expectations | Samantha Humphreys

April 15, 2025

Creating Mindfulness in Nature: A Reflective Outing

This weekend, I was working alongside fellow creatives in leading some community workshops in a non residential retreat. Titled, Creative Calm, these were held on the beautiful campus at ARU Writtle. I designed short tasks using drawing, painting, and writing. These short tasks embrace the idea that mindfulness can be achieved by focusing only on the moment.

Engaging with nature is known to improve life balance. It keeps us mentally fit and promotes a positive sense of wellbeing. Walking in green spaces, forests, woods, and fields makes us feel wholesome. More importantly, it allows us to reset our busy minds when partaking at either end of the day. Being creative also holds these powers. It doesn’t matter if you are an experienced and confident artist. You can also enjoy these benefits, even if you consider your skills to lie elsewhere. The secret to unlocking the powers is understanding that we, as humans, are part of nature. We are not a separate entity. Nature is made up of living, moving, ageing and ever-changing matter. We are just that.

Last week was filled with sad news of the passing of friends and family of friends. I chose a corner of the memorial garden on campus to create a watercolour painting. I’m unsure if that is the name of the garden. It has become a place where tributes are left in memory of those that have passed in recent years. It is also a retreat for peaceful sitting. As I studied the leaves, flowers and man made structures; I reflected, just sat and thought. I layered my painting with the subtle changes in green tone. My aim was to give it the depth and richness I wanted to achieve. I pondered (now there’s a word I don’t use often enough) on how and when we turn to nature. We use plant materials to celebrate life, whether that life is in the current, recently or long since passed. Flowers are given, wreaths or bouquets are laid or trees are planted in memorial. We become connected to nature by these acts of tenderness throughout our lives; we become memories planted firmly in those places of solace when we have moved on. This little corner of the campus is truly a wonderful place for addressing life balance and mental reset. Capturing the current through text and poetry can develop or strengthen mindful practice. It lets us close all the open tabs and hit the power down button for a short while.

My outcome from this session? Life really is too short, do what feels right and change direction if necessary. Cliched I know, but there are many paths to explore.

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March 29, 2025

The Calming Power of Circles in Art

Bocking Woods (2025)

Circles feature in much of my art, they are conducive to a sense of calm to me. Seeing such a perfect example with its swooping curve of nature, during an early morning walk filled me with joy. It was a great start to my day.

Over the past couple of weeks, I have been recovering slowly. It was from a monster of a migraine. The headache started during a day of teaching at school. I could do little to prevent it from escalating. The Easter holidays will be a time to reset. I will plan how to regain a little balance. Lately, time has been running away with me. I imagine this is why I still have the remnants of pain in my head. It is also why it is taking me an age to finish writing this post!

Walking is like a tool in my well being toolbox. It serves me well in terms of making sure I’m capable of thinking about my day ahead. It allows me to ponder on recent days. I can plan how I will build balance into each part of this one.

The day begins and ends with celestial circles; and I find that using circles in my practice is soothing. Whether it be a mandala, an emotion wheel, a print, or a zentangle pattern. The presence of a circle on my page is always aesthetically pleasing.

Witnessing such a fine example at the end of a long path through the forest was satisfying. It felt like a perfect metaphor for my difficult couple of weeks. It was a lovely addition to my morning walk. It seemed like a magical entrance to a fabulous day.

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March 4, 2025

The Benefits of Journaling Through Art

This afternoon was the first of two journaling lessons I teach at The Art and Design Studios in Great Waltham. Today’s task was my favourite exercise, drawing a tree. We draw trees we find pleasing and give thought to their similarities and differences to humanity. There are many topics of discussion to focus on that crop up during the session. I have taught this exercise over many years and each time it differs in content, outcomes and it develops. I learn from it myself, always.

I have many versions of drawing a tree. The one above is the first from today. I have another class tonight, so I will do at least one more. The tree is one I pass at least once a day. It often has a gang of dog walkers gathered underneath, chatting and socialising their dogs. Whatever the weather, they throw sticks in the river for games of ‘Fetch’. This is lovely to see. I manoeuvre my way around excitable pups who sometimes jump up to say hello. This prompts many apologies all round for a variety of reasons. Of course, all are totally unnecessary. But hey-that’s what we English do right?

This was very early morning yesterday and it was particularly tranquil. The weather was bitingly cold. I was so comfortable because I dress in many layers. I always prepare for being cold, especially when out early. The sky was as blue as early summer and I felt the endorphins flood through me. I reflected on how grateful I am to live within walking distance of these green spaces. I am grateful that I am healthy enough to enjoy them. I am also grateful that I have the freedom to do so. I can honestly say that I owe my new positive mindset, to once drawing a tree several years ago.

Time to think is important, even if it’s only for a minute every so often. Gift yourself the time.

