ART

CURRICULUM

OVERNIGHT PROGRAM

NURTURING CREATIVITY: AN INTERVIEW WITH ARTIST IN RESIDENCE, DAVID REPYAK

NURTURING CREATIVITY: AN INTERVIEW WITH ARTIST IN RESIDENCE, DAVID REPYAK

Our Artist in Residence program gives School Overnight Program students multiple ways to learn, make sense of, integrate, and experience the natural world. Recently, IslandWood had the pleasure of welcoming artist David Repyak. With over 30 years of experience, David’s artistic journey has taken him through various mediums and styles, blending creativity with nature’s inspiration. We caught up with him to learn more about his artistic background, his work with students, and the role nature plays in his creative process.

What art medium do you specialize in?

 

I’ve painted in watercolor for about 30 years, but I wouldn’t say I specialize in any one medium. I’ve explored acrylic for 10 years and oil painting for the past five. Painting is my greatest passion, though—far more than sculpture or drawing. I’m always challenging myself to grow as a fine artist. Historically, I’ve focused on landscapes, often abstract, but I’ve also spent time painting portraits over the last five years. Lately, my focus has been transitioning from realism into abstraction, particularly through the exploration of oil painting and color mixing.

 

This week, you chose to use India ink for your activity. Why?

 

I chose India ink because of its sensorial nature. It’s engaging, surprising, and revealing, and it really connects to the seasonal environment we’re experiencing right now—winter, with its bare, thin tree branches and exposed root systems. The ink’s fluidity and ability to create dynamic textures made it the perfect medium for conveying this seasonal mood.

IslandWood Artist in Residence, David Repyak, with students in the Art Studio on IslandWood’s Bainbridge Island campus

How does nature inspire your work?

 

I’ve always been inspired by color, but especially by light. Even as a child, I was captivated by the way light shifts and changes. Growing up, I spent a lot of time outdoors, exploring and playing in nature, and that connection never left me. To this day, moments like the golden hour continue to feed my creative energy. Nature has an incredible ability to surprise us. By simply observing closely, we can discover things we didn’t expect and translate those moments into art.

 

Can you briefly describe what you did with students during their first week?

 

Our first week focused on the growth patterns of trees. We examined cross-sections of logs and discussed how trees grow by expanding their girth and stretching upward. We explored abiotic systems—like wind, rain, and sunlight—and connected those systems to the internal parts of a tree. We also discussed how sap flows and the role of bark in protecting the tree’s growth.

 

To add an interdisciplinary component, we used math to calculate the age of the tree and determine when it was a seedling. We then connected that to language by having students reflect on key moments from each year of their lives and map those memories onto the tree’s rings. Finally, we created monoprints from the tree rings, transferring their impressions onto large sheets of paper, where students wrote their mini autobiographies. It was a meaningful way to combine storytelling, science, and art.

Examples of School Overnight Program students’ artwork focusing on growth patterns of trees

What do you hope students take away from their experience with art and with you?

 

My hope is that students walk away seeing the world a little differently. I want them to build a connection between the sensory experience of creating art and a scientific understanding of life processes. Through this, they can develop a deeper appreciation for nature and its complexities, while also discovering new ways to express their own stories.


 

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