How to Use Nature as Your Canvas
There is a creative artist in you
Choose only one master- nature. -Rembrandt
Every afternoon I love to go for a little nature walk. As luck would have it, we have a lot of natural beauty right in our backyard. On days that I go on my walks, I feel more creative and more at peace. On my 100-day journey exploring abundance, I find that nature is our teacher.
My usual activity is to walk in a circle around the garden, picking up little sticks, twigs, and pieces of bark that have fallen to the ground. I have started to create a haphazard sculpture out of them on top of our fire pit.
I have to admit I get giddy when there is a bit of a windstorm because I know that there will be lots of sticks and branches to pick up. My favorite ones are the curly, twisty ones from the neighbor’s tree. There is a large, leafy nest in that tree that I often ponder. It could be the cozy lodgings for our squirrel friends.
Round and round I go, searching for sticks and noting their different shapes, colors, and properties. As I pass the fire pit, I toss them on to the pile. The branches have now become interwoven together. An art piece is taking shape out of chaos.
I came upon a beautiful, fluffy piece of lichen and a bright green sprig of moss yesterday. I decided to pick those pieces up. I carried them around for a while, delighting in their presence. Then, it struck me! These would look amazing on top of the branch sculpture.
It was not until I took a photo of my creation yesterday that I noticed the intricacies of this natural art. There are many different colors of branches: red, tan, dark brown. Some have little bits of lichen or moss on them. Some are straight, and some are curved. They all make up a beautiful mosaic.
In college, I took a sculpture course. I remember it was one of the most creative, effortless, and fun classes I had ever taken. Creating this sculpture out of sticks by accident brought back those feelings of joy that I had then. I felt the emotion of pure creation.
Nature is our teacher, our friend, and our partner in this world. Every day we can co-create with her. She brings us the solace, the abundance, and the creativity that we need to carry on our mission in this lifetime. That is the best motivation I can ever find to keep creating.
Here are three ways you can use nature as your canvas:
- Create a stick sculpture with sticks, twigs, branches, moss, lichen, and bark that has fallen to the ground.
2. Collect rocks that look interesting to you. As you scan the ground, pay attention to the ones that you find interesting right away. I love to carry three stones in my pocket. I love to take them out and look at them from time to time. They can be a good luck charm.
3. Bring sticks, rocks, greenery, or branches indoors to create a natural centerpiece. I remember my grandma would decorate tables for parties just by using plants and items she found in the nearby woods.
My prayer and my intention for you today is that you take a walk outside. No matter what the weather, there is creativity waiting for you in nature. She will guide you with love. You will always find what you are looking for, and there will always be a joyful overflow.
Day #48: How will you find some creativity in nature today?
I am tagging some amazing fellow writers on this journey. They joined me on my 100-day spiritual journey and it is an honor to have them here on this journey. I ask that you read their beautiful work here on Medium. Thank you for your generosity! Bob Jasper, Charlotte Zobeir Ali, Rasheed Hooda, Jenine Bsharah Baines, Amy Marley, Gurpreet Dhariwal, Aurora Eliam, CMP, Chowa Sekai, Michele Thill, Terry Mansfield, Tony Young, Jr., Dr. John Rose, Vishnu*s Virtues, Noma Dek, Neha Sandhir S, Art Bram, Joe Luca, Tree Langdon, Sherry S, Melissa Bee, Annelise Lords, Suntonu Bhadra, Henery X, Lanu Pitan, Annick Batamuliza, Taha Abbas, Nihan Kucukural, and many more! Thank you Illumination, Genius in a Bottle, Paper Poetry, and Medium Family!
Trista Signe Ainsworth is a Professional Organizer at Joyful Minimalism. She guides clients on a personal growth journey through their homes.
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