Nature’s Atelier was founded by Khipra and Erika Nichols, a husband and wife team passionate about the intersection of mindfulness, nature, and creativity.
Nature’s Atelier is dedicated to showcasing the restorative effects of mindfulness and the natural world. Our offerings are designed to facilitate relaxation, improve mood and cognition, and ignite creativity. We curate sensory experiences and develop products that cultivate contemplative states of mind and foster a deep connection with nature.
Drawing from our background in visual arts and contemplative practices, we have created and taught various courses and workshops that explore the synergy between contemplation and the creative process. Through engaging activities, we guide participants in tapping into their inner creative potential and experiencing the profound connection between mindfulness and artistic expression.
If you are interested in collaborating with us to develop a customized course or workshop tailored to your specific needs and interests, we invite you to reach out to us at info@naturesatelier.com.
Let us embark on a transformative journey together.
Erika Nichols finds inspiration in nature and a sense of oneness and joy in the gifts it provides. Erika holds a BA in psychology and a PhD in Cognitive Science. She has been interested in contemplative practices and meditation and how they benefit our brain and mind and had focused her research on the effects of meditation in memory and learning. As a Buddhist practitioner, Erika has been offering several meditation classes and mindful experiences over the years such as introductory meditation, mindful eating classes, contemplative photography.
Erika’s botanical macro photography brings a sense of intimacy to this experience by inviting the viewer to immerse themselves in the complexity of textures and colors that often go unnoticed in everyday perception. Erika is also an academic coach, helping students achieve their academic goals.
Khipra Nichols is the Chief Inspiration Officer and writer of Nature’s Atelier, Associate Professor of Industrial Design at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). Khipra is also a nature lover and an avid practitioner/advocate of meditation. Before joining RISD’s full time faculty in 1998 he was Lead Designer at Hasbro’s Playskool’s Preschool and Baby divisions for 20 years, specializing in preschool toy and infant care design.
Khipra has been granted more than 16 patents for product design and received a lifetime achievement award from DESIGNxRI in 2022.