My fascination with the natural world began very very early. I have a strong recurring memory of lying under a tree watching the branches moving in the wind. It wasn’t until many years later when I was an adult that my mum mentioned that she used to park the pram under the willow tree in the back garden and I will lie there for ages, not sleeping, just watching.
I often wonder is that is where it all began. Encounters with the natural world are a blessing in my world on a small Scottish island. As an artist they have become my moment by moment existence and I wouldn’t want it any other way. I can hear the rain beginning that will bring to an end these warm temperatures that have seen me a wee bit trapped inside as I tend to wilt in the bright sunshine. I have just returned from a walk in the forest meeting half the island dog parents in the car park as we complete the walk before the threatened storms. We can do storms on Arran. We all left at the same time, took different routes and ended back at the same time and then just smiled and waved as we could sense the switch on the kettle going down at the same time too.
If you live on a small Scottish island you are acutely aware of changing weather. Our ferry service is a life line for the island and I am aware of that more than some as if the ferries don’t sail the helicopter is often despatched to collect a medical emergency and it lands just below my garden. My dog, Frank, thinks this is the very best thing that could happen to his day and goes bonkers. Medical evacuations are often at night…..
On my walk before the rain I was completely thrilled to see the honeysuckle beginning to flower. I have worked with flowers almost all my life one way or another and the honeysuckle is my crown flower. It weaves and winds its way through the forest giving us all beautiful pops of colour and scent. The shape of the flower is so distinctive and it is always such a welcome moment in my year. I set my Patreons and myself a wee challenge in our latest zoom - who can let the winding honeysuckle make a beautiful natural crown as you walk near it. I am very competitive but even I don’t think I can convince them that this is a crown but it is a start.
As the days pass on this walk I will no doubt ace this particular challenge. Encounters with nature are the cornerstone of my Patreon offering and I can tell you that the ladies in that group never miss a thing. If you do the same walk for a week that teaches you all you need to know about encounters with the natural world as you will see new things each day. Nature doesn't stand still.
The honeysuckle is among my most prized moments of the year as it comes into flower. However stressful daily life can be, whenever I spot the first flowers my heart literally fills up with joy. I always take at least one flower to press each year but not until the plant is in full bloom. Last year I took my pressed specimens and lay them on my scanner to create a digital image that I could then work with.
In my paid membership we made an artist book this time last year and I used the honeysuckle as my central theme. I created a perspex print block using sculptured pieces of masking tape and a sharp knife. This gave me a lovely print.
This year I have been making paper honeysuckles out of old book pages.
I might be getting carried away but I did do a wee film for all of you of the honeysuckle encounter this morning is a beautiful forest walk on the Isle of Arran. I hope you like it.
The noise you can hear is a stream in the background. That flows down from the waterfall further up the hill. With the rain forecast I can guarantee you that I will meet some of the same people at the car park tomorrow eager to see the waterfall. Our collective connection with nature on a small Scottish island. Just joyful and yet another reason I moved here and then stayed.
Until next time,
Fiona xx
About the author
I am a mixed media artist living on the Isle of Arran in Scotland. Here on Substack I write free content weekly focusing on seasonal creativity. I also run a paid subscription and as I write this I am about to open a new doorway. Through the other side will be a quiet, gentle space that will focus on the relationship between creativity and the meditative mind. The Stillness Studio will bring together my two teaching areas into one place and we shall wander along together working on creative tasks that speak well to the meditative mind. This, in turn, speaks well to our sense of physical and mental wellness
I went to take a photo with my honeysuckle crown 👑 only to find the possum has eaten all the flowers we had on the bush ☹️