving the Peak to Peak route in Colorado, I looked in my review mirror and saw this image. I pulled over and took this shot in honor of my father whom passed away earlier this year and he loved the mountains and our national parks. So, this is for my dad.

“Colorado Bound IR”

My destination this year was a trip to Santa Fe, New Mexico for an art show and decided to extend my trip to include an extra week of driving the New Mexico and Colorado landscapes. This trip I documented both in Color and Digital Infrared photography.

As I was heading out New Mexico to explore Colorado this single lane highway was repaved by the local DOT. I loved the jet black popping off against the mountain range in the background and the bright blue sky holding the white puffy clouds. The infrared has this 3d affect that draws you to explore the image.

“Colorado Bound IR II”

“Royal Gorge”

Decided to see the Rio Grand and made the Royal gorge trek. Taking the photo while looking over the bridge I really get the feeling how small we really are.

“Aspen Field”

Wanting to get back with nature but didn’t want to drive too far or deal with crowded State Parks I remembered a wildlife management area just north of Saint Paul. Twenty years ago, while working in corporate America I was able to walk these grounds at my lunch. I knew that I could photograph this area using my infrared camera. While heading down to the small lake, I noticed this clump of trees with the tall prairie grass in the foreground. I wanted to capture the black knots on the trees and the wispy grasses.

“Boardwalk to Peace”

Wanting to get back with nature but didn’t want to drive too far or deal with crowded State Parks I remembered a wildlife management area just north of Saint Paul. Twenty years ago, while working in corporate America I was able to walk these grounds at my lunch. I knew that I could photograph this area using my infrared camera.
Wondering the prairies, the path goes into a patch of woods and come out the other side to the entrance of a boardwalk that takes you across a beautiful lake speckled with lily pads.

“Boardwalk to Woods”

Wanting to get back with nature but didn’t want to drive too far or deal with crowded State Parks I remembered a wildlife management area just north of Saint Paul. Twenty years ago, while working in corporate America I was able to walk these grounds at my lunch. I knew that I could photograph this area using my infrared camera.
This was taken on the boardwalk looking back into the woods I came from.

“Curving Boardwalk”

Wanting to get back with nature but didn’t want to drive too far or deal with crowded State Parks I remembered a wildlife management area just north of Saint Paul. Twenty years ago, while working in corporate America I was able to walk these grounds at my lunch. I knew that I could photograph this area using my infrared camera.
Walking across the boardwalk I turned around to view this scene. Love repetition of lines and 3D affect the clouds have. This image really has control of your eye moving from the lower left to the upper right corner….

“Lily Pads”

This image reminds me of a negative and love the simplicity and contrast of white against black.

“S Curving Boardwalk”

Wanting to get back with nature but didn’t want to drive too far or deal with crowded State Parks I remembered a wildlife management area just north of Saint Paul. Twenty years ago, while working in corporate America I was able to walk these grounds at my lunch. I knew that I could photograph this area using my infrared camera.
Walking across the boardwalk I turned around to view this scene. Love repetition of lines and 3D affect the clouds have.

“S Curving Boardwalk vert.”

Wanting to get back with nature but didn’t want to drive too far or deal with crowded State Parks I remembered a wildlife management area just north of Saint Paul. Twenty years ago, while working in corporate America I was able to walk these grounds at my lunch. I knew that I could photograph this area using my infrared camera.
Walking across the boardwalk I turned around to view this scene. Love repetition of lines and 3D affect the clouds have.

“Restful View”

This goes along with another image of mine I call “My Happy Place”. Taken on my parents’ property in Northern Minnesota; I love this place for its peaceful tranquility and allows me to recharge my soul.

“Floating Solo”

Alone with Mother Nature, I was kayaking my parent’s lake exploring all areas of their lake when I came upon this beauty floating Solo.

“Standing Tall”

My parent’s lake is lined with these gorgeous cattails and lily pads. This scene drew me in because of the shapes, textures and contrast.

“Danger Vert”

Walking on the Mississippi River Road in Saint Paul I found this sign warning me of Danger. Sadly, it needs to heed to its advice.

“Danger hort.”

Walking on the Mississippi River Road in Saint Paul I found this sign warning me of Danger. Sadly, it needs to heed to its advice.