Seasons of Creativity: How Nature Shapes My Art Practice

As autumn settles over Northern Ireland, my surroundings transform into a canvas of golds, yellows, and oranges. It's not just the landscape that changes – my whole art practice shifts with the seasons.

On my daily walks, I soak in the warm glow of autumn sunlight filtering through colourful leaves.

This warmth finds its way into my studio, where I instinctively reach for warm, glowing colours. My underpaintings take on a luminous quality, as if they're lit from within. Golds, vibrant oranges, and luscious luminous pinks and yellows weave through my florals and foliage, capturing that magical autumnal radiance.

Here are a couple of Autumn glow inspired paintings, you can take a closer look at my mini florals here

It's fascinating how this seasonal influence happens without conscious thought. When I look back at older works, I can often guess the season they were created in. My connection with nature truly infuses every painting.

As winter approaches and daylight dwindles, I find myself drawn to even brighter, more intense colours. It's as if my paintings are pushing back against the darkness. Jewel tones pop against deep, inky blues or rich cherry backgrounds. The contrast reminds me of bare tree silhouettes against a crisp winter sky. Check out my winter inspired painting 'Sunshine on a cloudy day' here

Spring and summer bring a shift to my palette. Gentle pinks, sunny lemons, and soothing aquas take centre stage. My paintings become more playful – butterflies and birds flit across the canvas, and wildflowers dance in imaginary breezes. Take a closer look at my spring and summer inspired Bird and butterfly paintings here

I've noticed my creative cycles ebb and flow with the seasons too. Autumn and winter find me painting more frequently. It's incredibly therapeutic, surrounding myself with colour during the long, dark months. When spring arrives, I spend more time outdoors, soaking up inspiration and dreaming up new ideas. I paint at a more relaxed pace through the warmer seasons, before the cycle begins anew with autumn's return.

 This natural rhythm – from intense creation to reflective exploration and back again – keeps my art fresh and my spirit connected to the world around me. Follow along with my creative practice throughout the seasons here in Instagram as I share daily in my stories what is inspiring me and what I am creating.

 How does nature influence your work? Do you notice seasonal shifts in your art practice? I'd love to hear your experiences!

Fancy a bit of artistic self-discovery? Why not take a stroll down memory lane with your own artwork? Grab a cuppa, spread out some of your pieces from the past year or two, and see if you can spot the seasons peeking through. You might be surprised at how autumn's glow or winter's chill have sneaked into your art without you even noticing!

And here's a fun project to do to keep your seasonal inspiration flowing: create a quick mood board for each season. Snap photos on your walks, cut out magazine images, or collect bits and bobs that capture the essence of spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Pop these mood boards up in your creative space and watch how they subtly influence your colour choices and compositions throughout the year. It's like having a little bit of nature's magic always at your fingertips! For more arty resources and ideas check out my Resource page here

So as the world turns and the seasons change, let's keep our eyes open and our brushes ready – who knows what beautiful inspirations nature will bring to our canvases next?