ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT
KENT ARTIST PROFILE :
HARRIET ADKIN
HARRIET ADKIN WAS BORN TO BE AN ARTIST . SINCE THE MOMENT SHE WAS ABLE TO HOLD A PAINTBRUSH SHE HAS BEEN ON A JOURNEY THAT HAS LED HER DOWN COUNTLESS PATHS OF CREATIVITY . TODAY , THE NATURE-LOVING ARTIST SPENDS HER TIME ALLOWING ART TO BE HER THERAPY , HELPING OTHERS EXPRESS THEMSELVES THROUGH THEIR VERY OWN MINDFUL ART AND CREATING WORKS DEEPLY INSPIRED BY THE NATURAL WORLD AROUND HER . FOR OUR OUTDOORS IN KENT ISSUE , WE SPOKE TO HARRIET ABOUT HER PROCESS , HER PASSION FOR SUSTAINABILITY AND HER ARTISTIC HEROES .
What inspired you to become an artist ?
I ’ ve been an artist for as long as I can remember , but it has only been in the last few years that I claimed this title and embraced this career path . As a child I would draw , collage , paint and write ; I was always working on something creative , playing and using my imagination . Creativity is deeply inherent within me , so pursuing art feels natural to me .
Tell us a little about your process of making therapeutic art .
I have always turned to the arts as a form of therapy . It ’ s the only time where I feel truly present – I can sit for hours drawing and time disappears ! Giving myself this time to create enables emotions to come to the surface . It ’ s an opportunity for me to be present with my thoughts and emotions in a non-judgemental , observant way in order to process , release and heal . My mission is to help others heal through art and guide them to connect with its therapeutic benefits . I host art workshops including Mindful Plant Drawing to help people find calm in a busy world .
There is a running theme of nature in your drawings , why do you think the natural world influences you this way ?
Nature teaches us resilience ; it continues to grow amidst change , and so can we . Through connecting with nature , I believe we can truly heal . Nature teaches us about impermanence through growth and rebirth ; through cycles and seasons . It balances fragility and vulnerability with resilience and growth – life is all about balance . We are all part of nature ; we are all connected , but often this is not acknowledged . My art hopes to connect people to the beauty of nature and its necessity .
What makes you so passionate about sustainability and how do you think this comes through in your art ?
The art world uses a lot of energy resources . As an artist , I am passionate about practising art in a mindful , sustainable way that protects the planet . All of my artworks are printed with recycled card made from post-consumer waste , using non-toxic ink and are packaged in biodegradable , homecompostable wallets .
Who are your artistic heroes ?
I am constantly inspired by creators in different fields . From artists like Gerhard Richter to photographers like Natalie Karpushenko and musicians like Trevor Hall , they all capture our connection with nature and they nourish my soul in ways that affect my art process . I am open to different forms of inspiration , and let them flow through me as I create .
Where can we see / purchase your art ?
Check out my website www . harrietadkin . com to find details of workshops and to browse my art or visit my Instagram : harrietadkin to keep up to date with new projects .
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