How I Practice Mindfulness Through Art

Jessica Slack is the founder of Jessica Slack Studio. Curious about the world around her, Jessica ensures that each and every fine art print she creates reflects the beauty in nature, whether it’s an abstract landscape, floral painting or depiction of a stunning sunset. She shares how her mindful painting practice helps her connect with the natural world.

There are only two moments in life where I feel truly calm and in the moment; When I’m spending time in nature and when I’m painting away the days in my studio. Whilst these two experiences may appear very different on the surface, they both intrinsically create the same emotional response that makes me pause, take a moment and reflect.

I’m lucky enough to live a few minutes away from a gorgeous sandy beach, so naturally I try to spend as much time as I possibly can breathing in the fresh sea air and enjoying these mindful moments. The coast has a remarkable way of engaging all of the senses: hearing the distant crashing of waves, watching the golden glow of the sun sparkling on the surface of calm waters, smelling the enveloping fragrance of sea air, feeling the ripples in the sand underfoot and faintly tasting sea salt as you meander along the shore. How can your mind possibly wander too far when you are experiencing such blissful moments that swaddle the senses?

Similarly, painting in my signature abstract expressionist style creates the same mindful experience: watching clear paint-water turn into pastel clouds of loveliness as I gently wash my brushes, hearing drips of paint flowing down the canvas, feeling paint splatters against my skin, smelling the distinct scent of acrylic paint as I open a new tub of my favorite color and sipping a warming cup of tea whilst doing so. It’s a truly experiential process that allows me to delve deeper and deeper into my connection with nature as I study flowers, landscapes and the coastline.

Whenever I spend a day out in nature, whether it’s walking through a damp, autumn woodland or strolling through a meadow full of wildflowers, it always amazes me how these experiences instantly manifest themselves within my paintings.

Looking back on my work, it’s clear to see the profound impact that nature has had on my paintings over the last few years. My longing to be close to nature has definitely accelerated since the pandemic as nature was truly the only joy we had to appreciate during the months of lockdown. It gave me a greater appreciation for the magnitude of nature and the healing properties it holds. Exploring the relationship between the hues that naturally sit alongside each other and finding new textures, forms and natural shapes is constant inspiration to me.

Creating abstract art and spending time in nature go hand in hand. I couldn’t create without being inspired by the beauty of nature and without painting, I couldn’t explore the natural world to the extent that I have been so lucky enough to delve into. Finding small moments of joy in the simplicity of nature is an intrinsic element of my painting practice work that I only want to dive deeper into over the years to come.

A few months ago, I took part in a mindfulness course that enhanced my appreciation for the peaceful moments that nature provides, even further. I urge anyone who has the opportunity to take part in a mindfulness practice to absolutely grab it with both hands as it truly opens your eyes to those little moments of joy that we all too often take for granted.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that painting is my mindful practice. Painting in an abstract expressionist style allows me to not only explore nature itself but the personal relationship I have with nature and the world around me—and this is where the little pieces of artistic magic are created.