Connecting to nature
Connecting to self

Welcome!

Nature-inspired Art Classes, Arts Therapy & Wellbeing Workshops at the Nature Creative studio, with Tanya!

I am a Bachelor's Degree qualified Creative Arts Psychotherapist (Art Therapist, BAT), a Visual Artist, and a qualified Trainer with experience in Naturopathy, Aromatherapy, and event Management.

I am also employed through a wellbeing service as a primary school trauma-informed Art Therapist.

With current certificates & clearances, I'm a nurturing mother of two and have a passion for connecting children to nature and connecting adults to themselves - I'm talking to you, busy mums!

Nurture and heal with a guided art therapy process, or have fun whilst learning and applying new skills.

At Nature Creative no prior experience is necessary, as everyone is an artist!

I look forward to supporting you or your child on a creative, health and healing journey.

For enquiries including the exact location of the art studio, surrounded by nature near Belair National Park (11kms south of Adelaide CBD), please get in contact!

About

Art Classes

All ages! No prior experience necessary.

Learn and apply new skills and techniques, explore different art mediums and enjoy the fun and relaxing benefits of creativity.

Nature-inspired creative crafts and art classes for kids 5-9 & 10-14. Weekly Kids Art Club during school terms.
Beginners/ intermediate art sessions for teens and adults.
Wellness workshops focused on health, wellbeing and environmental sustainability.
Paint parties available for all ages!

Learn More

Services

Arts Psychotherapy

Creative Arts Psychotherapy, known as Art Therapy, is an evidence-based psychotherapeutic approach that prompts self-enquiry through creative expression. This healing process guides one towards personal growth and well-being in ways that traditional talk therapies cannot. A wide range of visual and creative art media; nature, sand, clay, movement, sound, drama and play, is explored to observe emotions and behaviours as they appear to consciousness.

Break old thought patterns and find new insights to reach therapeutic goals. Please note that art is not interpreted, and you do not need to be good at art to use art therapy; healing is in the process, not the end product.

WELCOMING NEW CLIENTS 2025

NDIS plan or self-managed accepted.

Learn More

Nature Creative Kids Art Club has been loving learning about #burmatheelephant 🐘 💚 who has recently travelled from NZ Auckland Zoo to Monarto

🐘 Burma (42 y.o.) is the first elephant to arrive at the park’s new world-class 12ha elephant habitat
🐘 She will be joined over the coming year by four other elephants: female Permai (33) and male Putra Mas (33) from Perth Zoo, and females Pak Boon (31) and Tang Mo (25) from Taronga Zoo Sydney.
🐘 Burma is named after the country she was born in now called Myanmar
🐘 When she was 8yo she moved from a logging camp to NZ to live with an older female elephant, Kashin. Kashin passed 2yrs ago. Her move to Monarto means that she will spend the rest of her life in a herd 💚
🐘 Burma is a lovely gentle elephant & although still playful she is less energetic & mischievous in her middle age

* Burma came out of quarantine yesterday, you can now book tickets to see her these school holidays! *

Saturday Art Club also created illustrations from her photos or step by step instructions, depending on their skill level. They designed what her enclosure should look like. They then used mixed media of oil pastel, watercolour & sharpie to produce these absolutely beautiful Burmas! 🐘💚

#kidsartclub #kidscreate #adelaidehills #adelaidekids #adelaidekidsartclass #adelaideartclassesforkids #artclub #artteachersofinstagram #monarto #monartozoo #aucklandzoo

Nature Creative Kids Art Club has been loving following the journey of #burmatheelephant 🐘 💚

She has made her way from NZ Auckland Zoo to Monarto @zoossa & has been cooling off with giant sized ice blocks until visitors can come & see her at her wonderful new safari enclosure.

* Burma gets out of quarantine today! *
I can't wait to meet her!

Friday Art Club created illustrations from her photos. Some chose to follow step by step instructions, depending on their skill level. They designed what her enclosure should look like. They then used mixed media of oil pastel, watercolour & sharpie to produce these adorable, happy Burmas! 🐘💚

#kidsartclub #kidscreate #adelaidehills #adelaidekids #adelaidekidsartclass #adelaideartclassesforkids #artclub #artteachersofinstagram #monarto #monartozoo #aucklandzoo

Dear Arty Community,

Many of you know how clear I am about the differences between Nature Creative's Arts Therapy service & Art Classes. For this reason families decide on one or the other, depending on their needs.