The Art and Design Studios -Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/_theartanddesignstudio/

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February 25, 2025

An unexpected (but very much appreciated) moment of Joy

Yesterday, while I took a short walk around Great Waltham between my classes, I found a beautiful patch of early crocus on some communal grass area. I looked around in the hope of finding a fallen, broken flower so I could take it back for the evening botanical drawing session, but alas, there was none. Also, it was great that there was none, because there were some that had been mightily flattened by the heavy downpours and still looked very securely attached to their stems and firmly rooted in the ground.

I noticed that the colour palette was very much in line with my own yesterday. I was wearing green and purple which I have also thought was very much a Daphne from Scooby Doo signature, so at least now I can instead associate it with spring colours instead.

What were the chances that I would choose to wear that combination on the same day that I decided to go for a walk between the classes and I would walk that way? That I would do this on the narrow window of time that these flowers bloom? Sometimes all the stars fall into line and bring about these small, really inconsequential happenings that do, for some reason, bring some much needed childlike joy to my brain!

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February 18, 2025

Sunrise, Frost and Frozen Toes

It was beautiful yesterday morning as I headed over the footbridge on the nature reserve, but oh my was it cold!! This was at 07.38, the sun was coming up promising to warm me, but I was chilled to the bone and I stayed that way for most of the day.

This morning I went for an early swim, also a cold activity but walking home, I was so wrapped up in layers and the sun was out so it was a lovely cosy, comfortable walk back.

For the rest of the day I will choose from the long list of little jobs I have put off until we break for half term, inevitably, a fair few will be put off until Easter and summer breaks but I have become a lot more chilled. I am chipping away at that list slowly and not doing my usual thing of starting one job, then mid way through it, starting another so I can finish the first! There then follows an endless cycle of unfinished tasks and a huge mess.

I feel I am being a bit hard on myself actually, (the old me from a few years back would never have said that…progress indeed) because I have already been busy over the weekend with sorting bags and clothes I no longer need-I have re-organised my art room as I have had more supplies delivered for workshops and cleaned in general quite a lot. So in light of that-finishing reading my book might be bumped to the top of that list, after walking my dog.

Bring on the spring, I am ready for it!

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February 11, 2025

Mastering the Art of ‘Being’

I stopped to look at the tree I pass each day, the reason I stopped was that the skies behind it were divided into a a summer blue and a thundery grey. The sun was bright on and off so there was a moment when the complex system of nerve like branches were very defined. There was a yellow glow through the moss green that highlighted the creases in the bark, reminding me of wrinkles that have been caked in make up.

It is important to take care of yourself mentally as well as keeping physically fit. If you are anything like me, your mind is constantly in overdrive with worries, lists, texts messages and endless pulls on your time and attention. Sometimes, switching to aeroplane mode just for a short while will see you (or feel) reaping the benefits later on. This gives you the chance pay attention to what is around you whether that be an urban concrete landscape or land wrapped in fields, forests and streams. Either way, there will be air, sounds and sights of all sorts.

It is quite tricky to get into the habit of noticing what you see throughout your day. A way of training yourself to do this is the simple exercise of asking yourself: What three colours can I see? then, Choose one of those colours and find three shades of it; so using my photograph above a reference:

‘green/brown/blue!’

Then, as i’m unlikely to find three shades of blue and there are plenty of neutral hues around the centre of the image, I will look for three shades of ‘brown’ …if you are familiar with colours of a artist palette you might say:

Burnt umber/Raw Umber and Ochre or if not then simply Dark Brown/Light Brown/Beige

While you are doing this exercise, you will be unaware of anything that isn’t about those colours, even if it takes you less than a few minutes.

Life is too short for just coasting, doing what we think we should do and not saying things we want to say. Let loved ones know they are loved and also, just as importantly, celebrate that you are alive and take care of you!

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January 18, 2025

Peace and Rose Gold Sky

How beautiful is this? I am so lucky that I have this on my doorstep, for now anyway. It wont be long before this walk will be alongside houses and back garden fences and maybe not such a clear view of the lilac rose gold sunrise and hazy late morning views across the fields.

I heard some lovely words the other day during a journaling for wellness class, “Whatever happens, Don’t die before you’re dead, stay alive…” After some googling, it seems as though this is a part quote from Virginia Woolf. Whether it is or not and I couldn’t find a legitimate source, it packs a punch.

Particularly as later in the day I was asked what job I wish I could have done. My answer was, without a doubt, the job i’m doing now, but I wish I had done it sooner. This of course was not taking into account that I took the route I did through life for a reason, I wouldn’t swap what I have for the world. If I had made different career choices in early adulthood I may not have the family I have now so it was only a ‘without taking all things into consideration’ answer. I also may not have been as engaged and switched on to the importance of creativity in fostering a healthy sense of wellbeing when I was younger. It was something I considered a hobby that I was good at.

Now, I like to think that every choice I have made in life has yielded a success, whether that be a small win amongst what may have seemed like a failure or a huge turning point.

