My name is Jess Van Baalen and I am an artist from Cornwall.  I work with drawing and moving image to explore my connection to the natural world and my own spiritual practise.  I often work on creating narratives and a peaceful atmosphere within my pieces, inviting viewers into a separate world – one away from the busyness and stress of everyday life.

Spirit of the Forest

My first piece is a short narrative as part of a project named “Spirit of the Forest”, within which, I took inspiration from the energy and power that resides within woodland, the spirits of the trees and the inexplicable force of the forest.  Inspired by the Mud Maid of The Lost Gardens of Heligan and other pieces of literature that I have collected, I explored the feeling that I get when I am surrounded by forest and the desire to sink into it.  I have spent a lot of my life surrounded by nature, and coming from Cornwall, a place full of folklore and mystery, the forest and the trees have always had a personality to them.  For me, energy and spirit flow through the forest – I felt it when I was a child, searching for fairies in the woods, and I feel it now when the trees are above me. Whether it be Mother Nature, the trees themselves or just my imagination, this feeling is an important part of my life.

Grounding to Mother Earth

My second piece is a guided meditation, paired with animations as a visual aid to the script.  The practise focuses on grounding to the earth and calming the mind. The piece can be watched or listened to, the meditation being best completed outside. Grounding is a technique that has been proven to have significant health benefits. By reconnecting the Earth’s and the bodies electrical currents, it can help lessen the effects of issues like anxiety and depression, and reduce inflammation in the body.  This animation can be used to take a moment for yourself, connect with Mother Earth, and relax.

Drawing the Natural World

This is a series of drawings from Stanmer Park in Brighton, a place that I have spent a lot of time in and brings me great comfort.