A Winter Dose of Art + Nature

Join MakeShift and guest artist Sally Ann Conwell for a winter Sunday immersion of art and nature connection.

Meeting on the Dharawal lands at Bonnie Vale Campground, Bundeena, this workshop experience weaves together the five elements of creative first aid: curiosity, safekeeping, self compassion, playfulness, and inch by inch thinking, along with guided nature walking, field note sketching, and plein air drawing, painting and art making.

The workshop will include:

+ A short introduction of Creative First Aid - a creative ecosystem that connects you to your innate creativity as a source of empowerment, expression and connection. We share a few prompts to learn how to notice your nervous system messages, and the shifts that may occur through the experience of nature connection. 

+ A group slow, silent walk through the tall angophora red gums of the Royal National Park, with prompts to notice, be curious and capture glimmers of awe on the journey

+ A guided plein air nature drawing + watercolour process with artist Sally Ann Conwell

+ A mark-making field kit to keep (concertina field notebook, watercolour paper, watercolour pencil, HB pencil, marker, postcard)

+ Option to include a copy of our book, Creative First Aid: The Science + Joy of Creativity for Mental Health

Information for attendees:

+ No previous drawing or art making experience is required!

+ Please BYO lunch, snacks and water. You may also want to bring a camp chair or rug. Some rugs and cushions will be provided. 

+ A meeting place will be emailed out prior to the workshop. There will be a sheltered table, however we recommend bringing a hat, suncream

+ Toilet facilities are close by

+ In the event of rain and/or high winds, we will postpone

+ Walking is mostly along boardwalks, with a few stairs, and is at a slow pace. Moderate fitness is recommended.

+ This workshop is for ages 13 and over. Unfortunately we cannot accommodate children

ABOUT CAITLIN MARSHALL + LIZZIE ROSE / MAKESHIFT

MakeShift is a pioneering creative health agency. We create the conditions for people to connect with their own creativity, to support the self, others and the planet. MakeShift co-founders Caitlin Marshall and Lizzie Rose are the workshop facilitators, and authors of the internationally published Creative First Aid - The Science + Joy of Creativity for Mental Health.

MakeShift has an audio course, Making Sense, on creative first aid, and also delivers workplace training, community projects, workshops, installations and events. Caitlin and Lizzie have spent a decade designing, hosting and delivering creative and nature based retreats, programs, courses, events and installations. 

ABOUT SALLY ANN CONWELL

Sally is an award winning artist, art educator and art therapist. Over her career Sally has created work for BMW, Virgin Australia and Nespresso but finds her greatest joy in sharing art with others. Specialising in art based community development and therapeutic arts, Sally believes in arts unique ability to provide healing, connection to nature, community and to ourselves. On the weekends you might find Sally walking through the bush with her sketch book, jumping in the ocean, or tinkering in the veggie patch.