2.8 Punam Sanghrajka: Skyscapes and Art as Meditation
Hello!
Welcome to series 2, episode 8 of Prompted by Nature. I hope you’re well! This week it feels like the weather has turned down here on the South Coast, with the first frost arrived a few days ago and the temperature taking a dip. I’m personally loving it as I adore the long nights and frosty mornings. We’ve just gone into lockdown again here in England so all but my online and one-to-one work is off so I’m getting stuck into more writing and taking any opportunity to keep myself well by getting outside.
So today, you’ll be hearing my conversation with the wonderful Punam Sanghrajka, a modern abstract nature artist inspired by her Kenyan roots. I first came across Punam’s art on Instagram and was immediately taken by the overall mood of her feed - soft, gentle and calming, with some of the most beautiful sky and seascapes I’ve seen
As a child, Punam was surrounded by beautiful scenery, breathtaking nature and colours you can only imagine and this influences everything she creates as she brings the simplicity but boldness of colour into her work. Punam believes that Nature has the wonderful ability to transport the viewer away from everyday life and into their own magical space and her aim is to help you feel a little of the magic that Kenya & the African landscape gave me. As you’ll hear, Punam works in a way that she calls ‘structured abstract’ and works with brushes and palette knives, using colour and texture to bring the work to life. When you see her work, Punam wants you to take a moment and get lost in what you see. To stop, take a breath and let a memory come to life… Something from your childhood, a moment shared with a loved one, a holiday, anything that allows you to take a step back from your everyday life and pause. She wants you to feel nostalgic for something special – just like she does when she’s creating.
In this conversation we discuss:
Her work and the inspiration behind it
Her Kenyan roots
How the 100 day project helped her to reconnect with, refine and redefine her art
Her connection with the sky Her first memory of nature Her concept of ‘structured abstract’
The power of the ‘silent conversation’
Her work as an anchor point for meditation
How she looks after herself and her creativity
Her creative process
What she has learnt on her journey and her hope for the future
For me, this conversation was such a tonic for the times that we’re in right now. Punam’s words reminded me to slow down and appreciate what’s above my head, not just beneath my feet.
You can Punam on the squares @artbypunam or on her website www.artbypunam.com where you can buy her work and enquire about a commission. She’s currently selling some beautiful winter-inspired wooden hangings and I highly recommend getting lost for a bit in her gorgeous work.
As always, I’m @prompted.by.nature on Insta and www.promptedbynature.co.ukwhere you can find more information about my new online nature-inspired meditation and creative writing sessions, which happen every Monday. You can find all the details for that in the events section of the website - I hope you can join me! I’ve also opened up some one-to-one slots if you are local and want to get outside and creating with me. Just pop to the ‘work with me’ section on my website for more information.
Remember to stick around until after the episode when I’ll give you a hint at the meditation and writing prompt that follows this conversation. Happy listening, and I’ll speak to you after.
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In this meditation and writing prompt I invite you to get yourself into an outdoor space, or somewhere you can see the sky, to spend time gazing softly at the passing clouds, the shifting light and the creatures that dwell in that space.
In this explanation I mention the free meditations that now sit on my website. You can find them here: www.promptedbynature.co.uk/free-meditations I hope they are of use.
I'd love to hear how you get on.
Enjoy!
Helen x
