Exploring our Creative Roots
I’ve always been drawn to trees. Climbing them as a kid. Running my hands along the ridges of their bark. Seeking their cool shady relief at school with the June temperatures made the classroom too sticky to concentrate.
I regularly write from my dining room table so I can admire my idea tree, a maple that stands so stately in our backyard. I look for a forest to wander through when I need to clear my mind, think something through, be inspired or even to be reminded of the goodness that’s present right here, right now.
Earlier this year I read Design by Nature by Erica Tanov and I came across this quote in the book…
“Trees anchor me. They are the foundation of my sense of design - the core of my aesthetic. They have taught me that creativity can emerge from a place of calm and understanding.”
I smirked after reading that last line. I think this too is why I am drawn to trees.
The following is an excerpt from The Possibility Picnic I hosted this October, a monthly creativity workshop designed to give you the space and inspiration to reconnect to yourself and your creativity.
The Inspiration
This activity was inspired by my fascination and admiration for trees and for how they can inspire our imaginations and creative thinking. It was also inspired by an exercise Ashley Beaudin a wonderful coach I’m working with gave to me as well as a poem that was written for me by the lovely and talented poet Sez Kristiansen.
The fall is a time of year where many of us might be drawn to trees more than we usually are, here in Ontario anyway the leaves change into shades of burnt and creamy orange, vibrant red and sunshine yellow before making their way to the ground.
Listen to the following audio to get your imagination warmed up for the painting/drawing activity below!
Using what you imagined in the visualization you’re going to now paint, draw or sketch a tree that symbolizes your creativity.
Materials:
2 sheets of paper [any size, ideally 8.5” x 11”)
A medium to colour with, it can be:
Acrylic or watercolour paint, markers, crayons, pastels or some combo of the above
Sponge
Paintbrushes
A stick from the ground
Pencil or crayon for the warm-up activity
The Warm Up
To warm yourself up, I invite you to take out a blank sheet of paper to simply practice getting out of your head and into your body.
You’re going to spend 1 minute with your eyes closed, drawing out tree branches.
Your focus is to simply be loose and make really organic wavy lines. Tree branches aren’t perfectly linear after all. Have fun with it and give yourself permission to be messy. Next switch to mark-making with your non-dominant hand for 1 minute.
Notice how each method felt!
Now it’s time to paint, sketch or draw your tree.
As you are painting, here are some prompts to consider and elements to add to your tree:
Tree Roots - these anchor trees to the earth and allows them to absorb water and nutrients from the soil
What anchors your creativity and fuels it with inspiration and nourishment?
What are the core elements of your creativity that are always present?
Tree Trunk - offers protection, strength, and carries nutrients from roots to branches, trees grow from the inside out
What strengthens your creativity and helps it expand?
See your tree branches as different ways you express yourself and get creative.
The tree leaves - make sugar from air and water, where photosynthesis happens
What are the new ways you want to express yourself?
Where do you want to take your creative journey next?
Trees have that live on the root cells and help them absorb water and nutrients. In return, the fungi obtain food from the tree.
Think of your tree’s fungi as your co-creators that help encourage, support, nourish and inspire your creativity.
Who might your co-creators be? These might be people, plants, spaces, communities, animals, a spiritual source/connection, etc.
After you are finished your painting/drawing you may wish to label the different parts of your creative tree using the same prompts from above or not.
Pull out your notebook or fav journal and spend some time reflecting on these questions and your relationship with creativity. I believe the joy we find from creativity is found in our connection to it and the way it connects us to so many parts of ourselves.
What have you created or expressed recently that you’re feeling most proud of?
Looking at the roots of your creative tree and thinking about your creativity in general, what has ALWAYS been true and present in your creativity? What’s always been true about the way you express yourself or participate in the creative process?
Looking at your roots again which ones (if any) might need some tending to or extra attention and nourishment?
What about the Fungi, are there any co-creators/supports you need to reconnect with or ask for help from?
Looking at branches and leaves - how do you want to express yourself and create in the next month?
How else can you use/apply this activity and the inspiration trees offer in your creative practice?
Pull up a seat on the checkered blanket…..
With each splatter we practice letting go of worrying how our creation will turn out and settle into enjoying the process of making and feeling more connected to ourselves.