Land Artist Leaves Striking Pebble Mosaics All Around Thailand

Justin Bateman is a British artist that makes absolutely breathtaking art pieces using nature as his canvas. Bateman, who currently resides in Chiang Mai, Thailand, uses found pebbles and stones as the medium of his art. He leaves extremely intricate and attractive pebble portraits in various places such as beaches, mountains, forests, and railways. To Bateman, each and every naturally colored pebble and stone means a brushstroke or an individual mark that’s vital for the creation of the complete portrait. On his Instagram, Bateman states “Pebbles are my Pixels.”

Bateman’s pebble portraits feature a number of remarkable subjects such a popular people and famous artworks. It’s truly incredible how Bateman is able to capture the unique characteristics of his subjects by using a very limited color palette. He states that he doesn’t plan his works in advance, and just goes with the flow, letting the stones decide the composition of the portrait. He states that art should always be unrestricted and that in its limits, he finds freedom.

Bateman usually takes a few days to finish one portrait, but he’s not attached to his creations. He derives inspiration from rituals of Tibetan monks who create extremely intricate mandalas and later destroy them, suggesting the impermanence of life. Bateman derives great satisfaction from the fact that nature will gradually reclaim the materials that he uses. It’s truly amazing how Bateman gives incredible depth and detail using pebbles. So, check out his majestic artworks and share your thoughts with us in the comments!