'Green sketching is a tool for slowing down and seeing nature’s beauty. It combines the benefits of mindfulness, nature connection and creativity in one simple, affordable activity. The quality of your sketch is irrelevant. It’s the looking and noticing that matters.' Dr Ali Foxon, Creator of Green Sketching.
Join Karen and Helen for a relaxing roam around Kendal Castle* to celebrate the joys of nature and creativity during Great Big Green Week. We are also excited to be launching a monthly Green Sketch Group following this event.
You'll be guided through some short activities for sketching flowers, leaves, trees, butterflies and bees, plus top tips for noticing and sketching landscapes. You'll have time to practise, experiment with colour and find your own style.
The focus is on the joyful process rather than the finished result, so there's no obligation to share and compare!
You'll discover how sketching in nature can help to bring calm into our busy lives.
Suitable for all abilities from beginners to accomplished artists: Even professional artists appreciate the opportunity to slow down sometimes!
Accompanied children over 12 years old are welcome.
We will provide:
- All materials including a sketch book and pencil to keep, plus a variety of art materials to play with, thanks to our kind funders W&F Council and Zero Carbon Cumbria.
- Guided instructions
- Refreshments will be provided after the walk. (You might want to bring your own water bottle for the walk.)
What to bring:
- Clothing and shoes suitable for the weather(sun hat/waterproofs?) and for walking on uneven ground. * There will be low level options to avoid steep hills. An indoor space is available should we need it.
- A light folding chair or stool if you prefer not to stand for too long. We will be walking and sketching for over an hour.
Parking and Meeting Place
Parking at The Factory is free of charge but you must sign in at Space 2 Create with your registration number within 20 minutes of parking.
*Green Sketch Club
We plan to have a monthly Green Sketch Club meet up around the Kendal area following this event. We look forward to sharing more sketching and journalling ideas and techniques for finding joy in nature.
Your Hosts
This workshop will be led by Karen Bentley-Brown and Helen Pateman
Karen is a business and wellbeing coach, founder of Simply Repair South Lakes and Future Fixers CIC and a Green Sketch Ambassador. She has a passion for connecting people with nature and with themselves. She loves to share her experiences of sketching nature, journalling and mindful mending.
Helen is an artist, maker and cook. She is the co-founder of Kendal People's Cafe and passionate about helping to create a kinder, greener, fairer world.
