Join me for a relaxing botanical watercolour silent vlog. A “paint with me” episode featuring this beautiful nasturtium – which is my favourite botanical.
Botanical watercolor art is deeply relaxing and therapeutic for me. The act of simply bringing my mind down into my eyes and hand and away from whatever I was “over thinking” has been deeply healing for me. Botanical art slows me down to the pace of nature. It encourages me to look at plants and flowers in detail. There is something about this that heals one’s heart.
I believe that science agrees with this notion.
“The slow, repetitive brush movements activate the parasympathetic nervous system (the “rest” system).
This can: Slow your heart rate
Lower blood pressure
Relax muscles
Create a sense of safety and calm”
– Pubmed
There is also something unique about painting plants and flowers. Environmental psychology has shown for decades that exposure to nature improves mental health and restores attention. This idea is known as Attention Restoration Theory: natural forms hold our attention gently, without exhausting it. Another reason why AI art must go. I would not be surprised if it stresses us on a deeper level because it is unnatural.
So, while I sit and paint a botanical artwork I am doing more than creating an image. I am realigning with the pace of nature, a relaxing, calming and rhythmic pace – which starkly contrasts our fast and chaotic modern world.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy this video of me painting a nasturtium.
Love, Cleo.
