One of the key things to slowing down is to stop, look and observe. It means taking away (or even hiding) your phone and camera, and taking the time to notice things around you. I was introduced to Rob Walker's book "The Art of Noticing" by my friend, Shiyun just a few months ago, and it was very timely too as I was preparing for my nature workshops that I was invited to conduct by VSS at the Green Beats festival at Club Med Tomamu. With such busy lives we lead, I thought it very apt to have workshops that not only explored my creative process, but also allowed the participants to relax and start noticing in their lives too!
A Piece of String
Walker's book has a variety of noticing exercises that help the creative process, the simplest being just taking a different route to work, or looking up instead of down. I always carry a sketchbook and pen when I'm out and about, but when in a creative moment, my favourite tool is not the pen and paper, but string! A piece of string helps you focus your attention on an interesting spot, and if you don't know what to sketch? Just throw it up in the air and see where it lands. Surprise yourself.
Nature's Art Brushes at Club Med Tomamu
I encouraged my participants to explore nature through sketching, and then translating them into a collage on a cushion cover. We were very fortunate to find a scenic walk (just a few minutes away from the amazing resort) which ended in a forest! It was a very immersive workshops - everyone, including the 7 year old, was busy sketching before we headed back to Club Med for tea and painting.
I love how everyone's works come out different but beautiful all the same!
Hapazome Workshop, Club Med Tomamu
The other workshop that was held at Green Beats was hapazome. It was geared more towards children but we also had adults who were keen on taking part. Wild local flora were taken from the nearby walking trails (including the golden rod, aconitum sachalinense ssp. yezonense, mysotis sylvatica and achillea millefolium)
It was a great opportunity to share with the participants about the importance of nature! And, it was a wonderful moment for them to let off some steam with the pebbles - pound away!
Thank you to Jacqui Hocking of VSS for the wonderful opportunity to explore Hokkaido, and inviting me to take part in Green Beats by Club Med Tomamu. Special thanks to Bamboo Straw Girl, Melissa, for helping me out at the workshops and taking all the great photos. Big thanks to Hermes Huang for finding out the names of all the flowers we came across during our first few days at the resort. Thank you also to Kenta of Club Med for being the translator.
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