Drawing Closer to Nature - by Peter London (Paperback)

About the Book

Educator and art therapist London uses stories, poetic meditations, and guided exercises to show readers how making art in nature can enhance their self-knowledge and creativity. 20 halftones.

Book Synopsis

Making art, says Peter London, is a perfect vehicle for recovering our lost sense of unity with Nature. When we draw closer to Nature through art, we simultaneously draw closer to our Selves, and thereby enjoy a richer, more authentic creativity and a deeper, fuller life. Through exercises, theoretical reflections, poetic meditations, and stories, London presents an innovative approach to creativity that engages body, mind, and spirit. A series of guided "Encounters"--some to be done outdoors, some indoors in the presence of some natural objects, and some entirely in the imagination--invites the reader to investigate Nature's secrets and then to celebrate through making a work of art.

Topics and exercises include: the essentials of creative practice, such as time, space, media, and intention; cultivating a simple, firsthand way of seeing Nature in all its subtlety, mystery, and intimacy; creating a personal sanctuary in which to communicate directly with Nature; conducting a sacred conversation with archetypal forms of Nature encountered in the imagination; seeking forgiveness from Nature, with the intention of healing our broken primal relationship with the natural world and rediscovering our rightful place in it.

Review Quotes

"Through carefully and lovingly constructed encounters with the elements, directions, balance and imbalance both around and inside us, London demonstrates how to establish an intimate experience with Nature."--Spirit of Change

"This profoundly inspiring book offers the same deep resonance as London's workshops and seminars: you are in the presence of a master teacher whose worldview is well articulated and well lived. This is a must-read for artists, teachers, and learners at all levels."--Kit Grauer, Ph.D., past president of the International Society of Education through Art

"Peter London has done it again. In this book he stokes the eternal fire of creation at the start and sustains the grand and subtle heat on every page."--Shaun McNiff, author of Trust the Process: An Artist's Guide to Letting Go

"Art educators interested in developing a more holistic approach to their teaching will benefit enormously from Peter London's insight, observations, and efforts."--Karen Lee Carroll, Graduate Director, Center for Art Education, Maryland Institute College of Art

About the Author

Peter London--painter, author, art educator, and art therapist--has taught the approach presented in this and other books to thousands of students, ranging from teens to octogenarians, from "art phobics" to professional artists. Professor Emeritus at the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, and a 2002 Distinguished Fellow at the National Art Education Association, he lives in Fairhaven, Massachusetts.