Exploring Art Making Outdoors
27 May 2025
Creative engagement can be a powerful tool for reflection, emotional regulation, and self-discovery. Taking the creative process outdoors can deepen those experiences, introducing movement and sensory richness that can shift how we relate to ourselves, our creations and the world around us. While I won’t claim that creative expression or nature cures anything, pairing them offers a unique experience worth exploring.
Indoor spaces can quietly shape how we think and feel, narrowing our focus and reinforcing familiar patterns. In contrast, natural environments engage us differently, waking up parts of our attention that can feel dormant or constrained indoors.
Being outside may reduce the perceived pressure to “perform” or “produce.” The emphasis moves away from creating something perfect to opening up possibilities, encouraging play and possibly a freer form of expression.
You don’t need to be an artist or have formal therapy to try these practical ways to engage in outdoor creative practices. The goal is to get curious and explore, not perfection.
Nature Sketching or Mark Making
Bring a notebook and experiment with pencil, charcoal, or ink. Don’t aim to “capture” nature—let it inspire gestures, shapes, or textures.Ephemeral Art
Create something temporary using found natural materials—leaves, sticks, stones. Think of Andy Goldsworthy. Photograph it or let it go.Clay or Natural Pigment Work
Clay is tactile, grounding, and easy to carry. Some people also enjoy mixing natural pigments (e.g. charcoal, turmeric) into their work.Reflective Journaling or Poetry
Sit somewhere comfortable and let your surroundings guide you. What do you hear? Smell? Feel? Let that sensory data flow into writing.Group Outdoor Art Sessions
Practicing creativity with others outdoors can encourage openness and reduce self-consciousness. Try a silent drawing circle or collaborative installation.Walk-and-Make Sessions
Combine mindful walking with creative expression. Pause every so often to draw, collect, photograph, or write a line of poetry.
Things to consider
Materials: Choose portable, weather-resistant supplies. Clipboards, waterbrushes, and soft pastels work well.
Ethics: Avoid picking living plants or disrupting wildlife habitats.
Accessibility: Parks, backyards, balconies, or even green rooftops can all be suitable.
Sunsmart: Don’t forget to look after yourself and wear a hat, apply sunscreen, and bring water, especially during warmer months.
You don’t need to be an artist, and the location doesn’t need to be perfect or ages from home. Step outside, bring something to write with or draw on, and let yourself explore. And remember there’s no “right” way. Give yourself the freedom to be curious and maybe even a little surprised by what shows up!
Further Reading & References
Berleant, A. (1992). The Aesthetics of Environment. Temple University Press.
Bratman, G. N., Daily, G. C., Levy, B. J., & Gross, J. J. (2015). The benefits of nature experience: Improved affect and cognition. Landscape and Urban Planning, 138, 41–50.
Carpenter, J., & Lee, M. (2025). Healing through art: A thematic synthesis within a quasi-systematic review. BMC Public Health, 25, Article 22741.
Huss, E., & Cwikel, J. (2008). Innovative intervention programs for vulnerable populations: Towards a model of using art in outdoor nature therapy. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 35(3), 212–221.
Jordan, M., & Hinds, J. (Eds.). (2016). Ecotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice. Macmillan International.
Kaplan, S. (1995). The restorative benefits of nature: Toward an integrative framework. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 15(3), 169–182.
Linden, S., & Grut, J. (2002). The Healing Fields: Working with Psychotherapy and Nature. Frances Lincoln.
Lyons, S., & Drahota, A. (2025). Exploring nature-based art therapy: A scoping review. Frontiers in Psychology, 16, Article 1522629.
Malchiodi, C. A. (2012). Art Therapy and Health Care. Guilford Press.
Thompson, A., & Reyes, V. (2025). The nature of art therapy: Uniting human and planetary health. International Journal of Art Therapy, 30(1), 12–26.