Leah Fox of Third Story Studio shares how nature and art together can create healing and balance in your life.
In a world that is in constant demand of my attention, I show up for myself every time I pick up a paintbrush, and that is a healing. Making space to focus on one thing and notice and honor how I see the world, is a healing. Intentional time spent in expression, where I tum nothing into something-without expectation, is healing.
The art-making practice is a chance to listen and connect to your higher self. It is an invitation to notice the details and go through life with a sense of curiosity as to what inspires you.
The creative practice slows me down and continuously asks me to trust myself. l have rediscovered the benefits of being in the realm of creativity and the calm it provides to my nervous system. I committed more deeply to the creative practice once I became a mother-because I had to. I needed a way to spin things into gold, to alchemize within the process of mothering and becoming. There was a necessity for me to engage in a soothing, nourishing, and uplifting process. This creative practice has been a lifeline for me, whether the medium is beading, movement, or painting-art has been a space to connect to my humanity.
Nature as a Teacher
Nature is such a generous teacher. Before I had my painting practice, I made mandalas using treasures from nature : shells, flowers, leaves, com, pumpkins, etc. Mandala is Sanskrit for circle, which is often symmetrical and can be a source of a pause and a celebration of beauty. This practice draws on the intuition to feel into what wants to go where, and to work with the materials you have on hand. It also connects you to nature, which is always good medicine. Sometimes I do this with a bouquet of flowers that still have a little life to them. Or I gather nature in the yard, on the beach, in the woods, etc. I start from the center and work my way out. The act of finding pieces to make a mandala has been a big comfort to me. This could then be translated into paint. I've made mandala paintings using different symbols with watercolors, but it could also be a simple sketch. Another low-pressure practice I like is blind contour drawing. For that, you just look at the subject and not the paper, and move your pencil around to capture what you are seeing. This is a merging of sight and movement. Healing, expression, and a creative outlet all feel synonymous to me. That being said, the world of flowers is a super potent place for people to recharge, and capturing their essence in watercolors is a delightful next step.
In Color Club Magazine Issue 02, artist and creative space founder Leah Fox shares how she blends nature, creativity, and community as tools for healing. Learn about her inspiring, community-driven studio—Third Story Studio—and the heart-centered work happening inside its walls.
Pick up your copy to read her full interview and explore more creative goodness inside.
