Awakening the Inner Artist Starts Here
Welcome to your EHNA course
Awakening the Inner Artist
In this 12 step program we will explore how we can reawaken our deep-rooted connection to the natural world and our unique language with which the arts ignite. As we explore the possibilities of learning along-side our students, this course helps in developing each child’s unique perspective and individual style of creative expression.
This unique nature-based ART program is designed for educators, parents and anyone working with children, wishing to foster love and compassion, creativity and imagination. We learn best holistically. In this program I will share with you how you too can become an effective nature-based art teacher enabling you to nurture the whole child, body, mind, heart and spirit.
Lessons
Who am I?
Who am I and what is my relationship with nature? We begin our creative journey exploring a little bit about ourselves, who am I is quite a big question. We explore this question through several fun art processes and activities that also question our own personal relationship with nature.
1/12
Colour in the City
We investigate colour and what it means to us. You will discover how you can have colour in our home all year round and have oodles of fun in the making. We also look at Spanish artist Joan Miró for inspiration for exploring colour, line and shape. The language of art consists of line, shape colour, texture, pattern and form.
2/12
Finding Inspiration in the city
Art demands constant observation, walking slowly, we can focus in on the detail. Observe, not in the obvious but the less obvious, gifting new inspiration for unique creative explorations. Observing the hidden gems such as the Victorian pavement windows in the city of Edinburgh or the humble bee feeding on the lone dandelion miraculously surviving in a concrete crevice.
3/12
Blossoms in the City
To walk in nature is to witness a thousand miracles. Walking barefoot with the butterflies. We visit Vancouver and find inspiration from the perfumed blossoms. Pinks, whites and lilacs soften the harshness of the concrete jungle. What will you add to your personalized journey stick from your city and country walks?
4/12
Birds in the City
Celebrating our beautiful feathered friends, the birds. From the tiniest, almost fairy like Hummingbird to the mighty, majestic Eagles, we will explore different mediums such as wire to create bird sculptures taking inspiration from Scottish architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh, a starting point to delve deeper.
5/12
Summer Loving
Fairies in the city. Summertime is an invitation to slow down and enjoy the vibrancy of all the summers wonders. In this workshop we will investigate the beautiful artwork of Scottish artist Margarete MacDonald and explore our own ideas and thoughts about these delightful fairy creatures through different mediums.
6/12
Hands and Hearts
Taking a closer look at our hands and what amazing tools they are. As we explore different printing forms and mixed medias, what stories might your hands reveal? What might we find at the local farmers market that we can investigate. This is a wonderful journey of self discovery.
7/12
Inter-being
I share with you one of my favourite passages, Inter-being. We will explore our very own interpretation of “Inter-being” and translate our thoughts and feeling into a beautiful fabric wall hanging. We will also look at the word community and what that means to us. Again our illuminating silvery sisters presence, the moon invites more creative exploration.
8/12
Stories of Autumn
A time of inner growth. Autumn is the perfect time to hunt and gather treasure and we can use these natural materials to explore storytelling. One single leaf can invite infinite possibilities of creative play. With the touch of your imagination you can bring a fallen leaf to life again, unlocking the secret and sacred stories of our Mother Earth.
9/12
The Land and how it shapes us
Rediscovering our sacred land through playful creative explorations such as weaving and creating clay sculptures of the animals that speak to our soul and doing so we renew our inner spirit, a most magical journey of how the land shapes us.
10/12
Nature is everywhere and relevant
Focusing on one single tree, observing all the little and significant elements of it, how it sways in the wind, the detail of the bark, and appreciating its presence, its gift of clean air, helps us form a deeper connection and a grateful heart. We play, explore and create with the treasure one single tree can gift us.
11/12
Love, Hope and Peace
In this final module we make prayer flags using earth paint on fabric and little gratitude booklets. We explore ways to share hope and peace. Creating prayer flags and taking them outdoors and allowing the wind to carry our prayers for those in need is truly a beautiful thing to do. In our times of hardship and struggles, we need to have hope.