Nature as Muse & Inspiration

With the longer days and warmer weather are you enjoying heading outdoors? While many recently converged on Blenheim for Garden Marlborough and Along The Garden Path at the Marlborough Art Society, two artists came together to explore a hidden gem in our brilliant backyard of the Marlborough Sounds, and to raise awareness of how simple and fun creative expression can improve holistic wellbeing.

Dr Deborah Early and Emma Toy recently collaborated for the inaugural Noticing Nature Artist-in-Residence Weekend held at Debbie’s studio The Art of Awareness at Bluewater Lodge, located on the Queen Charlotte Track. Debbie, a literary artist with a medical-science background and a consultant offering a path towards nature-based solutions for wellbeing and adaptability, is the Marlborough rep. for the Top of the South committee for the New Zealand Society of Authors. Emma, an arts practitioner, is a trained artistic therapist and artist based in Marlborough. 

Both artists recognize the importance of creative expression for human wellbeing and specifically noticing the natural world and how we are part of this. Given their combined passion in connecting people with themselves and the natural world around them Debbie invited Emma to spend an immersive weekend in her studio.

“Connecting with the natural world is more than just contact with nature,” says Debbie whose solar-powered home and studio are on the Queen Charlotte Track and accessed by boat only.

“Connection with nature is about relationships and there is a strong body of research which suggests that this connection increases wellbeing for people and pro-environmental behaviour for the planet. There is also research showing the creative expression e.g. reflective writing or painting is good for wellbeing. We need to be psychologically connected to the natural world and everyone can create; this isn’t art to sell, but a way to live more fully,. We are all creative,” adds Debbie.

She has previously taught professionals and healthcare providers internationally, at the masters-level, engaging contemplative pedagogy and creative expression for self-care, nature connection and wellbeing, while Emma is experienced with providing artistic therapy services to those facing challenges such as depression, anxiety, addiction or health issues.

A vibrant and spectacular double rainbow, spanning Endeavour Inlet, greeted them at the start of the Artist-in-Residence weekend. Emma’s creative juices and expression around nature connection and wellbeing for people and planet were also further prompted by solo and joint exploration of the area, walks on the track, reflection, as well as discussion and several phrases and quotes provided by Debbie.

“Painting the koru form in wet on wet watercolour enabled me to really feel into the movement of expansion and growth (opening out) and simultaneously the contraction in towards the centre,” says Emma.

The koru (spiral) signifying growth and new beginnings, is often used in art and is a symbol of both permanence and impermanence representing movement and a return to the starting point and is found in abundance in the punga trees in Debbie’s brilliant backyard.

“I also looked for the small and tiny things that might get overlooked if you cycled past too fast, such as the karaka berry and decaying leaf matter,” says Emma.

“I sat under a young kowhāi tree in the presence of two beautiful kererū on Sunday morning watching the ever changing water on the Inlet, and reflected on the treasures I’d noticed. Creative expression doesn’t have to be about producing beautiful art - it can be a way of feeling into experiences and being curious about something in a deeper way,” she explains.

“How we all have personal responsibility towards caring for our place and communities and we can contribute to the wellbeing of the whole,” she adds.

Post-event Emma generously provided a koha to Endeavour Inlet Conservation Trust, which is a community-driven initiative creating and supporting conservation projects in the hills surrounding Endeavour Inlet.

“I hope that sharing this creative and expressive experience will help others to generate feelings of curiosity, appreciation, and wonder for nature - and perhaps encourage others to pick up a pencil, paintbrush or a camera and pay some loving attention to the natural treasures around them, ” says Emma.

When next you’re outdoors, what will you notice in nature?

If you are interested in collaborating, please contact me.