New work and the intersection of nature and creativity

June 2025

Art is now. We need it now. Creativity is the missing pillar of self development ~ Amie McNee

Hi! How are you? I’m so glad you’re here.

The Peace of Wild Things

When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

~ Wendell Berry

Time in nature has always provided me with peace. I was worried when I moved from the woods to town that I would be disconnected from nature, and by extension, my art. I was, after all, surrounded by acres of it there. It turns out, it’s here on our city blocks too. Little mounds of moss, blackbirds flying overhead, moths tapping against the window at night, raindrops playing a tune in the flower garden. When life is overwhelming, and it has been for a lot of us lately, I sit on my front porch and notice those things. When I can breathe again, I take those influences and turn them into art, trying to share a little of that peace and joy.

It also helps that there are views like this where I live. Impossibly blue skies, still waters, tall trees…a beautiful place to stitch a stone on one’s lunch break.

Some new work has landed in my shop. There are original pieces of paper illustration, unique blank books perfect for gifting, nature journaling, or sketching, and a few wearable pieces.

You can find them HERE.

I had the pleasure of imagining my friend’s sweet family as frogs, which was presented as a father’s day gift to that outdoorsy mustachioed frog. I hope it brought them a little bit of the joy it brought me while making them.

If you have 15 minutes to spare, treat yourself to this Tedx talk by Amie McNee. I found myself nodding my head so much I felt like one of those bobblehead toys people used to stick on their dashboards. She argues that creativity is crucial to our experiences as humans, something I personally believe. This is not “just for artists”, no one is exempt from the benefits of creativity, and creativity is not limited to paint, paper, canvas, or stone. She talks about not only the benefits of art, but our responsibility to ourselves and each other to make things. Towards the end she shares “your art is the antidote to so many people’s pain, yet you keep it to yourself”. That’s a call to action. Please watch.

Thank you for reading. It means the world to me.

If you think someone else may enjoy my work, I’d be grateful if you’d share this with them or encourage them to visit my website where they can sign up for my newsletter, consider workshops, and peruse past projects.

with gratitude,

Lisa

Have questions? Email me at lisa@lilfishstudios.com