I run an ethical practice & therefore rarely post about Arts Therapy due to respect for client confidentiality, so let me explain this service a little more..

Arts Therapy is an evidence based form of Psychotherapy. It's not an art class & an art class is not therapy, despite its many benefits...
🤔 At this point, a visual might help 😵‍💫 Please scroll across!

You may have heard about some proposed changes to the NDIS recently that will greatly reduce accessibility of Arts Therapies & Music Therapy across the nation (which are just 0.03% of NDIS annual expenditure).

NDIS statements regarding the value of Arts Therapies were made with inadequate understanding of the profession & without research or consultation with an advisory board. More concerningly, without consultation with participants on their wishes for the service to continue based on their lived experience of Arts Therapies.

It was the positive outcomes of Art Therapy, Play Therapy & Drama Therapy over the years for our autistic son that inspired me to become an Arts Therapist. As well as a Bachelor Degree qualified Arts Psychotherapist (registered with ANZACATA), I am also a mother who depends on the NDIS for the funding of my child's creative therapies. I understand it is the best way for him to communicate, express, process, & integrate his experiences, which therefore increase his functional capacity, a key NDIS goal.

Thats why I'm pushing back as an NDIS participant & therapist in the hope that the decision can be rectified & Arts Therapies can be better understood 🤞

What can we do?

Please sign & share the following petition;

https://www.change.org/p/creative-and-experiential-therapies-belong-in-the-ndis
👆Link in Bio

Please feel free to DM me for more information, for support or for other ways to ensure your voice is heard!

Thank you for helping to save Arts Therapies within the NDIS 💚🙏

#shamendisshame #ndisarttherapy
#arttherapy
#arttherapybelongsinthendis

Acrylic pour paintings @ Kids Art Club! ✨️💎

I run this class annually & its always a favourite.
You never know how the canvas will turn out!
Always inspired by nature, we studied crystal geodes in preparation & learned how these amazing volcanic rock formations have air pockets with crystallised minerals that create colour:
Chronium/Nikel = green 💚
Manganese = pink 🩷
Iron = purple 💜
Titanium = blue 💙

We added diamonds, rock salts & posa touch-ups. These little artists were thrilled with their results!

#kidscreate #kidsartclub #natureconnection #natureclub #naturecreative #adelaidekidsartclass #adelaideartclassesforkids #adelaidemumsinbusiness #artteachersofinstagram #acrylicpouringkids

🔮 Crystal geode study @
Nature Creative Kids Art Club 🔮

In inspiration for our acrylic canvases, we studied crystal geodes, learning how different minerals create different colours within volcanic rock formations.
We replicated the patterns using white oil pastel, graphic ink markers, water-based markers, brushed with water & glitter glue ✨️

The repetative controlled process was very calming on the nervous system, similar to a mandala. A nice balance to an acrylic paint pour - the second half of this class - see next post!

#crystalart
#crystalgeode #adelaidekidsartclass #adelaideartclassesforkids #natureart #natureconnection #natureclub #artteachersofinstagram

@explore_nature_creative_
Art Club Kids shining bright like diamonds for our crystal geode paint pouring class 💜💎✨️

#naturecreative #adelaideartclassesforkids #adelaidekidsartclass #artteachersofinstagram #artclassesforchildren #artclub #samumsinbusiness #adelaidehills #paintpouring

If this might be your Christmas present, don't look!! 🙈

Gifts hand-made with love are the best kind 💚
Jewellery or coin bowls created by the wonderful Nature Creative Art Club kids...

