Hi fellow artists,

I had a great time teaching an Art Prescription class today at the North Carolina Botanical Garden.

My class was part of a Certificate in Horticulture Therapy, and my goal was to inspire participants to art journal for self-care.

I did several demonstrations and they were most interested in using live botanicals as stamps/stencils.

Here is my finished page. I started with leaf stamping and then added collage, pen and ink.

Hiding in plain sight

Exposed and vulnerable

Who ate the pansies?!?

Under a big sky

Horses graze, hazy June air

Hawk soars on current.

Art Prescription: A beautiful June day…

Pen and ink and watercolor, Chinese symbol says horse:

A country bird-bath

Blue birds gather for a splash

In a horse feed bowl.

Art Prescription: Today after I washed Finn’s tick bite off with the hose I noticed the birds coming to the puddle.

I put a couple of inches of water in a horse feed bowl thinking they might enjoy a bath… and they did!!

We all have stories

Generations of living

That makes us unique.

Art Prescription: Watercolor sketch

When you’re a big dog

You get to set people right

Your way or highway.

Art Prescription: We have all run into “big dogs.” Those among us who need to always have the upper-hand.

And yet…here is my 900 lb horse being as gentle and inclusive as he can be.

Horses are the best teachers!

I added to my field sketch and this may be a new note card.

Under big barn roof

Sheep get sheered, layers of wool

For warm hats and socks.

Art Prescription: What a process! It takes an expert to sheer a sheep without nicking his skin.

Long layers of wool are sheered intentionally so the fiber can be woven.

The wool, fresh off farm, has to be washed and then the long process begins.

Late afternoon sun

Bees dip, buzz, dip, drinking sweet

Nectar from flowers.

Art Prescription: I helped hang a pollinator art show by my students today at North Carolina Botanical Gardens!

And then we sketched in our nature journals: