Creating with Nature

Nature has always been my muse. I’m often awestruck by its beauty and am endlessly playing with ways of capturing its never ending and everlasting beauty. While I create, I also take into consideration that I play an important role in the cycle of life, and want to tread lightly. My hope is that you can learn vicariously through me so you can connect deeply with nature in creative and reciprocal ways with as little hiccups as possible.

Here are a few things I have learned over the years from nature:

• When making eco-art, consider your impact on the land you’re on. I always recommend using what you find on the land to create ephemeral pieces with materials that are moveable and ones you won’t harm (please, don’t pick the plants unless you know what you’re doing, like properly identifying the plant and knowing that it is not threatened or one that will harm you). Consider the materials you bring, too. Will they stay once you leave? Or will they travel along with you?

• When I make wave imprints, I use paper that comes home with me. I use ink that I have made from the charcoal found on the beach or in the general area. Bits of charcoal will be washed away with the tides regardless of if I activate it into ink or leave it on the beach. I’d recommend taking great care when it comes to your direct impact on the waters you’re creating with, be it at home or in nature.

• Stay away from store-bought inks, paints, and anything plastic-based (acrylic paints, sparkles, etc). Do you research to see what the ingredients are in everything you use when creating eco-art or collaborative nature art work. I’d also recommend not using watercolour paints, even if they are non-toxic, as they are typically made from artificial pigments, or stones found around the world and are therefore not local to where you are creating.

• Always properly identify what you would like to use in your creation before you touch it. Just because you find it in nature and it looks natural does not mean it’s safe and non-toxic to use. When in doubt, let it be.

• You don’t need to use materials found in nature to connect with it. Just by being there and spending time with it, you are making a positive impact. Bring your paints and paper, your instrument of choice, yourself in however you create and sit in nature.

• Be mindful of the other beings around you. Again, don’t pick anything you don’t know, or take food sources from wild animals. When creating eco-art, only use what you have and be ever so mindful of what you take. Find a few rocks, leaves, or sticks on the ground? Are they easily moveable? Can you properly identify them? These are generally fine unless it’s against the law to do so where you are (like in national parks, some provincial or even municipal lands have rules as well). Find pretty flowers in the field? Consider the pollinators that need these, and other beings who come to enjoy them, and let them be.

• Respect the water. Don’t put paint into the waterways. Even if it’s just a little.