Clay nature press, watercolour, gold & silver posca & modge podge 🍃 🐚✨️

#natureart #airdryclay #naturecreative #adelaideartclasses #adelaideartclassesforkids #samumsinbusiness #naturecrafts #natureconnection #natureclub #adelaidehills #adelaidekidsartclass #kidscreate #kidsartclub

The latest smiles from our Kids Art Club crystal geode study paint pouring class! Happiness is in the pictures that speak 1000 words of creativity & connection to self 💚🫶

Note: Some artists found this process quite challenging as you can't really control the paint. Together, we co-regulated through the discomfort & ALL artists were happy with the outcome as a result! Although this was not an art therapy session, this is a small example of what an art therapist might do in a session to help combat perfectionism (after careful consideration for when the timing is right, safely led by the client).

Kids Art Club is fully booked for the year.
Please reach out if you'd like to be placed on the wait list for 2025. With an additional 10-14yo Tween Art Club starting, more space may be available for Kids Art Club aged 6-10yo.
Enrollment opens late January.
DM me with your email address or send your interest to explore@naturecreative.com.au 💚🙏

There's never a dull moment at Nature Creative Kids Art Club!

Whilst artists took turns painting their clay last week, they were super busy upcycling! ♻️

Using egg cartons, they created all kinds of spooky characters & loved the freedom of the craft table. There were lots of giggles as characters came to life 🕷🎃🧟‍♂️🧙‍♀️👻

*craft inspired by www.mimosasandmotherhood.com 💚

So proud of Nature Creative Kids Art Club artists who produced 25 x spooky ghosts for Halloween creativity & fun 👻

This was a super technical process & I wasn't sure if all the ghosties would survive... air dry clay was warmed, rolled, cut to size, draped over a paper cup & ping pong ball, put into a 'haunted house' & squirted with glow in the dark paints for a 'treat' (& a 'trick' tomato sauce bottle)..... phew 😅

But here they are, dried & ready to take home with their electric t-lights this week! Amazing work little artists 💚

#halloweenart #artclub #adelaideartclasses #adelaideartclassesforkids #adelaideartclassesforkids #teachersofinstagram #airdryclay

Spooky glow in the dark ghosts for 2024 Halloween @explore_nature_creative_ Kids Art Club! 👻

Soooo much fun creating our ghosts from scratch using air dry clay, before placing them in the 'haunted house' for glow in the dark paint pouring! They light up with an electric T- light that makes a super fun night light! Happy Halloweeeeeeen 👻🕷🎃💚

#naturecreative #adelaideartclassesforkids #adelaidekidsartclass #artteachersofinstagram #artclassesforchildren #artclub #samumsinbusiness #airdryclay

Nature Creative Art Club starts Term 4 each year with the Aussie Bird Count! 🐦🐦‍⬛

Returning with a mindfulness practice of birdwatching; connecting to nature through our senses to calm the nervous system...

The annual Aussie Bird Count #aussiebirdcount
collects data for scientific observation & conservation purposes. Kids can get involved with the super easy & fun app that helps you identify the bird you have spotted!

Saturay Art Club's birdwatching tally:
Duration: 7 minutes
Observers: 10
Sightings:
Galah × 3
Rainbow Lorikeet × 2
Australian Magpie × 7
Noisy Miner × 1
Common Blackbird × 1

Think of birds as a barometer for ecological balance, as their numbers, health & wellbeing are one of nature's best indicators... the Nature Creative studio is a thriving natural environment!

We created this years bird artworks with inspiration from the #1 most sighted bird; the Rainbow Lorikeet 🌈 🦜
Artists learned an acronym to never forget the natural order of a rainbow - ROYGBIV - taught to me by my grandmother when I was a little girl 💚

There was so much personality in each cartoon character, inspired by #angrybirds .
Painted in waterrcoloured rainbow order then finished with black fine tip pen for such professional looking results!
They are all so unique& fun!!

#aussiebirdcount
#naturecreative
#adelaidekidsartclass
#samumsinbusiness
#artteachersofinstagram
#adelaideartclassesforkids
#natureart #natureconnection #natureclub #adelaidehills #adelaidekidsartclass #adelaidemumsinbusiness

Term 4 is back in full swing with Art Club artists & Art Therapy clients...

Did you know that I offer Arts Psychotherapy?
But what is Art Therapy & how is it different to an Art Class? 🤔

‼️Art Therapy is VERY different to an Art Class.
The great content attached by @mycreativevoice shows a clear comparison.

