Nurturing Wonder

Reflecting on the Summer & MA research 🍃

Glenarm River, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland

As we enter Autumn, I thought it was about time I updated you on what I’ve been up to and do some reflecting. The majority of summer was dedicated to deep-diving into my creative practice and what underpins it all - a child-like wonder & curiosity. I'm now halfway through my final major project for my MA, where I've been researching Wonder and what branches out from it, like a deep sense of connection to place, people and imagination. I noticed during my research that despite how 'connected' we are through technology and media, we are so disconnected from the natural world & from each other. I like this quote from Rachel Carson, penned in 1956, 'for most of us, knowledge of our world comes largely through sight, yet we look about with such unseeing eyes that we are partially blind. One way to open your eyes to unnoticed beauty is to ask yourself, "What if I had never seen this before? What if I knew I would never see it again?"'

This quote made me wonder what she might think about our levels of disconnectedness in the age of social media. I definitely don’t have all the answers but it has given me an awareness of my own want and need to unplug and feel connected to those around me and local nature. Thus, throughout the summer I explored (and I’m continuing to explore) how to cultivate wonder: keeping an observational sketchbook, going on nature walks, gardening, and deliberately attempting to slow down. I even tried making inks & watercolours from foraged and natural materials, which was fascinating. Not solely for the art supplies themselves, but for the heightened awareness it brought - an awareness of the rocks, plants, and the changing seasons.

Foraging evoked memories of my grandparents and the knowledge of local nature they had compared to me - just simply from spending time in it and sharing experiences. My Granda’s love of fly fishing connected him with the local river. He grew vegetables for enjoyment and went foraging for mushrooms, understanding what was safe for eating. Both Granny and he took me blackberry picking as a little girl and then we transformed our harvest into jam. Granny was an avid sea swimmer and loved nothing more than a good walk together. When she became unable to do this, she found joy in sitting on a bench at the promenade, quietly observing the sea.

These connections with my grandparents and the world outside have enriched my illustration practice because it roots my creativity and offers insight into the ‘why’ behind it. Anja Murray, in ‘Wild Embrace’, emphasises the importance of cultivating a child-like curiosity because it help us to engage with and connect to the natural world, in turn helping us to see it’s value and encouraging us to be more mindful of our actions.

At the moment, the weather is varied and mixed - as it often is in Northern Ireland - but I hope embrace each day as it comes with interest and further exploration.

I’d love to hear what helps you feel connected and inspired! Please leave any thoughts in the comments :)