One of the Danforth’s newest instructors, Colleen Colvin @thinkingbearherbal , captures and creates jewelry out of the herbs she grows in her garden and then enjoys the same herbs in her cup of tea. To her the plants are like good friends with personalities and she gets to know them in this way. Colleen is an herbalist by trade, and mixed-medium artist working in Framingham who has worked in plant medicine over 12 years and has even sold her products. However, her real passion is teaching about the herbs she’s come to know and love so well.
In her words: “By educating others about the plants indigenous to their own neighborhoods, we actually cultivate a sense of belonging with the land. We spark new awareness of the natural world, and affect a sense of responsibility and connection with one another.” Schedule of workshops with Colleen Colvin:
April 12: Taking Tea
May 18: In Your Backyard: Healing Herbs
May 21: Draw and Heal with Herbs
Learn more by clicking the link in our story or by clicking the link in our bio to visit our website. #danforthartframingham #danforthartmuseum #danforthartschool #framinghamstateuniversity #framinghamma #metrowestma #herbalist #herbalmagic
COMING UP AT THE DANFORTH: A MINI-CLASS AND TWO WORKSHOPS AT THE ART SCHOOL!
Floriography: Decoding and Drawing Plants
A 4-Week Class with Colleen Colvin @thinkingbearherbal
May 12 - June 2  from 12:30-3:30pm
In this new 4-week class, students will explore the ways that various plants have been imbued with meaning and even used to convey messages across time and culture. Students will participate in a live botanical study and create observational drawings of various plants, practicing techniques to capture nuance and details of the plants in colored pencil and other drawing media.
Herbal Salves with Colleen Colvin
May 9 from 10am-12pm
Join local herbalist Colleen Colvin and explore the ways herbs can be our allies for emotional, holistic and aesthetic tranquility. Learn about the benefits of these medicinal plants and how they can help us improve our lives. This workshop for adults offers a healing space for herbal monograph journaling, followed by hands-on blending of herbs to create personalized healing salves to take home.
Branching Out: A Drawing Workshop with Susan Bauer
May 16 from 10am-4pm
Tree branches will our be our inspiration in this workshop, where students will create dynamic compositions utilizing the linear and twisting nature of the branches. We will discuss the elements of design; line, value, texture, color, shape and principles of design: harmony, variety, balance, proportion, dominance, movement and economy. Composition will play a large part of our exploration, examining how to arrange tree branches within the picture plane. The formal practice of drawing will also be explored through demonstrations by the instructor @susanbauerart Visit the link in our bio or click the registration link in our story to sign up today! #danforthartschool #danforthartframingham #branches #herbalsalve #floriography
Join us at The Danforth Art Museum for a wonderful 4 week course — May 12th through June 2nd. As we explore the meaning and messages behind plants and flowers. Exploring the hidden meanings of the botanical world. Sign up on the Danforth website for spring classes! We are meeting Tuesdays 12:30-3:30. Seats still available!
Persist. Resist. Be the medicine.
Dandelion medicine is a powerful ally for those of us who feel hopeless. Whether we’re supporting the body’s filters (liver and kidneys) or trying to lift the spirit, or nourishing the body after feeling exhausted and depleted. The presence of dandelion in our lives can remind us to remain resilient in the face of change and hardship. The hopeful little yellow blossoms echo a sentiment of ungovernable joy and the indomitable spirit.
#diyherbal #dandelion #persistence #uplifting #resilience
My best friend is a genius herbalist, and quite frankly, a magician. Her healing salve is sorcery. I got myself a GNARLY burn. I started using her healing salve 2 days later. The pic on the left is the morning I started using it. The pic on the right is just 1 week later. Thank you for the magic as always, @thinkingbearherbal 🥰
So much can be said for the hand crafts that have us sit or join each other in a circle. The crafts that occupy us while we talk about our lives and connect. The gentle arts that focus us and regulate our nervous system. I love the crafts where we can help each other with an extra hand. Spinning, weaving, binding, knitting, sewing, grinding, painting. Working with plants can do this for us. The processing of natural materials— making of art pieces or medicine is a medicinal act in itself. During this class we remarked to each other how it felt so therapeutic to have this time to focus and breathe in the herbs and be creative. For some it felt like the most relaxed they had been all month.
This feels symptomatic of the American reality right now. It’s always a blessing to come together in joyous purpose and leave behind the static of our day.
Photo credit: @eyeswideshuttered
#artismedicine #plantmedicines #artmeditation #handcrafting #diyherbalism #herbalcommunity #broommaking #communitylove #mindfulart #artisforeveryone
Broomcorn can be bound with wax string to make a cascaded fan. The splay of the broom is provided by the gradual piece step separation of the bundle and continuous binding.
Hearth brooms are useful for dusting and clearing the ash away from your cooking fires. Cleaning crumbs and clearing cobwebs. A beautiful piece to display in the home.
Photo credit: @eyeswideshuttered
#hearthbroom #handcraftedbrooms #warmspices #novembercrafts #harvestfestival #herbalartists #dyiherbalmedicine #traditionalcrafts #aromaticspices #aromatics #sage #orangepeel #cypress #lavenderbundles
The stunning besoms reflected the vibrancy of autumn! Eucalyptus and cypress sprigs mingled with sage branches and chamomile. Orange and cinnamon warmed the room and we celebrated the most beautiful colors nature had to offer.
Photo credit: @eyeswideshuttered
#autumnbrooms #herbalmedicine #cinnamonbrooms #besoms #autumntraditions #broommaking #jumpthebroom #clearing #harvestseason #herbaldiy #herbalarts #respiratoryhealth #eucalyptus
The beautiful blending of birch and chamomile, lavender and cypress. The bundles for our Herbal Broom Making workshop at the @danforthartframingham last month. What an amazing class. The scent of cinnamon filled the air as we discussed the historic importance of brooms as symbols of the home and commitment.
Photo courtesy of @eyeswideshuttered
#besoms #brooms #broommakingworkshop #herbalbrooms #herbaldiy #herbalismisforeveryone #herbalart #artinnature #chamomile #cypress #birch #lavenderbundles #cinnamon #sorghum #broomcorn
IT’S THE PERFECT EVENT TO PREPARE FOR HALLOWEEN!
Join local herbalist Colleen Colvin @thinkingbearherbal for an Herbal Broom Making Workshop at the Danforth on Saturday, October 25 from 10 AM to 4 PM.
Create decorative besoms from local plants while learning about the medicinal qualities of the materials they use. Illustrate the herbs learned about and take home a stunning creation for the fall season. This event is part of the Danforth’s Tranquility and Connection series. Stay tuned for more programming from this series.
Click the link in our bio to visit our website or the registration link in our story to register today! #danforthartframingham #danforthartmuseum #danforthartschool #framinghamstateuniversity #metrowestboston #broommaking #herbalbrooms @visitmetrowest
Sambucus nigra, Elder berry
The cold and flu season ally! The herbal friend that disarms viral spikes! Come join me September 27th at @danforthartframingham as we discuss plants like Elder and the important relationships medicinal plants have held with people throughout time.
(Head to the Danforth website for registration for the adult workshops!)
#printmaking #linocut #herbalprints #diyherbalism #sambucusnigra #elderberry #herbalsolidarity #practicalherbalism #framinghamarts #massachusettsherbalism #herbalenthusiasts