In an intermodal Art Therapy session, you might talk, not talk, create, journal, play, move, sing, dance, act... There are endless ways for a client to express their feelings & I welcome them all with unconditional positive regard 💚

Creativity comes in many different forms & artistic expression looks like many different things... that's why Arts Psychotherapy is often client led, a safe space for you to innately pick the medium or modality that you need to explore your healing. And no, you don't need to be 'good' at art to do this!!

Not all feelings are pleasant, & that's OK.
I'm here to safely go to the uncomfortable with you, as sometimes, we have to be uncomfortable, or we would never move and grow as have become 'stuck'.

Only YOU are the expert in healing yourself, I just guide you in how to access your healing process and support you through your journey of self-enquiry & empowerment.

Contact me if you are interested in learning more about Art Therapy or to go onto the wait list for 2025💚🌱

School holiday art, learning & fun. Co-creating with some very clever horses that paint! @alkira_adina_equestrian 💚 🐎

Here's my awesome little guy getting to know Dani & Bella as they will be helping him with some maths tutoring this term*

How? Horses are very affective for slowing us down & regulating our nervous system. Whilst being in the natural environment engages our senses to be more in the here & now. Only when we're present & regulated do we have the ability to learn & integrate new knowledge.

This is experiential learning at its best! 🙌

* Photos shared with permission

#alkiraadinaequestrian #natureart #adelaidehills #artwithhorses

Nature Creative partnered again these school holidays with @carrick_hill for this year's @naturefestivalsa

With a delightful spring theme to encourage the Awe & Wonder of Nature!

Our second event is always a hit for all ages - Pressed Flower Lanterns 🌸💚 This session began with a nature visualisation & mindful walk through the flower garden to enhance awe & wonder. Using recycled glass jars & the preserved colour and beauty of pressed spring flowers, we then created magical lands, lit up with imagination! These make wonderful night lights! ✨️🌙

It was such a pleasure to meet so many wonderful new artists at this sold out event & to spend a few days creating in this beautiful, calming environment. Thank you to all whom attended & to magnificent Carrick Hill for having me 🙏🌸

#naturecrafts
#naturejournal #natureart #naturefestival #naturejournaling #natureconnection #natureclub #naturecreative #carrickhill #adelaidehills #adelaidekidsartclass #adelaideartclassesforkids #adelaideartclasses #adelaidemumsinbusiness #samumsinbusiness

It's a magical process creating 'Enchanted Gardens' @explore_nature_creative_ Kids Art Club! ✨️🌱🫶

Starting the school holidays with self care & Spring renewal @four.seasons.yoga, my favourite nature wellbeing studio. Gratitude for such a beautiful, wholesome & nurturing 'Spring Soul' retreat 💚🙏

Featuring a gentle/Restorative Yoga practice; guided meditation; partner shiatsu massage; garden walk; nature art mandalas; sound healing session by the phenomenal Chris Tom’s of @harmonic_essence; afternoon tea as well as the most delicious and nutritious food prepared lovingly by Leah from @thecentreofki

What a perfect way to nourish our mind, body and soul...

Self care is not self indulgent. It is an essential gift as we can not co-regulate others before we have mindfully attuned to & regulated ourselves 🌸🫶

Saturday Nature Creative Art Club Kids finishing Term 3 with 'Enchanted Gardens' on canvas...

These sensational little artists pieced together all they have learned this term to create a magical garden inspired by nature & their imaginations ✨️💚 🌿 There was also talk of 'Ben & Holly's Little Kingdom' inspiration! 👑

After they drew the illustration characters they have been practising, they spent time in the Nature Creative gardens, sketching a background, focusing on 3D composition. They added critters from our bug class, then painted in quality acrylics, learning tone & shade for depth.

We learned that detailed artworks take time & patience for layers to dry. A big project to continue to be worked on (for those that wish to) over the school holidays.

I am so proud of my very talented artists this term & always 🫶

#natureart #natureclub #naturecreative #adelaidekidsartclass #adelaideartclassesforkids #kidscreate #kidscraftclub #kidsartclass #artteachersofinstagram #kidsartclub

Finishing Term 3 at Nature Creative Kids Art Club with Friday's 'Enchanted Gardens' on canvas...

