For many, art and the cold plunge feel like a paradox. But they do exist: some artists use cold water plunging as both canvas and muse. One such talent is Luisa PĆ¼schel, who has been impressing the community with paintings created directly in cold water.
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Luisa in Self-Portrait
My name is Luisa PĆ¼schel. I live in the Czech Republic in the varied landscape of the Czech Central Mountains, where there is beautiful and wild nature in the north of Bohemia. The place is called Valkerice and is located near DÄÄĆn. I live there with my husband, Jakub, and we are currently building a 250-year-old farm – as naturally as possible.
Iām 28, and Iāve loved painting, water, and nature since childhood. I studied at a graphic design school in Prague, but that rather distracted me from creative work. My long process of change, healing, and awakening began with a difficult relationship with myself and with others.
I’ve Been Creating Pictures in Cold Water for 5 Years
I primarily create paintings of trees of life in connection with nature and the earth, especially in the Bohemian Uplands. I paint them directly on the hills of this landscape, each hill tells its own story – its tree of life. I also paint Tree of Life paintings for families, couples, and rooms.
I began cold plunging in 2017. At the time, my health and energy were low, so I looked inward for answers by delving deeper into myself.
What Drew Me Into Cold Water
Together with my husband, Jakub, I discovered that walking barefoot and connecting with the earth brought us improved immunity and answers to health issues, as well as changes in our patterns. We met like-minded people, including other barefoot walkers.
In 2017, we focused intensively on our health and immunity. We also came across a documentary about Wim Hof, which deals with general health and body strengthening. Jakub was attracted to the idea of toughening up as he was preparing for a hike to St. James and wanted to sleep in nature instead of relying on pilgrim accommodation.
Jakub used to catch a virus or a heavy cold every year and felt cold all the time. Gradual cold exposure helped him; seeing this encouraged me to join him. For Jakub, āhardeningā became self-care and self-loveāand heās been healthy since.
Feeling the Activating Power of Cold Water
Even though I was barefoot, I still had poorer thermoregulation and occasionally had flu, bladder infections, but I also suffered terribly from asthma and other health issues. In the summer, I was overheated, and in the winter, I had icy limbs and a hot navel area, so I struggled with a lot of inconsistencies in my body related to my blockages and thinking blocks.
So in the winter of 2017, I began to seek a relationship not only with myself, but also with accepting the cold. It was also the year I started to eat differently. I opted for a plant-based diet, got to know it, and connected with the wild herbs of our nature that have done me good and continue to do so. Although I had asthma, wild plants paradoxically supported my health.
I felt the activating power of water in winter and felt called to connect with its purity and strength. As a Pisces, Iāve always felt close to water. I started walking barefoot in the snow and finishing showers cold. These experiences energized me and helped me heal. In spring 2018, I immersed myself outdoors for the first time and have been drawn to cold water ever since.
I realized that no one can give us health or a happy life. It is up to us to take responsibility for our health and happiness. There are many ways to return to holistic health, and one of them is to connect with nature and water.
When we started to approach our health in a different way in 2017, everything started to change. The connection to the earth without shoes and the ice water were part of this change and helped us to solve many problems.
The creations I share are born from the connection with water. Each place of water has its own story, energy, and mission, and I visit them to create images.
My First Painting Created During a Cold Water Plunge
At the end of November 2019, I made my first painting created while in cold water. I never know what will appear; I let the water āspeak.ā Water is a living thing that drives people to truth and vitality.
How I Got Into Cold Water Swimmingāand How It Changed Me
I create most with water in winter, as it is particularly active at this time. In summer, I tend to be drawn to the mountains and springs with living, clean water. I particularly enjoy painting in the Ore Mountains, where the water is soft and crystal clear. – and my family also comes from there. Iāve also painted by the Adriatic Sea in Croatia and at turquoise alpine lakes in Austria.
Every body of waterāpond, river, waterfallācalls to me. I set a small canvas over a tray, immerse myself, and let that water form the image with acrylics. The colors are chosen by the place itself, and I always paint with some water from that location.
How Long Does a Painting Take in Cold Water?
I donāt track the time while Iām immersed. Jakub sometimes films and tells me later. The average time is about 40 minutes, but it can be longer or shorter. My longest time in water has been 1 hour and 20 minutes. I let the water guide me and always finish the painting in the water, without compromising my health.
Since 2019, I have painted almost 40 paintings of different bodies of water, and I’ll continue to work as the water wants and as our connection allows – always with humility, mutual love, understanding, and care.
Tips & Tricks for Other Cold Plungers
- Donāt force it- just let the water guide you.
- Breathing methods (Wim Hof, Buteyko) can help some people, but I often skip them and simply connect.
- The cold naturally makes you breathe more consciously, find balance, and discover inner warmth.
- Listen to your body; there is no one-size-fits-all.
- Be cautious if you have kidney problems.
- Some prefer regular dips; I go when I feel called.
Other Practices Beyond the Cold Plunge
Everyone should take responsibility for their own life and health without seeing themselves as victims. When we value nature, we also value ourselves, as we are inextricably linked. Our humanity is often influenced by unhelpful beliefs that we need to question in order to make room for something new. Nature and the life around us show us that regeneration and vitality are possible when we live in harmony with nature.
In recent years, we have become so disconnected from nature that we are even becoming ill. It is important to reconnect with nature and take responsibility for our lives in order to heal ourselves. When someone is frequently ill, it indicates a great disconnection from the essence of life. It is time to take action and gradually put the pieces of the puzzle together so healing can occur.
Future Projects
I continue to paint images of water and Trees of Life that embody natureās energy. In 2020, I began connecting these motifsātrees symbolizing life itself, infused with waterās spiritāoften across the Czech Central Highlands. When a hill calls me, its Tree of Life appears. I also create custom trees that support people and reflect their stories.
I share these works at exhibitions, creative festivals, and talks across the Czech Republic, and I collaborate with friendly shops on prints. Beyond originals, I create postcards, magnets, greeting cards, canvas prints, and an annual calendar.
I’d be fulfilled if there were interest and opportunity to share my creations abroad at exhibitions or friendly creative festivals. I am open to tips and invitations! I would like to exhibit my paintings of water, trees, or a combination of both outside the Czech Republic, in Germany, Austria, or Switzerland. My paintings can be purchased, and each one tells a story about water, landscape, event, space, or person.
