Art

Let me introduce ‘Green Sketching’

My creative practice is fuelled by my love of the natural world, with much of my self-led illustration and design inspired by nature-based subjects. But actually getting outside and drawing what I can see is something I’ve only come to quite recently, thanks to the encouragement I found when I read The Green Sketching Handbook by Dr Ali Foxon.

It’s a wonderfully practical little field guide that encourages us to relax, let go of self-criticism, and rediscover the joy of being in nature. One of its key messages is that drawing isn’t some rare talent handed out to a lucky few, it’s a skill, and skills can be learnt, practised, and enjoyed by anyone. The drawings we make outside don’t have to be beautiful, accurate, or shareable, in fact, the focus is far more on noticing nature, observing it and then sketching it, or rather the process of observational sketching, rather than the end result.

Ali Foxon was a climate scientist who started sketching as a hobby during a particularly stressful time in her life. Being a scientist, she was really interested in how sketching made her feel calmer, less stressed and less anxious – particularly when she was sketching outdoors. So she dived into researching why the act of drawing the natural world impacted her mental state so positively.

Why it matters – for us and for nature

There’s a growing body of scientific evidence that shows time spent not just in nature, but connecting with it, has benefits for our physical, mental and emotional health and wellbeing. Conversely, being disconnected from nature has a host of negative impacts on both us and nature – we’re less likely to care about something we don’t notice.

We know that the UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in Europe. One in six species are now at risk of extinction, and more than half of our biodiversity has already been lost. And yet, the more we lose, the less we seem to notice. Part of the problem – even for people who consider themselves ‘outdoorsy’ – is that we can walk / cycle / run in nature without paying attention to it; and we can hear a bird without consciously listening to it.

Studies have shown that the biggest impact happens when we go beyond being in nature and begin to more proactively connect with it. This is where sketching can be a powerful tool – slowing down, observing closely and recording what we notice through the physical act of sketching (rather than the super quick snap of a phone camera) begins a process of active engagement, strengthening our connection with the natural world and making us more keen to look after it. As an added bonus, strengthening our connection with nature also delivers us more personal benefits for our mental health and wellbeing.

In short, engaging actively with nature makes us happier, calmer and generally healthier, as well as making it easier for us to take decisions in our daily lives that will benefit nature (whether that means ditching the car for public transport, or installing solar panels for our roofs).

Slow down. Pick up a pencil. Start noticing nature.

Green Sketching is such a joy-filled activity and is perfect for anyone who wants to get drawing but is constantly fighting against that little voice in their head telling them that they’re ‘not an artist’ or that they ‘can’t draw’.

In Green Sketching, we learn how to quiet that voice (and all the other noise in our heads) by focusing on simple, observational sketching exercises that help us to exist in the moment, creating without pressure. And best of all, Green Sketching gets us outdoors, noticing the nature around us and perhaps opening our eyes to things we’d never have seen previously. I warmly invite you to attend a workshop with me, if you’re based in (or visiting) Northumberland or the Scottish Borders.

You can find details of upcoming workshops at: www.coostie.co.uk/workshops-and-events