These amazing little artists pieced together all they have learned this term to create a magical garden inspired by nature & their imaginations ✨️💚 🌿

After they drew the illustration characters they had practised, they spent time in the Nature Creative gardens, sketching in the background, focusing on 3D composition. They added critters from our bug class, then painted in quality acrylics, learning tone & shade for depth. Some artists even added Golden Wattle!

We learned that detailed artworks take time & patience for layers to dry. A big project that can contine to be worked on (for those that wish to) over the school holidays.

I am so proud of my very talented artists this term & always 🫶

#natureart #natureclub #naturecreative #adelaidekidsartclass #adelaideartclassesforkids #kidscreate #kidscraftclub #kidsartclass #artteachersofinstagram #kidsartclub

Continuing my Expressive Arts Psychotherapist Professional Development with the amazing Lisa Dion herself of @synergeticplaytherapy & the creator of my favourite podcast - Lessons from the playroom 🌈💚

A beautiful day of training in the Adelaide Botanic Gardens to build on Developing Interoception: The Pre-req for Co-Regulation & Self-Regulation in the Playroom & Mindfulness in Play Therapy.

I had the pleasure of joining my wonderful Art Therapist colleagues from @connectedself & therapists from all over Australia to build on some of the most important foundational scaffolds of our work as therapists...

We deeply attuned to ourselves to discover & integrate the importance of our own interoceptive awareness (our bodies internal senses) to best support a child's conscious awareness & understanding of their inner worlds 💚

Here's some more absolutely magical completed illustrations from the sensational Saturday Art Club students 🧚‍♀️✨️ 🧚‍♂️

Can you believe Art Club Kids are aged 6-10yo? They are so talented! 💚

Following our children's book illustration study where we learned to draw Gnomes, Elves & Faeries, artists spent time in the Nature Creative gardens to create flora that was larger than their characters & therefore gave the illusion they were small. They went over the sketching they wished to keep with black fine liner, rubbed out what they didn't need. They then learned shading techniques as they coloured with Derwents pencils.

This lesson prepared them for their major canvas projects... watch this space for a magically enchanted end of term!

#natureart #natureclub #naturecreative #artclub #artclassesforchildren #artclassesforkids #adelaideartclasses #adelaidekidsartclass #adelaidemumsinbusiness #adelaidehills #artteachersofinstagram #artclassesforchildren #natureconnection

Here they are, absolutely magical completed illustrations from the sensational Friday Art Club students 🧚‍♀️✨️ 🧚‍♂️

Can you believe Art Club Kids are aged 6-10yo? I am in awe of their talent 💚

Following our children's book illustration study where we learned to draw Gnomes, Elves & Faeries, artists spent time in the Nature Creative gardens to create flora that was larger than their characters & therefore gave the illusion they were small. They went over the sketching they wished to keep with black fine liner, rubbed out what they didn't need. They then learned shading techniques as they coloured with Derwents pencils.

This lesson prepared them for their major canvas projects... watch this space for a magically enchanted end of term!

#natureart #natureclub #naturecreative #artclub #artclassesforchildren #artclassesforkids #adelaideartclasses #adelaidekidsartclass #adelaidemumsinbusiness #adelaidehills #artteachersofinstagram #artclassesforchildren #natureconnection

Many Kids Art Club students discovered their love of art through drawing. I was the same... So when my students requested drawing Elves & Faeries, I was excited!

I thought about my favourite childhood illustrator Brian Froud (you may remember him as the design illustrator from 'The Labyrinth' & 'The Dark Crystal') & our children's book illustration class was underway!

We began with a sketch lesson, practising holding the pencil further away & loosely to enable sketching techniques that can be rubbed out after. We shaded from light to dark, adding cross hatching. We learned that different leds will deliver different results from 6B-B for bolder colour & HB-5H for a harder led, hence softer colour.

