According to a recent article on aging, artistic endeavors add to the welfare of seniors. “Participating in art-making as you age is good for your mental well-being.”  The article went on to say, “The data showed that the adults who had performed any recreational art activities during the year-long study saw significantly better mental health and physical health afterward than those who didn’t do any art.”

Anna Mary Robertson Moses, better known as Grandma Moses, is a perfect example. Grandma Moses started painting seriously when she was 78. Best known for her rural countryside and farm life folk art paintings, Moses lived to the ripe age of 101.

Taking stock of the older folks I know, the good mental and physical health trend abounds in those involved in some form of art. The quilters, crocheters, and knitters spend fulfilling hours crafting beautiful bedspreads, blankets, shawls, sweaters, hats, and gloves.

 In addition to making wonderful gifts, many of those creations are donated to folks in need. A cozy, comforting quilt may go to someone experiencing a difficult life situation. Knitted hats often get shipped to service members or patients dealing with cancer. Warm scarves and gloves are regularly given to those experiencing homelessness.

Senior photographers, painters, potters, textile artists abound in my community, attracting year-round visitors to our many galleries. And I’m often in the company of extraordinary musicians, dancers, and gardeners. All these productive individuals exhibit their talents and imaginations through beautiful work and artistic expression. They are a happy lot.

My main talent is straight forward, I write. Composing creative nonfiction stories keeps my mind active and strong. Each piece I write involves a great deal of thought, often a bit of research, and many rewrites. The process from beginning to end gives me a great deal of pleasure. And over the last few years, another artsy outlet has become a favorite. Using various pieces of vegetation, I create nature prints. There are some very elaborate printing styles; mine is simple.

 I’m fortunate to live in a rural area where twigs and leaves are right out the door, but living in the trees isn’t required. Most environments lend themselves to this craft, it just may involve walking to the nearest park, taking a drive to wooded trails with bubbling streams winding around thick greenery, or possibly finding a neighboring lake surrounded by trees and shrubs.

Through nature printing, we have the opportunity to keep our connection to the environment alive. And for me, because I’m a writer at heart, every print I put together tells a story.

The foliage I choose (found on the ground during daily walk) consists mostly of leaves and twigs of varying sizes and shapes. Each piece is gently brushed with premium quality professional grade ink and transposed directly onto white board. Finished designs are matted and framed.

As much as possible, I gently wash the ink from the leaves, grasses, and sticks and return those pieces back to nature. I keep a few twigs and loose bits of driftwood to reuse and have a favorite pinecone that I dip in gold when I want to recreate grains of sand.

The majority of my artwork is hung in my home. Almost any room you walk into has a print with a story to tell. I stop and visit each piece often, remembering the creative process and enjoying the finished product.

A while back I sold my “Cat in the Night Woods” print. It was a favorite scene that included small whimsical paw prints among the foliage. It went to a good home, but in retrospect I’m sorry I let it go. I miss my little cat in the woods, miss revisiting the gathering of crisp leaves, the woodsy aroma of fall, the tense moments of transposing each leaf and twig without a smudge. I loved pausing at the print on my studio wall, reliving the moments of creation and the story nature and kitty told.

There are many expressive avenues to explore and consider. What’s out there for you and your well-being? As for me, when I’m not writing I’ll be aging happy with twigs and leaves.

Carole Marshall is a former columnist and feature writer for a national magazine. She’s had stories published in Chicken Soup for the Soul books and has written two novels and one fitness book. She is working on aging in good spirits. cmkstudio2@gmail.com