AP • Eco-ARTist
April Penny • Artist • Eco-Artist • Registered Art Therapist • RP
Sharing below a listing of my Eco-Art Creations, Submissions, Stories and Creative Prompts (an in-progress page)
My meditative ecological-art practice (that includes hundreds of nature creations) has encouraged me to be more responsive and less reactive to experiences of loss and trauma through gentle gestures of connection to self and others. In my daily practice I share, witness and reflect upon grief, hardship, gratitude and/or complex celebrations.
My multi-sensory process allows me to honour the sources of care I feel in my holding environment, both individually and with my art therapy peers, students and clients. Honouring nature and indigenous ways of being, through knowledge of mindful harvesting, and active witnessing of time-based change and transformations impact my spirit in visual hands-on research.
Connecting Circles • Nature Mandalas
🍥 Connecting Circles • https://www.aprilpenny.com/connecting-circles-1
🍥 AP Eco-Art Corsages • 100 Days of Making- 2021-23 - Nature Corsage-Boutonnières • https://www.aprilpenny.com/ecoart-corsages
NATURE AND SEASONS • art, reflections and stories.
🍥 Connecting Circles 〰 my 2021 eco-art project
🍥 Golden Autumn Moments in My Garden Sanctuary. 〰 photos capturing autumn moments
🍥 Golden Sunflowers. Golden Moments. 〰 sunflower photos - I Am Here moments
🍥 Gratitude Hearts. Formed and Found 〰 collective post with nature heart-art
🍥 I Am Here. In My Favourite Season. 〰 autumn photos • self-care and mindful moments
🍥 Spring Moments & Eco-Art in My Garden. 2022. 〰
CREATIVE PROMPTS • invitations to engage others with nature as creator and witness.
🍥 Autumn Rhythms, Co-Creation, Time and Transformation. 〰 a gentle and repeated invitation to reflect upon seasonal change and transformation…
🍥 Autumn Photo-Triptychs - Creative Prompt 〰 in such a colourful season… invitation to relax, explore surroundings and create an autumn narrative through photo collages…
🍥 Change and Transformation 〰 capturing snapshots of seasonal garden growth and change can connect us to the cycles of life, nature and transformative states…
🍥 Crisp Winter Moments & Frosted Outlines. 〰 glistening frost crystals and light dustings of snow create such lovely and delicate outlines, patterns and textures to view…
🍥 Elevating the Ordinary. 〰 often, inspiration for art making can come from our day-to-day experiences… the familiar… the ordinary...
🍥 Exploring Nature as Object & Backdrop. 〰 a natural object, and a leisurely walk in nature to discover settings for creating engaging backdrops (lines, colours and textures) …
NATURE OFFERINGS • engaging LTC residents through eco-art invitations
🍥 Creativity in Community. Celebrating Seniors Month. 〰 activity tables/stations and art display in designated spaces (accessible and available all afternoon)…
🍥 Creativity in Community. Honouring Indigenous Peoples’ Day. 〰 LTC art therapy 〰 travelling nature cart for collective eco-art mandala creation
🍥 Earth Day at Amica 2023. April & Heather. 〰 display tables, a nature buffet, and residents gathering in community to create earth sculptures…
🍥 Nature Art on Truth & Reconciliation Day. 〰 reflections… meditative and community-connecting nature-based art activity on Truth and Reconciliation Day…
“For many individuals there is something grounding and regulating about the process of eco-art… the sensory elements that elicit comfort and memories… and the meditative process that prompts ideas, feelings and stories… ”
LTC ART + HORTICULTURAL THERAPY • april and jenny create collaboration & stories.
🍥 LTC Art & Horticultural Group 〰 Dementia Unit • Co-facilitation with Jennifer McSpadden HT • 2010-2020. Web Page Link.
🍥 Article & Program Overview • AP Connections Blog • Art & Horticultural Therapy. A Creative Collaboration (original blog post link here).
A genuine thank you to all those who have provided the inspiration and support of my eco-art practice.
PAGE RESOURCES:
✿ ARTICLE • Mandala History * it is incredibly important to honour and reference the cultural origins of the images and approaches we use
✿ VIDEO • YouTube Information Video: Honouring National Indigenous People's Day • Len Pierre Consulting • retrieved from www.lenpierreconsulting.com