This is a subject I have returned to many times since I started my art journey. My creativity began as a way of coping with grief and overwhelm. In time, as I adapted to these things, my reasons for creating shifted. At first it was a distraction, something to calm my mind, later it was for the joy it brought me and over time I saw it as a connection to the landscape and people.
Now I am diving deeper:-
I am currently developing my new website and I have been determined to really get to the core of what drives my art and what I want others to get from it. It has been an enlightening process.
When I look back over my working life within the caring professions and to the art I have created in recent years I can see clear connections. These are - a focus on the importance of emotional wellbeing, strategies to help us maintain it and taking responsibility as individuals for self care.
To do this it helps:-
to pause and tap into how we are feeling.
to become aware of what is causing us stress.
to make changes in our life where necessary, to reduce overwhelm
and to seek help if we need it.
By addressing these issues regularly and taking action early we will hopefully develop strategies and a resilience that will enable us to cope when we face difficult times.
Research shows that people who are more connected with nature are usually happier in life and more likely to report their lives are worthwhile. Nature can generate many positive reactions, such as calmness, joy and creativity.
To make my art I initially spend a lot of time out in nature, soaking up its calming, healing effects. The emotions and positive well-being I experience are the key inspiration for my art. I draw on these feelings when back in the studio and my hope is that the viewer will be reminded of the healing power of nature and the importance of taking some time for themselves.
Not everyone is able to get out into the landscape on a regular basis. One of the key messages from research relating to this is a need to shift our attention from getting people to visit natural and sometimes remote spaces to a focus on how people can tune in and connect with "everyday" nature close to home through simple activities. One of these could be to have a nature inspired piece of art on your wall that you feel calmed by and connected to. It will also serve as a reminder to pause, take a deep breath and a little time for yourself.
I will leave you with some gentle encouragement to either get out in nature within the next week or create a little moment of calm for yourself in your home.