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January 5, 2025

So here it is…2025

Well, that happened fast! A year ago I was sat here making promises to myself that I would scoop myself up from the depths to which I had plummeted to and climb to a reasonable level of better mental health.

Walking in the woods this morning through the dip that has been carved out over time, I was hit by the thought that as I was eye level with tree roots, I must be what once was underground. It was a good grounding (no pun intended) realisation that we need to sculpt our own pathways in life. Some sections of the path is easier for some than it is for others, people face obstacles differently with no two battles won in the same way. There are roots to trip us up along the way if we aren’t careful and either side of us, the strength of the trees and overhanging branches that provide protection and shelter, can also overwhelm; reminding us that we are just a small piece of the artwork and if we don’t look after ourselves; we can easily be beaten.

However, I feel optimistic as I walk through here each morning. The subterranean dip feels safe, the tree roots protect the sides from caving in and although they may cause us to trip from time to time, they also support underfoot. Should I wish to stop moving forward for a time, the tree roots help me out by providing steps out. They also make it easy to step back in when I’m ready.

Steps (2024)

So to summarise as I realise I’m waffling a bit, I can’t help ‘metaphoring’ but I’m a great advocate for how taking time to walk through these kind of spaces provides such clarity to an otherwise smoggy brain; I am in a much better place than I was a year ago. I have developed strategies to take control of my pathway and just being able to ‘be in control again’ laid a strong foundation for me to succeed. It has by no means been easy, I have worked really hard over the past year. As a result, working from my own experiences (sometimes it is advantageous being older) I have been able to develop my practice in therapeutic art and have written and led courses in Art and Wellbeing and bespoke creative workshops.

I love what I do.

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December 6, 2024

Finding My Groove

As I expected, life changed somewhat this year, I left formal education after thinking I would remain involved forever in a job I loved. I fixed some….no, most, of the necessary broken bits of my rapidly and scarily declining mental health and started to find time for dealing with what needs dealing with physically. I developed much of my art practice with new techniques throughout the year. This was mainly because of Project 366 which has forced me to allow daily time for my art and as a result, I feel as though I have practiced ‘extreme art’. The additional skills, as well as being awfully useful as I can now teach more techniques than ever, have released all manner of wonderful chemicals to my brain perfectly complementing those endorphins I get from taking long walks each day.

Additionally this year, I have learned a lot about myself and found ‘where I actually belong’ in the world. As well as being a daughter, a wife and a mum, I feel that maybe life has been like a vinyl record rather than a treadmill and I have finally found my groove. You may well laugh at my cheesy metaphor, (I did) but we tend to see life as a series of milestones, we are conditioned that way. Maybe it’s meant to be a round of possibilities that show themselves at different stages of our life and while we shouldn’t constantly flit from one thing to another : we can settle into something more than once, and we don’t have to be in just one groove forever.

Teaching how creativity can give us the tools we need to maintain a healthy wellbeing is my groove. Journaling has been crucial to developing my own sense of healthy wellbeing is something we take for granted, yet It is in fact a provision we must make for ourselves and it needs checking daily. As an Artist, I take it for granted that creativity is good for the soul, but not everyone sees themselves as creative so how do we encourage exploration of that? Everyone possesses creativity, maybe not in an obvious way, but we all have the ability to mark make, make creative noise or move creatively and we should allow ourselves to do this as much as we give ourselves the time to eat, work and sleep.

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August 20, 2024

August

Serious post warning!

It’s results season in the UK, Level 3 last week, Level 2 this week. Seeing on social media friends children receiving results and the news coverage this occurrence attracts each year reminded me of how strange the exam system really is, it puts me in mind of a cartoon drawing I have seen many times, I can’t find the artist, the quote that accompanies it has been wrongly attributed to Einstein so I can’t cite any reliable sources other than *one of the many other online articles in which it is included.

Funny cartoon this, sad though, because then you realise that actually, this really isn’t a fair way to assess us complex human beings, taking an exam for two hours or so to test us on two years worth of learning simply tests memory, not learning. Don’t get me wrong, those that do well in exams may well have learned and understood the content well, but the system isn’t testing that and its outdated now.

A healthier way of ‘testing’ if we must, is surely the more holistic approach of coursework. Assessment still takes place but students will learn how to encounter problems in a positive way and also learn that there may be different approaches to achieving a solution and there may be more than one solution to find.

Because we learn more from our ‘failures’ than we do from not being allowed to fail, mistakes could become instead, ‘developments’ because, thats what they are; Just for one moment, forget the exam system, our life is nothing more than a series of developments, moving from one stage of life to another. I say ‘another’ not ‘the next’ because that again implies that there is only one expected outcome for everyone. There is not. One of the guarantees in life is that what happens next in my story, will not be the same as what happens in yours.

We should be encouraging our young people to understand that it is more important that they believe that if they try their best, have trust in the professionals to help them reach where they decide they want to be, whenever that may be. The story will be all the better for it.

*Graphic by Fani Hsieh taken from https://thecord.ca/standardized-testing-flaws/

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