Would you like to rediscover your curiosity for the natural world?
Do you crave a life that is more creative, but find time and money prevent you from getting started?
Then join me for Nature Wonderers: Resdiscover your Curiosity and Creativity as I have made this free 5 day course for you! Join me to explore the changing season, explore different ways to record the nature around you, and make a paper wreath to celebrate the beauty you’ve seen.
Hello! My name is Eleanor, and I’m an artist who creates illustrations and paper art inspired by natural history.
One of the biggest inspirations in my life is walking in local wild spaces, observing and recording what I see in photographs, notes and sketches, and creating artwork based on these experiences. This routine of looking, learning and making has taught me so much about the natural world, and brought me a great deal of joy in the process!
However this wasn’t always the case. Although I have worked as an artist most of my career, there was a time where I felt really overwhelmed by housework, admin and the general responsibilities of adult life. It seemed like I had lost my curiosity for the world, and I no longer recognised myself as the creative person I had been since childhood. I missed that fascination I had when I was small for looking up into the giant canopy of a tree or watching tiny creatures go about their daily business in the grass. I desperately wanted to rediscover that wonder in the world around me so I could share it as a parent and also reconnect with that lost part of myself.
Money and time limitations meant I couldn’t travel far so I began to look at my immediate surroundings in a new way. I learned the names of the plants and animals around me. I began to recognise the silhouettes of the birds above, and the rhythm of tiny insect world on the ground. I did this in just a few minutes each day as I walked to work or to pick up food for the evening meal. But these little moments of observing and learning developed into a real passion for the natural world on my doorstep and beyond which I now express through my creative work as an artist.
I have now been working in this way for over five years, and know that sharing some of my own prompts for being curious and creative could be helpful to other people too, so I have created this free course ‘Nature Wonderers - Rediscover Your Curiosity and Creativity’. Sign up to the mailing list using the button below and everyday for 5 days you’ll be sent links to inspiring videos, prompts and more straight to your inbox.
This course is for you if:
You have the urge to be more creative in some way but you aren’t sure where to start.
You would like to learn more about the nature around you, but aren’t sure how to fit it into your daily life.
You feel like you could do with some inspiration in your everyday, and would love someone to support you in rediscovering what that looks like for you.
This course has been designed for anyone who needs a bit more curiosity and creativity in their life. It is based around using your local natural spaces (such as a park, woodland or beach) for inspiration but it also includes options for those who would like to do the course from their home. If you are an established artist or keen nature journaler please note we will be doing accessible activities suitable for everyone rather than focusing on drawing techniques or a specific style, however you are of course welcome to take part!
The materials will be available to you for as long as you wish to do in your own time.
COMMON Q&As
Do I need to be good at drawing to enjoy this class?
Not at all! This course has a variety of different creative activities including photography, collage and writing. You will be invited to do some drawing, and this will be supported through a short introduction to observational drawing which is suitable for everyone. If you don’t want to draw there will also be alternate activitives suggested.
What materials will i need to take part?
This course is designed as a starter course, so I have tried to use materials that are easily available and inexpensive. I would recommend you need a sketchbook or paper, a pencil, a pen, colouring materials (coloured pencils, watercolours etc), a glue stick, scissors and a cameraphone or digital camera. You may also want to use a colour printer to print your images if you have access to one.
how long will the course take me?
I estimate the course will take about an hour a day. However you will have access to all the materials for as long as you like, and you are under no pressure to do it as consecutive days! If it suits you better you could do one activity a week.
CAN I TAKE PART IF i AM SHIeLDING OR DO NOT WANT TO LEAVE MY HOME?
Yes! It’s really important to me that this course can be enjoyed by everyone, so I have included different activity suggestions if you would prefer to do it from your home.
is the course accessible?
I have tried to make the course as accessible as possible. All videos have subtitles, and there are audio descriptions available for printed content. If you sign up and are not able to access any materials please get in touch at info@eleanorchaney.com and I will make any changes neccessary.