This year, I took part in the Manx Wildlife Trust's nature challenge '12 Days Wild'. The aim is to do one nature-based activity each day between the 25th of December and the 5th of January. I thought it would be fun, but I wasn't expecting to get so much out of the simple push to make room for nature each day. Join me as I share the activities that I got up to each day and find out why I found it so rewarding.
Day 1
I seriously wouldn't have ventured far from the sofa on Christmas Day, if it weren't for the 12 Days Wild prompt. As it was one of the very few times over the 12 days that it wasn't going to be raining, I was very glad that I got outside to enjoy the Manx countryside!
Day 2
The prompt to have a hot chocolate outside may not have got me outdoors on Boxing Day, but it did give me a good excuse to get comfortable with one of the beautiful books that I got for Christmas. This book is so full of colour inspiration that, by the time I'd finished reading, I was in a great place to start creating nature-based art over the next few days.
Day 3
I was desperate to get painting and drawing again, so I decided to test out some Khadi handmade watercolour paper with watercolour and, eventually, coloured pencil on top. See my blog post from last week to find out more about how the paper fared and to see the finished piece.
Day 4
It finally stopped raining and I got out for a walk to take some photos of nature around Ramsey. I didn't get very far, as so many things seemed worthy of a photo, but the views over Mooragh Park toward Maughold were just divine, especially when you've been stuck inside for days!
Day 5
I'm getting quite obsessed with using my Luminance pencils at the moment and so I thought I'd grab a few botanical specimens from the garden and see how well my current selection of colours could represent the colours I found. As you can see, I managed to find close matches to each of the colours that I saw on the stems, leaves and flowers.
I wouldn't have completed this exercise if I hadn't had the push of 12 Days Wild and I got so much out of it. Not only was it useful to learn more about the colours of the pencils, but handling the plants, smelling them and paying attention to their beautiful textures and colours gave me a great sense of joy and connection to what had previously just looked like a dreary winter garden.
Day 6
I would have loved to have gone on a walk in the hills today, but it was just too wet! Instead, I decided that I'd seek out my books and maps and make plans for some walks in better weather. Looking at the maps reminded me of a fantastic walk that I did several years ago from Glen Mona to Snaefell and then on to Ramsey. I was much fitter back then, but I resolved to do at least half of the walk again this spring.
Day 7
One of the 12 Days Wild prompts was to draw your favourite Manx bird, and this got me thinking about how much I've always loved kingfishers. From a young age, I've been attracted to their striking colours and ever since my favourite colour is kingfisher blue. I thought I'd give the watercolour and coloured pencil combination another try on some mixed media paper (Optima by Daler-Rowney). I only had time to sketch out an outline of the bird, but thought I'd share my progress so far.
Day 8
Ahhh colour! I'm amazed that I only worked in graphite for so long, as colour really does make my heart sing! It's not finished yet, but I'm looking forward to working on it some more and seeing how it turns out.
Day 9
The weather was still pretty miserable and dull, so I thought I'd look at photos of the Island on sunnier days. I wasn't exaggerating that the reference photo for this drawing was the first one I looked at from my archive. It instantly grabbed me, so I instantly grabbed a block of watercolour paper, some paints and brushes and got painting. Luckily, I remembered to set up my phone for recording, so I could share my endeavours. The video is on Instagram and Facebook, but I've added it below as well, in case the link to Instagram doesn't work!
Day 10
I really enjoyed adding coloured pencil to the watercolour sketch of the pebbles. It really added the definition and detail that it needed and was very relaxing to do. I will definitely be doing more of these pictures as an exercise to get to know my watercolours better and to relax and enjoy colouring with my pencils.
I was so inspired by the pebbles that I went to the beach to find more. While I was there, I was delighted to see a young cormorant surf in to the shore nearby. I've never seen one of these birds so closely and was amazed at how large and pale its feet looked. Nature is full of surprises!
Day 11
A trip to the other end of the Island today. I was spending a bit of time in the studio and thought I'd pop out with my camera to see if there was any interesting nature in the ground of Grenaby Studios. Of course, I wasn't disappointed, and was very happy to find some fine fungus on a log. It wasn't far from my studio, but I doubt I would have investigated it through the sodden ground if it weren't for 12 Days Wild. When I got close, I realised just how beautiful it looked with all its frills.
I had also got down to Castletown Beach, earlier that day, and was treated to some beautiful scenery and sunshine.
Day 12
The last day, and a day for gratitude. I didn't have to think for long about the things I'm most grateful to nature for. It makes me healthy.
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