The natural way

Using the natural world as a resource

I began working closely with Mother Nature in my creative practice some years ago and it is now central to my artistic voice. Using the natural world as a resource demands a high degree of sensitivity. We can’t just go out and gather what we want. We need to gather with a light touch and that has always been my mantra when out on my walks. I gather so that I might extract dye and ink or make prints or even include in my handmade papers. For me it allows what I produce to tell its own story rooted in the natural world.

Each piece of paper or fabric is therefore unique and can never be repeated. I think there is too much repetition in the world. At this time of year I am busy beginning my plant dyeing story for the season ahead as well as my botanical print chapters. You need some patience as the process can’t be rushed. Pigment likes to sit for a while and I am happy to let it do that as the results are always worth it. I dye using plants mainly gathered from my wild place to include sorrel roots, chamomile, nettles, yarrow and meadowsweet to name just a few. For my botanical printing I have some very trusty hazel trees but I also use leaves from my rose bushes, wild geranium, oak and sycamore.

Unwrapping the papers and fabric to see the results is my perpetual Christmas morning feeling. I make handmade books for my Etsy store and right about now new covers are being made as the trees are nearly all in full leaf now. However, much as I love botanical printing and natural dyeing my favourite occupation is paper making. I get to recycle waste paper and add in some delights from my garden. Paper making is super easy but, again, a fairly slow process. In all this work you quickly learn to align yourself with slow creativity - something I am a huge fan of. If there is too much repetition in the world there is also too much rushing about. Working with the natural world as a resources teaches you to slow down and honour the process.

I write wee labels of what I have used to make the paper. I make creative boxes for my store including my papers and fabrics so that others might take these into their creative world. From time to time I squirrel away a special piece of paper or fabric….

I find working with the natural world inspires me each and every day as it connects me deeply with what is all around me. It makes me curious and thankful in equal measure and, for that, I will always be grateful. In the garden this morning I noticed that my irises are about to bloom. This is always a special time of year for me. Pressing irises is an annual passion of mine. It is one of the most difficult flowers to press well but I remain determined. After they have flowered I let the stems dry a little before bringing some into my studio to carry on their drying process. Using a sharp knife I cut off one end at an angle as they then make the best quills for my homemade ink. Of course they do!

If you would like to use the natural world as I resource in your creative journeys I would recommend the book ‘The Organic Artist’ by Nick Neddo as a useful starting point. If you are interested, in particular, in natural dyeing and botanical printing I would recommend my dear friend, Charlotte’s ebooks from Ribble Recycled on Etsy. It really is a life affirming creative journey. Until next time. x