The Land and how it shapes us
Working on Module 10 has been an amazing journey so far. Yesterday I created a piece of mixed media art depicting two of my longest and deepest connections (sacred relationships) with the natural world, trees and the deer. What a joy filled experience - It is all about the process, the journey. I allowed my imagination to carry me to the places where I am wild and free.
Ever since I was small, the trees, the birdsong, the graceful deer of the forest have spoken to my soul. Playing with the clay, shaping it into the deer, I lose myself in the process. The creative journey, finding little pieces of treasure to make into ears, a tale and antlers. Deer hold a special place in my heart - they are forever present in my life, both here in BC where I live now and back in my homeland - Scotland.
My clay deer is a spirit stag, white and mysterious. The deer remind me of spirit, purity, peace and gentleness - to be gentle to others and to ourselves.
“We are spiritual beings having a human experience.”
– Pierre de Chardin
Then there are the trees - oh how I love trees - I have never felt separate from nature. Climbing up into the welcoming arms of the paper-like bark of a Silver Birch in our back garden is probably my earliest recollection of the powerful “connection” I had with nature as a young child. The majestic tree gifted me freedom—the higher I climbed, the freer I became. Up high, was a place of beauty and wonder, where my imagination soared.. My love and respect for trees has grown deeper throughout my adult life; some of my best friends are trees. I so desperately wished to use silver birch for this piece of artwork but I did not have any to hand so I used these beautiful Aspen branches as an alternative.
The golden leaves of the Aspen are very similar in shape and colour to the silver birch in the Autumn - however the bark is nowhere as delicate as the paper-like bark of the birch but it has its own unique beauty like all of us. Sacred and beautiful. What experiences with the natural world touched you deeply as a child ? In our Urban Nature Art Program we delve deeper into our relationship with the natural world through creative expression. You can learn more here: URBAN NATURE ART FOR ADULTS
