…said my friend in response to finding lockdown entertainment for the family. It made me laugh. Lots of us have fallen in love with exploring neighbourhood bush tracks and bonding with our family amongst the gumtrees. But week 10 into this second lockdown – just how many bushwalks can the average family do?
My hope is that this project helps us see the detail in nature, recognize why it makes us feel happier and create some lovely art!
Whether it’s advice we give our kids, or what doctors advise us – being in nature is one of the best things we can do for mental health. It awakens our senses – the fragrances provide aromatherapy; sights give us visual stimulation and to our ears… the merging of bird songs and silence clear the mind of chatter. In nature, we are in awe. It’s “…being in the presence of something greater than ourselves that fills us with wonder.” Why Is Nature So Good for Your Mental Health? (berkeley.edu)
So for this project, let’s start here:
- On your next walk (bush walk or your garden, street), look for and collect things that take your interest. Think what makes those leaves different to others?
- Pay attention to the patterns in nature. What details can you see in leaves, sticks, gumnuts?
- What sounds do you hear? Bird songs, snapping of twigs, scrunchy leaves?
Inspired by nature, here we will practice
- Drawing what you see
- Exaggerating and enjoying detail
- Connecting with the awe of nature.
Materials you’ll need:
1. Paper - a4 or a5
2. Acrylic paint – greens/ grey/ white…
3. HB pencil and a few coloured pencils
4. Thin paint brush
5. Water + something for a palette.
Set up:
Place your items on the table in front of you. Cover your surface so you don’t make a mess.
Painting:
Step 1: Sketch the items by observing their shapes. Fill your page. Make things bigger or smaller if you like
Step 2: Notice the detail on each piece and draw this in.
Step 3: Once happy with your drawing, start to paint in the leaves, sticks etc. Try use a natural palette.
Step 4: Focusing on the detail you can see, use a few coloured pencils of a different tone and mirror the shapes and patterns from nature in your background.
Step 5: Lastly, go back and see if you need to add any additional paint. I had to add more bright green to make it pop.
Enjoy!