Inspired by Frouds incredible work, students then followed my steps to learn how to draw Gnomes, Elves & Faeries & they absolutely blew me away with their illustration talent 🤩

💚 Next post is a must-see for finished results as they drew garden around their characters, inspired by nature & added colour 💚

#brianfroud #brianfroudfaeries #naturecreative #artclub #artclassesforchildren #artclassesforkids #artteachersofinstagram

A sneak peak into what the Nature Creative Art Club students have been up to now Spring has sprung! In preparation for their major canvas artworks this term...

Children love botanical drawing in nature, as they understand we are not separate to nature, we are nature! I am always fascinated by how quickly their little nervous systems are soothed & regulted when they begin to engage their senses and focus on present moment beauty all around them. Children that struggle to be still immediately slow down & stay focused until their time is up! Such a simple but evidence based activity for optimal health & wellbeing for all ages...

Try it with your child these school holidays or book into Nature Creatives Botanical Drawing class @carrick_hill for the @naturefestivalsa
On the 10th of October
Just 4 tickets left!

Saturday Art Club Kids used their marbled collage paper to create these incredible Bugs, Beetles & Insects, inspired by local Bugs of Belair National Park photography by @mariannebroug & NYC artist @carolinekaufman colourful collage beetles 🪲

Caroline Kaufman is known for her experimental textiles, prints & playful textures & patterns. Through her craft, she examines nostalgic childhood methods of creating, bringing daydreams to life!

Drawing, designing, cutting the right sized shapes & sticking can be a long & tricky process, but art club artists totally nailed it by using their love of nature & creativity! 🤩💚

#naturecrafts
#natureart #natureclub #naturecreative #adelaidekidsartclass #belairnationalpark #adelaideartclassesforkids #artteachersofinstagram #adelaidemumsinbusiness #artclassesforchildren #artclub #collage

Friday Art Club Kids used their marbled collage paper to create the most amazing Bugs, Beetles & Insects, inspired by local Bugs of Belair National Park photography by @mariannebroug & NYC artist @carolinekaufman's colourful collage beetles 🪲

Caroline Kaufman is known for her experimental textiles, prints & playful textures & patterns. Through her craft, she examines nostalgic childhood methods of creating, bringing daydreams to life!

Drawing, designing, cutting the right sized shapes & sticking can be a long & tricky process, but art club artists totally nailed it by using their love of nature & creativity! 🤩💚

#naturecrafts
#natureart #natureclub #naturecreative #adelaidekidsartclass #belairnationalpark #adelaideartclassesforkids #artteachersofinstagram #adelaidemumsinbusiness #artclassesforchildren #artclub #collage

Marbling to create collage paper for our bug pictures...
What sensory fun!
Using shaving foam, food colouring, favourite colours & bravery for truly colourful, fun & creative results
🌈💚

#adelaideartclassesforkids #naturecreative #adelaidekidsartclass #artclassesforchildren #artteachersofinstagram #artclub #samumsinbusiness #artclassesforkids #marbleart

🐛 🐞 Bug Study @ Saturday Art Club 🐛 🪲

Nature Creative artists have been immersed in the mysterious world of Bugs, inspired by local photographer @mariannebroug from her fabulous poster of Bugs of Belair National Park 💚

The children were in awe of the Bugs living right under their noses! They chose two to create over the next two weeks & drew them on black card stock. They then traced over one with glue (as they did earlier this term with their snowflakes) keeping the other for collage next week..

Once dried, they added chalk pastels & practised blending, which magically stayed within the glue lines! The contrast is so effective! Don't you think?

#natureart #naturecrafts #naturejournal #natureclub #naturecreative #bugs #adelaidehills #belairnationalpark #adelaidekidsartclass #artteachersofinstagram #artclassesforchildren #artclassesforkids #adelaideartclassesforkids #adelaidemumsinbusiness

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@explore_nature_creative_

"I can’t express enough how much Tanya has changed and enriched our lives.

My children attend her weekly art classes and just adore them.

Every week, they come home with beaming smiles and a greater love for art and themselves as individuals.

My youngest attends art therapy with Tanya. She recently started calling Tanya hope, which in itself speaks volumes to the growth and trust she has developed in her sessions.

Our love and admiration for Tanya aka hope is so hard to put into words...

What a beautiful, kind human with so much to give. We adore you Tanya!!!

Keep doing such amazing, transformational work. "

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