I didn’t think I would be able to host the November retreat, but it is on!
Nature has been pretty rough on us here. September brought all sorts of unexpected hurdles including a typhoon with so much rain that it washed away the side of the local mountain and all our infrastructure with it. 130 households had a 30 hour power outage, 11 days without water, and our fiber Internet is still down for the count. But thanks to Japan’s well-rehearsed resilience, our entire neighborhood put on their best gaman and waited while the utilities got things back up and running. We shared news and vegetables and did our best with workarounds.
Art on the other hand, has been a balm. I spent a lot of that waiting time making art. And once again I realised the value of creativity in pursuit of mental calm. The focus of creation and the surrender to the whims of the materials are critical to my sense of well-being.
Would you like to try finding this creative relaxation for yourself? Saturday, November 14th is the next Art & Nature Retreat – the eighth in the series – at my home and studio in Kamogawa. It’s small and intimate and suitable for anyone from “I can’t draw” people to professional artists. Your skill isn’t the point at this event; we aim for mindful focus, playful novelty, and willingness to step a little bit outside your comfort zone. Every retreat mixes drawing, movement, food, conversation, and creativity into a single day.
If it sounds good to you, get all the details and your ticket: https://mediatinker.com/product/nov-14-2026-art-nature-retreat-8/
