How a Drawing Changed My Life

Drawing and painting nature from observation can change you, let me tell you why.

Being in nature or watching a natural scene with real attention is already something that amplifies your sense of presence. But when you combine that with creating art and really noticing what’s around you, this presence is magnified.

I’m starting a journey of painting the Atlantic Forest where I live, and I’d like to invite you to join me, from the start, on this path of connecting with our true selves through art, by capturing the essence of natural landscapes, plants, and flowers from the place we live.

This is the beginning of a new chapter in my life as an artist. If you'd like to join me in this adventure of drawing and painting the nature around us and help me build a community for those who also love those subjects:

🌱 Join My Community OUR NATURE for free:   / liacaldas  

In this video, I share my journey with visual arts, from childhood drawings and early illustrations, to becoming a professional photographer at 15, working as a graphic designer during and after college, and later becoming a Yoga teacher after experiencing two burnouts.

Art was always there. What was missing was a connection to the environment through drawing and painting, and that’s what turns this into a mission. Now is the time.

My Nature is more than just a project: it’s my life’s mission, rooted in the Atlantic Forest, where I live. Through painting and drawing, I’ll explore the landscape around me and the one within, in search of presence, truth, and the sublime that lives in both.

Thank you for being here at the beginning! ❤️

🎥 My Nature playlist:    • My Nature  

🎥 Watch the plein-air sketch I've made after this video:    • Why Paint in Nature?  

📷 All nature photos and videos by me and my husband, Pedro Stabile.

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:13 My Story
03:30 Working as a Graphic Designer
04:10 Burnout
05:27 Yoga Teaching
06:16 Moving to the Country
08:21 Connecting with Nature
09:14 Inspired by Margaret Mee
10:20 My Favorite Bromeliad
12:07 Go to Nature!
12:31 Art as a Connection to Nature
13:02 My Nature, My Mission
14:48 Will You Join Me?

📚 Books featured in the video:
– "Bicicleta: a Cara do Rio", by Julio Lopes, published by Reptil, 2010. https://amzn.to/3Ic3yOU
– "Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Theory and Technique", by Renzo and Royler Gracie, published by Invisible Cities Press LLC, 2001.
– "A Flor e o Espinho: A violência contra a mulher no Rio de Janeiro", by Lia Caldas (me!), unpublished, my project for ESDI/UERJ, 2001.
– "Margaret Lee: uma mulher e a mata atlântica", exhibition catalog, published by MASP, 1992.

Affiliate Disclosure
This video is NOT sponsored. Some links are affiliate links, which means that, at no extra cost to you, I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them. Thank you for supporting my art!

Thanks for watching! You might also enjoy:
🌿 Patreon:   / liacaldas  
💌 Letters from the Forest: https://newsletter.liacaldas.art/
🌟 Instagram:   / liacaldas  
🎥 TikTok:   / lia.caldas  
🌐 Website: https://liacaldas.art

🎥 All my videos:    • Videos by Lia  

#BotanicalArt #NatureArt #NatureArtist