Words Megan Lyon
Jennifer Duval-Smith, the botanical artist behind the fennel watercolour illustration gracing our spring cover, was delighted to work with Nourish again. Previously, Jennifer had been approached by editor Vicki Ravlich-Horan to design Nourish: The Cookbook 2 which went on to win an international award for cover design. Although outside her realm of botanicals, the two came up with the idea of wooden cooking spoons.
“They have that lovely wood grain aspect too,” says Jennifer. “I felt that the cookbook itself had some very treasured recipes in it and would be the kind of cookbook to become food splattered with time and overuse.”
So began Jennifer’s quest to find spoons from some of the best cooks in her acquaintance. She was drawn to spoons that have had a good long life rather than a tough life. Included are her mum’s jam spoon, and one from Lynda Hallinan who photographed her favourite spoon and told Jennifer to ignore the dog hair!
“It was a funny exercise because people are emotionally attached to their favourite spoon and remember where or how they got it. They all have particular purposes and it did feel like a lovely story. And soon the spoons felt like sisters all lining up there.”
Jennifer’s trajectory of becoming an artist was not straightforward, although her grandmother was a landscape watercolourist and her own mother is obsessed with colour and clouds. “I came late to my profession, and I hope that my story shows that anybody can find and embrace their own creativity.”
Jennifer trained in law, which morphed into marketing, events and public relations, roles which all demand attention to detail, engaging with people and creative problem solving. These qualities are ones she finds very useful as an artist and nature journalling educator today. However, a very demanding corporate life in tandem with raising three lively boys had her questioning whether she was living according to her true values of nature, creativity and connection.
“In my family we were always encouraged to notice and name small and subtle details in nature. In working out where I needed to be, I noticed that quietly observing and recording was where I felt most like myself. My first school report said, ‘Jennifer looks for subtle complications,’ and I think it has always been true.”
In 2013 the sale of their PR business meant that she could focus on her creativity and living and working in a way that felt more authentic. During a family campervan trip around the South Island she began to experiment with watercolour sketches of natural subjects and a major step forward was the 100 Day project challenge. She credits this initiative, whereby participants create a small painting over this time period, as helping her to break through some preconceived notions. “For any would-be creative, the accountability structure of the 100 Day project forces you to get over yourself and produce something whether good, bad or indifferent. It also helped me over the barrier of allowing my work to be seen by the public.”
Jennifer decided to see what would happen if she were to experiment with painting, which she had been doing in a private capacity. In 2018 she answered the call by Auckland Botanical Gardens to submit a painting of a native New Zealand plan for the Botanical Art Worldwide exhibition. Entering her painting of rewarewa ‘Seven Sisters’ also connected her to a group of supportive artists working in the realm of the natural world.
Jennifer successfully applied for the artist in residence position at the Auckland Botanic Gardens, focusing on her first love, which is edible plants. During this residency Jennifer’s mindset shifted. “I began to think of myself more as an artist as opposed to somebody who paints.”
While working towards her exhibition she was available for people to look and talk to during the week and to run workshops which, with her background in marketing, was familiar territory, but she was surprised at how much she enjoyed her role as an educator. She worked out that by pairing people together, such as carers with children, by focusing on the nature journalling element that this was an accessible and lovely way to learn.
As Jennifer’s own art practice has developed, she is aware of not being too prescriptive, acknowledging that many people have grown up with the idea of perfectionism, particularly women. “I’ve definitely come down that line and I broke away from it, so my idea is that there are many ways to do things. Some of those ways are good enough. You do not make yourself safe by sticking to the rules.”
She has taken this lesson and imported it to her life and finds the freedom that it has created has seen her learn and explore more and ultimately be more pleased with the results. “Everybody has their own individual artistic voice. They just need to be encouraged to express it. Seeing people take this step and find their joy in the process, rather than being critical of the result, is the ultimate inspiration for me. Moments of insight and a shared sense of wonder – these are the reasons I do this work.”
Jennifer runs workshops for anyone who is interested in exploring botanical art and nature journalling. Sign up for her newsletter at jenniferduval-smith.com
UPCOMING WORKSHOP AT THE FALLS RETREAT
Take a moment to reconnect with nature, food and your own creativity!
Nature journalling workshop and lunch in the organic vegetable garden at The Falls Retreat.
Treat yourself to a relaxing and fun nature journalling workshop culminating in a delicious shared seasonal lunch, featuring ingredients straight from The Falls Retreat’s lovingly tended organic vegetable plot and seasonal produce from local farmers and growers. Let botanical artist Jennifer Duval-Smith guide you through the surprisingly simple and rewarding practice of nature journalling. Relax and enjoy this restorative creative activity in an abundant culinary garden overflowing with visual inspiration
Sunday 22 September 2024, The Falls Retreat, Waihi.
jenniferduval-smith.com
