My painting practice is inspired by nature, in the pursuit of wellness.
Now, on the edge of spring with the days about to lengthen and the evenings brighten, I can feel that familiar lift inside me. The promise of dry ground, gentle breezes, and the chance to return to painting outdoors fills me with absolute joy. It feels like opening a window after months of being wrapped in quilts: a deep inhale, with a wonderful sense of possibility, a soft but soothing reawakening.
Over the past few years, I’ve truly begun to understand that my painting practice is far more than simply making art. It is a wellbeing practice. One that gently lowers my stress levels, softens my overwhelm, and offers me a temporary release from the weight of my illness and daily responsibilities.
When I paint I’m not doing it to “produce work.” It is a necessity, a recalibration. Seeking a moment of spaciousness where everything melts away and all that is left is a peaceful moment. Finding my love for painting outside, connecting with nature, I recognise how my painting inspired by the outer landscape deeply tends to my inner landscape. That is the creative message I want to share with you.
Painting plein air
Becomes a form of meditation
There is something deeply soothing about arriving in a landscape with no expectation other than to be there, to look and to enjoy. At first I felt awkward about creating outside. So I taught myself to always begin by letting myself settle: feeling the ground beneath me, listening to whatever sounds are present, noticing the smells around me, and spending some moments just looking.
At the scene, at the light, the shadows, the movement of the sky, the trees and the birds. Allowing a sensory experience to settle in before I begin to create.