Today I remembered something I seem to forget. I do that a lot... forget and remember, and remember and forget. Every remembering comes with added layers, too... that's the goodness of dancing in those liminal, creative spaces that blend what was, what is and what will be, i suppose. And that's part of what I love about art journaling as a Creative Practice. It's just for me, it is somatic in a way that does not exile my mind or any other part of me, and has space for the kaleidoscope of my whole associative, psychological and intuitive experience. So for #creativeinvitation19 i'm feeling this... 5: my FAVORITE SUBJECT? the connections and layers of my life, feelings, experience and awareness coming together in ways that only happen in an intuitive process, visual story or a meditation piece. 6: WHAT'S EXCITING ME? Today, remembering during our Creative Practice Circle hour, what it feels like to jump into beginning a large art journal page with no plan and just the rawness of life, with lots of collage clippings and some paints and glue to get me started. There is a story in this #wip that has wanted to come forth all week... some sense i need to make of things. i couldn't really journal about it with words. There is too much grief and anger and heartbreak in me over it. I have only talked about it with my closest. But today, it began to come together in a visual way on the page, with a grace and gentleness that words and external ruminations could never have allowed... and that is what i needed to remember in the making. how art is my medicine, and sometimes my prayer, and almost always where i encounter most deeply what needs to be seen, what matters and has meaning, when words simply fail. . . . #creativepractice #artjournaling #collageart #mixedmediajournal #visualstory #visualjournal #alteredbook #artheals #artishealing #holisticart ... #creativityheals #betterthantherapy #expressivearts #storyart #handmadeart #soulwork #borntocreate #goodmedicine #everythingisconnected #meditationart ... #intuitiveart #intuitivepainting #doitfortheprocess #artjournal #practiceinpresence #rawart #artinprogress
I've got a free spot to giveaway for the upcoming year-long online creative journey Make Create Express! There are 27 of us teachers from around the world, with plenty of mixed-media lessons to keep you creating, learning, exploring and inspired - all beginning in just a few weeks. I will draw a winner in two days. For details and how to enter for my free spot, head over to my blog and follow the simple instructions (clickity-click via my profile) - and then be sure to head back here and comment on this post to get that extra entry (i'll throw in another chance for you if you tag a friend who might love it)! Fun fun - and good luck! . . . #artlessons #artgiveaway #creativeinvitation19 #artmagic #makeart #learnhowtopaint #artjournal #artjournaling #mixedmediaart #borntocreate #onlineartclass #artworkshop #artprocess #artclass #intuitiveart #artheals #creativeexpression #becreative #creativelifehappylife #creativewomen #artretreat #visualjournal #freeart #creativepractice #artpractice #creativeprocess #learnart #diyart
{creative invitation 1-3} Between the Covers (3): This is a peek at a page in my handmade journal, from a much-needed solo art-date a few weeks ago. I didn't take any fancy supplies... just some old markers, and a handmade italian journal I'm trying to make 'less precious' and use more this year. I put a long to-do list on hold because i was just going to break trying to force through it that day, and instead, I went to the NC arboretum alone. I didn't even take my dog - which is unheard of over here. I meandered and sat on a few benches with different views, zoned out with the breeze, and let the sketching become my connection and resting place for a few glorious hours. You just can't do and give and be even a fraction of your best if you've got nothing to give, and that's so OK, y'all, the world keeps spinning... but on those days, if you slow down as much as you can and instead let yourself receive, Life just might have something simple and healing to give to you. Swipe to see a video peek at my Creative Space (2) and a Favorite Creation (1) - though i have to say, I don't usually have favorites with my art, per se. my favorite is the relationship, I guess - the engagement and tranformation in the process of making, not what is made as the final result. So this one is just a recent resonant meditation that does keep drawing my eyes to it in the studio. Truly, my favorite creation is Mama Nature herself... because she is my favorite muse and teacher, always ready to inspire and guide my art in one way, shape or (shape-shifting & spirited) form. . . . #creativepractice #artjournaling #creativejournal #journalart #artstudio #artistslife #creativeliving #borntocreate #creativespirit #creativeprocess ... #creativesouls #creativewomen #femaleartist #artheals #intuitiveart #artmeditation #creativeselfcare #creativeretreat #creativeinvitation19 #artismagic ... #holisticart #inksketch #handmadejournal #inthestudio #visualstory #zenart #organicart #earthmedicine #natureismymuse #makeart
