Nature As a Source of Inspiration
Katherine’s work is inspired by her interactions with nature. She uses art to share her experiences growing food, to celebrate vegetables and gardens and to strengthen her own relationship with our planet. She also makes art to inspire others to think about where their food comes from. As she says, people have become too disconnected from where and how our food is produced. “I feel like it’s an ongoing conversation, me learning about the role we play in nature and the give-and-take relationship we have with plants, especially as food.” – Katherine Scott.Katherine says that there is inspiration in the calming, healing moments spent outdoors, marvelling at small details like the curve of a flower petal or the insistent work of a bee. She finds inspiration in her own edible garden and everywhere else in nature, from majestic forests to a forgotten street tree or edible weed.”While I don’t create directly with elements from nature, I’m mindful that the paper I use comes from trees, and I try to purchase and use it wisely. I avoid plastic pens and am drawing more and more with old fashioned dip pens and ink. I would love to explore creating natural plant based inks in future!”
Protecting Nature in Everyday Life
When it comes to sustainability, Katherine has been on the road to a more planet-friendly life for a while and she says she is much more in tune with her choices and their effects on our Earth than she used to be. “We’ve made a lot of small and large changes within our household, reducing single use plastics in certain areas, being mindful of waste, installing solar power to our house, but one of the biggest ways we practise our commitment to treating the Earth mindfully is by being aware of our food choices and connecting with where our food comes from.”Katherine’s family has been reducing their use of meat, and they only purchase the best meat they can – directly from a small local farmer. They are mindful of food waste and use compost, with appreciation that their food scraps will go back into growing more food for them.”I think working on shifting our mindset is one of the most important ways to learn to treat the Earth kindly. Whatever one thing you do to start – refusing takeaway coffee cups, lowering meat intake, riding your bike more and leaving the car behind, having shorter showers – any of a million wonderful choices – make it the first step to thinking harder about re-framing what we really need, and coming back home to what’s important.”
“We need to remind ourselves that we’re not separate from nature or the planet! We have this concept as a modern society that it’s not our responsibility, or relevant to us. But ‘nature’ isn’t some thing out there that we should protect out of context – we are nature. We rely on nature to nourish us, to keep us alive. It seems we forget that.
Certainly, I also think we should protect nature out of love and altruism – love for those most vulnerable among us, for animals, for the sheer heart-swelling beauty of it. But it’s not just a ‘nice thing to do’. It’s essential for our children, our grandchildren, our survival. Nature will win over us in some form or other. We may as well work to build a better relationship with it while we still can.”
A special thank you to artist Katherine Scott for sharing her story and being a part of our nature-loving community!
