Magic, Imagination, & Place: The Work of Erik Johansson
“For me, creating an image is like creating a place. A place that feels familiar, but with a twist that causes the viewer to stop short.” ~ Erik Johansson Place connection is something I feature fairly often as it applies to nature journaling and connection. It’s something we as humans long for, but can seem
Wonder Wednesday 89: Bird Counting for Climate
Depending on where you live, talking about the climate crisis can encompass a spectrum of emotions from confidence to hesitance to trepidation. But in my experience, people generally like animals. I say, let’s encourage people to get involved with environmental science through the lens of animals, birds to be exact. Birds are great. They fly, they have
With the Grace of Greta
Grace. That’s a word and state of being not often come across outside of ballet or religious context in the states (unfortunately). Yet, this chosen state of being keeps presenting itself to me here in secular Sweden. If you subscribe to my email or follow me on Instagram, you know I’m in Sweden for a month. Many people (here
Wonder Wednesday 88: Take a Winter Solstice Walk
Happy Winter Solstice! This year it is December 21, 2019. On this longest night of the year – rich with history, culture, and story – join me on a Solstice Walk! As the “holiday season” ramps up, taking (or perhaps making) a time out can be so beneficial. Remember fun times can be stress
Wonder Wednesday 87: Candied Citrus Peel
This month we’re celebrating all things citrus! A glorious fruit worthy of celebration for sure. Our human bodies don’t naturally produce vitamin C, so from keeping our immune system boosted, to preventing scurvy, to downright just smelling and tasting delicious, the sensorially bright citrus fruit fills these voids in our healthy lifestyles. Fresh
Citrus Season: Traditions, Stories, and Treats!
I am so excited because we are finally on the eve of citrus season! Citrus has a long history of symbolism and tradition, as well as nutrition and medicine. This cheerful bright fruit inspired humans and lit up the winter months for centuries. (A gorgeous illustration that’s lit up our lives for decades from
Wonder Wednesday 86: Draw a Corpse Flower
What better time to celebrate the corpse flower than in a Halloween week Wonder Wednesday? I love how everyone embraces the creepy at Halloween! But what is a corpse flower you ask? Well, it’s the best of Mother Nature’s Halloween flowers! A first treat is it looks beautiful, but on closer inspection the trick
Nature, Happiness, and Savoring: the Work of Laurie Santos
Happiness. It’s constantly touted to us as something we all want to have all the time – and often as something that if we don’t have it, something is wrong with us. Well, life is a balance of dualities right? And we can’t have one side without the other. Without sadness, anger, frustration, and so
Wonder Wednesday 85: Make an Action Inspiration Jar – with PDF!
Happy autumnal equinox week! This month’s exploration of the sublime aspects of nature and the recent hurricanes can lead us far from action and instead to wanting to run and hide under the covers from all things nature – and that is nothing to be ashamed of. It’s a real thing called ecophobia and if
Beyond Hurricane Dorian: Sublime Connections
“We are experiencing sublime conditions of horror, you know?” ~Erica Moiah James, an assistant professor in the Department of Art and Art History at the University of Miami, founding director and chief curator of the National Art Gallery of the Bahamas. (citation) In light of the past week, this quote, and last month’s blog series
Wonder Wednesday 84: Sublime Snacking – A fun recipe for when nature gets scary
What did you think about Schopenhauer’s Sublime? Did it get you considering the nature encounters you’ve had that may have been frightening at the time? Did those encounters exude beauty despite the danger? Do fear inducing nature encounters seem more beautiful when observed through secondary experience – like on a film – or is it the primary experience that
Schopenhauer’s Nature: Fear, Beauty, and the Sublime
Idyllic, picturesque, awe inspiring, sublime. The words running through my head as I gaze upon a pristine natural spring in the forest. Right up until I hear my sister-out-law say, “Y’all!!! I almost just stepped on a pygmy rattlesnake!!!!!” We snap out of, “yay! a weekend getaway at a beautiful spring cabin,” mode and into hyper responsible
Wonder Wednesday 83: Watercolor Funsheet!
Happy Wonder Wednesday 83! And happy last day of World Watercolor Month! This month I have a printable watercolor funsheet for you celebrating summer nature. Also, if you are new to watercolor, be sure to click and check out my Watercolor Basics Video series and Setting up For Watercolor Success Videos on You Tube! Find a
July is World Watercolor Month!
In 2016, July was dubbed “World Watercolor Month” by “Charlie O’Shields, the creator of Doodlewash®… His own love of the medium led to the creation of a blog and social artist movement dedicated to promoting and connecting the vast community of watercolor artists all over the world.” Well, even though I didn’t know July
Wonder Wednesday 82: Cosmos Creativity
Cosmos are one of my favorite summer flowers. They are so simple, yet so cheerful – and best of all – so easy to grow! And by easy I mean they really don’t care if I take care of them! Hooray for easy and prolific flowers! I got the idea for this activity from this
5 Nature Inspired Summer Reading Books!
Summer officially begins June 21. Get ready for the solstice by boosting your summer reading lists with 5 nature inspired books and “Further Fun” ideas to go with each! Research shows that connecting with nature in person, and through nature reading, writing, and art making helps build empathy. This is such an important ability
Wonder Wednesday 81: Summer Cyanometers
Summer is on its way, and blue skies abound! So why not make a nature journaling project inspired by them? In all my years of loving all things cyan, I recently discovered the cyanometer. What in the world is that you ask? Great question! It’s a historic device that measures the blue of the
Blending Organic and Geometric: The Art of Stanisław Wyspiański
Floral and geometrics combine super powers in the turn-of-the-century art work of Stanisław Wyspiański. The turn of the 20th century that is! Self Portrait, (1869-1907) Today, the designers and trend forecasters call this blending of organics and geometrics “floral clash,” but this technique is anything but new. A quick search will reveal countless
Wonder Wednesday 80: Nature Pyramid Poems!
Happy Earth Day Week! I hope everyone has gotten a couple chances to get outdoors and enjoy our big beautiful wonder filled natural world this week! And how about an opportunity to create the new Dandelion Delight nature art project? These often overlooked wildflowers are the early jewels of the spring season and worth
Getting Out in the Garden
It’s spring garden time! Even in those places where snow may still be on the ground, gardening is in the forefront of people’s minds. Daffodils are popping up, loquat trees are fruiting, and the March winds are blowing in the April showers. April is a month of many things: Earth Day (4/22), National Poetry