on wonder and belief... "Let yourself play beyond disciplined limitations. Happiness and inner peace depend upon a relationship in gratitude and love to something greater than the material world. There is a truth that is undeniably real within the hidden worlds of Nature. Walk through the doorway in your heart into magic by respecting the natural world. Throw away the ideas that there is no real magic in the world besides parlor tricks and a slip of the hand. Drop all that you've been told about the ways of the world and how you should be... and soon innocence resurfaces and you'll remember to play. Transform those thoughts that [Beings of Light] don't really exist and return to Innocence. When did you stop singing, dancing, playing, and using your imagination? Be like a child, Jesus said, "... for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." Believe, believe, believe!" - Cher Lyn, from a mystic art card we pulled during our Creative Practice Circle today, where I sketched this freely while we chatted. We talked about keeping our practices simple in times of overwhelm, staying alert to wonder and delight in our day to day, and all the classes we've signed up for in excitement and exploration on our creative paths. There's no new lessons or content or agenda in our circle - in fact, we can bring things from other classes to work/play on! It's just an hour of simple nourishing time each week, with a little journaling to keep us connected to creative energy moving in our dat-to-day, and chatting about creative practice in the midst of living life. I wish something like this for all creative women. ... #creativewomen #creativepractice #womenscircle #creativeprocess #creativesoul #creativeenergy #creativespirit #artheals #artismagic #creativityheals ... #healingart #hsp #introvert #innerchild #creativefreedom #creativeexpression #expressiveart #artcommunity #creativehabit #creativeliving ... #derwentinktense #artgroup #sketchbook #intuitiveart #trustyourintuition #simpleart
here's that bird-spirit meditation, full shot. a blend of my intuitive process and color curiosities in the first stages, and a more discerning approach when finally translating it to wood panel (i share a musing about my process thoughts in the new post at my blog). I rather like the orange in this one - which always surprises me. (acrylic mixed-media on woodpanel, 12x12"). . . . #practiceinpresence #paintingonwood #birdspirit #creativeenergy #creativeprocess #creativepractice #artheals #listentoyourlife #holisticart #healingart ... #feminineenergy #divinefeminine #everythingisconnected #intuitive #magicart #spiritualart #birdtotem #strangebird #empowerwomen #spiritualdirection ... #artdecor #wallart #orangeart #contemporarypainting #abstractart #meditationart #artmeditation #intuitiveart #womeninthearts
finishing a piece can be as sticky of a place in the creative process as staring at the blank canvas or page. sometimes because you're not into the piece or don't know what comes next, and sometimes because you love it where it's at, even if it's not complete. this painting was one i rather liked at an unfinished place, so I let it hang out in the studio with me for awhile. but eventually i was just procrastinating making the changes. so i used a digital app to help me gently get past the procrastination/fear and visualize just what those next marks would look like. there's a short video with this little spirit painting (+ a process musing) over at the blog on Gettin Un-stuck to finish a painting. . . . #practiceinpresence #paintingonwood #spiritbird #creativeenergy #creativeprocess #creativepractice #artheals #artwip #arttips ... #visionaryart #everythingisconnected #intuitive #artismagic #spiritualpractice #putabirdonit #divinefeminineenergy #lifeisart #creativelifehappylife #trustyourprocess ... #artdetail #paintingdetail #artpeek #creativeresistance #borntocreate #dothework #abstractartist #meditationart #artmeditation #intuitiveart