Practice: Capturing autumn colour
Hello friends, we hope you’ve had a good week with plenty of time in nature. For this week’s practice, we invite you to look around you and capture some of the amazing colours on display as we journey deeper into autumn.
“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.”
How can I join in with this practice?
For me, autumn is one of the most beautiful and magical times of the year. The colours on the trees are changing, the air is becoming crisp, and the sun begins to cast long, dramatic shadows as its arc sinks lower day by day.
Autumn is a unique and precious time of year to slow down and reconnect with the natural beauty around us, and that is exactly what this week’s practice helps you to do through the medium of autumn colour. So how does this practice work? Here’s some step-by-step guidance to get you on your way:
First, gather whatever you’ll need to capture those beautiful colours — it might be a sketchpad and coloured pencils, some watercolours, a bag for collecting beautiful objects, or a camera (perhaps on your phone) for taking snaps (or indeed several of these!).
Make your way mindfully and gently to a place where you like to enjoy nature — this might be your garden, a local park, or even a spot in your house where you can look out onto a natural space. Wherever it is, you can slow down a little to enjoy the journey — no need to hurry to get there.
When you arrive, take a few minutes to either sit or stand and feel your body, your feet on the ground, and the cool air on your skin. It might help to close your eyes to tune into the sensations fully.
Now, begin to look around you and explore what’s there — What grabs your attention? Where do your eyes and your feet want to take you? Begin to slowly explore what’s around you, taking time to soak in the details of what’s around you — the leaves, the branches, the berries, the tiny objects on the ground, or whatever else draws you.
Allow yourself to fully enter a space of wonder — if it helps, you can imagine yourself as a child playing in nature. What treasures can you see? Spend as long as you like amusing yourself this way! Capturing this wonder is precious already.
“All the wonders of life are already here. They’re calling you. If you can listen to them, you will be able to stop running.”
When you feel ready, prepare whatever you brought with you to begin capturing some of this beauty for your own and other’s enjoyment later.
Now, find the beauty that calls you and capture away! Start drawing, painting, collecting, photographing, or whatever else you have chosen to do. Engaging with how to really bring out the beauty in what you see creatively can be a rich and rewarding experience in itself.
After you’ve finished capturing, take some moments to appreciate your experience. again to feel your feet on the ground and the air on your skin. Look at whatever you’ve created or see it in your mind’s eye. Experience those colours again and know that they are captured inside you as well as on the page, phone, or other medium.
Share the beauty you capture with others!
There are so many amazing forms and colors out there waiting to be captured — what will you find? We’d love for you to share your stories, photos, artwork, or anything else inspired by this week’s practice with us on Facebook or Instagram!
Remember to wrap up warm and wishing you much joy capturing the colours of autumn.
“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.”
