Dreaming of a Cabin in the Woods: How Art Connects Me to Nature’s Soul

Dreaming of Magical Woodlands

Since I was a little girl, I have dreamed about living in a cozy little cabin tucked away in an old forest. Just imagining this brings a wave of calm—old trees softly swaying overhead, the soft rustle of leaves, the scent of pine, and the golden light filtering through the trees. More recently, I’ve dreamed of having an art studio in a forest where I could immerse myself in the rhythms of the natural world. While this isn’t the life I have right now, it’s a vision that lives vividly in my soul and inspires me. Until the day I find myself painting in that dream studio, I capture this longing by creating art that embodies the essence of nature and the cozy allure of cabins surrounded by enchanted woodlands.

The Sweet Pull of Nature

I’ve often wondered why the idea of living my days in a cabin nestled in the forest resonates so deeply. Maybe it is a longing for simplicity—leaving the noise and clutter of modern life in a city and reconnecting with the beautiful wild world. Nature offers a sense of grounding and solace that’s hard to find in the city or suburbs.

I grew up in a small town in Ohio out in the countryside. We had forests all around us and I used to play in them with my brother and friends. We’d climb rocks, hide among the trees, and had special rocks that marked our “forts” and hideouts. I took for granted the easy access I had to the wild world, and thought it was just the way it was everywhere.

When I left for college at 18, I went to the big city and that is where I have remained. Some part of me still resides in those little woods of my childhood and the calling to return to them has gotten stronger as I’ve gotten older and more connected with my inner child.

Painting the Cabin of My Soul

As my life in the city has continued, I’ve found ways to bring the forest into my life through art. When I first started painting with watercolors in 2020, these little cabins were some the first things to emerge from my expression. It was curious to me, but I continued and found that I really enjoyed the process of dreaming up these little scenes. To me, it felt like I was inside, curled up with a cup of tea, a good book, a cat on my lap, and a cozy fire. Each little painting was imbued with the sense of peace and solitude I craved.

My work often features cozy cabins, magical trees, enchanted forest animals (like owls), winding forest paths, and dreamy floralscapes. Each piece is an imagined retreat, a place I long to inhabit and share with others.

Viewers often tell me that my art makes them feel as though they can step into the painting and breathe the crisp air, smell the pines or flowers, the fire at the hearth, and hear the sounds of the woodlands

This connection between my vision and their emotions is what makes art so powerful.

Nature as Muse and Healer

Nature doesn’t just inspire my art—it’s truly my sanctuary. When life feels overwhelming, a walk in the woods never fails to restore my spirit. I make a point of going on a daily walk through the woods, and often bring a thermos of herbal tea along with me so that I can sit with the trees and just “be” for a little while. This has been a wonderful way to clear my mind and calm me down. The quiet hum of the woods the wind, rustling the leaves, the play of light—these small wonders remind me to slow down and be present.

This connection to nature isn’t unique to me. Many people find solace and clarity in wild spaces, and my art aims to capture that experience. I want my work to be more than decoration; I want it to be a doorway to a quieter, more reflective state of mind. When someone hangs one of my paintings in their home, I hope it brings a sense of calm, a reminder to pause and reconnect with the natural world.

Dreaming of a Forest Studio

The idea of a home & studio in the woods is more than just a fantasy—it’s a goal that fuels my creativity. I imagine a small, sunlit space surrounded by trees, with floor-to-ceiling windows that blur the line between indoors and out. A softly trickling creek is nearby. There, I’d wake to the sound of birdsong and spend my days painting as the seasons shift around me.

For now, my studio is in a bustling suburban neighborhood, far from the idyllic retreat I dream of. But in a way, this distance makes the dream even more poignant. It’s the gap between where I am and where I want to be that drives me to paint. Each piece becomes a step closer to that imagined life, a reminder of what I’m working toward.

A Call to Nature Lovers and Art Seekers

In conclusion, it is my hope that the art that is expressed through me connects the viewer to these magical natural worlds so that they remember to find them in their busy lives. Art has the power to bridge worlds—between the urban and the wild, the real and the imagined. Through my work, I strive to bring the serenity of nature into the lives of others. If you’ve ever found yourself yearning for a simpler life, surrounded by trees and tranquility, I invite you to explore my paintings. They’re not just images on a canvas; they’re invitations to dream, reflect, and reconnect.

Until the day I’m painting from a studio in the forest, I’ll continue to create these little places that live in my soul. And maybe, just maybe, they’ll find a place in yours too.

Manda Marble is a mixed media artist that loves to daydream and create ethereal paintings + collages of the natural world. She is very grateful for all of the beauty that the natural world brings us. She lives in a little bungalow in the city with her 4 cats and a forest therapy guide (her husband)

Learn more: www.MandaMarble.com

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