creativity
60 CalmMoment.com
feel a sense of order and calm. He also shares his
work by leading workshops and creating installation
art at festivals, like the Land Art Festival in Yorkshire,
UK, (mid-September; activecoast.org).
Ultimately though, James says he mostly makes
this art for himself. “It’s not about what other people
perceive when they look at my work. It’s about the
feeling I have as I create it,” he says. “There is
something all the more meaningful knowing that
what I am making might only ever be seen by myself
and that it’s only going to be there for a short period
of time.”
With this in mind, James tries to immerse himself in
the process, rather than concentrating on an end goal:
“I try not to plan or have a particular image in mind
when I set off. When I do draw in advance, I always
seem to be looking for something that I never find.”
Like James, we can make this creative process
a meditative one by choosing to respond to whatever
we find in the forest or on the shore, enjoying thedifferent finds each season brings, from blossom
and seed kernels to fallen leaves and bare branches.
Rather than gathering all his materials first, then
creating a piece of work, James prefers to work as
he goes, placing some materials down on the ground,
then pausing to go gather some more. James will
typically start in the middle and work outwards, so
that shapes and patterns emerge organically. “It gives
me time to really stop and look around,” he explains.
“I immerse myself in the landscape, not considering
too much what is going to come next.”
If James finds he has created a motif that is
aesthetically pleasing, he will photograph it and often
finds passers-by stopping to admire his work. But
the final result is never his focus. “I find myself so
engrossed in what I’m doing, I don’t want to stop,”
says James.
Feeling inspired? “Just go out and play,” says James.
“All those natural materials are out there waiting for
you. Don’t over-plan, just enjoy the experience.”