Artist, author, Feisty Female™ and facilitator of women's dreams, Sheri Gaynor spent the first half of her life attempting-without much success-to walk the straight and narrow cultural path. As someone with an insatiable curiosity, she spent her early years trying on a lot of hats, trying desperately to make them fit-photojournalist, rubber stamp artist, t-shirt designer and psychotherapist, to name a few-attempting to figure out what she wanted to "BE" when she grew up. The journey wasn't always an easy one and much was learned through the school of hard knocks; a formidable education. Little did she know that by walking that wide, crooked and creative road, she would find the trail to her authentic self and living the life of her dreams.
In 1989, her mother Marilyn, daubed her a "Jewish American Pioneer" (JAP), when Sheri headed West to the Rocky Mountains, leaving friends and family behind. Fortunately, the city girl met her mountain man shortly after arriving, learning how to make fires in the snow, ski with free heels and most importantly how to be feisty and fearless-no easy task.
As native New Yorker, the events of September 2001 had a significant impact and left her questioning everything she had come to know. The result was a reflection of core values and a deeper understanding that life was short and time was precious. It was at this moment her husband came up with their next plan, a Sabbatical across America in a 24-foot trailer, living outside the cultural box to spend time with ailing family and friends.
It was on the road with the mountain man and their black lab-that Sheri read the poem for the first time, "What is calling you," and it became the mantra of her daily life. During this amazing adventure, meeting others living life outside the cultural box, she had her creative epiphany, finding the answer to the question and there was no going back...so to speak. As a result she has dedicated her life to helping other women find their authentic selves and reach for their deepest dreams through the company she founded Feisty Females Coaching and Consulting. Sheri's first book, Creative Awakenings: Envisioning the life of your dreams through art, will be published by North Light Books in February 2009.
Described by an early reader as, "The law of attraction, meets the artist's way." Part memoir, part life guidebook and part creative how-to, the book is divided into three unique parts. Part one, The EnVision Process, teaches readers the Art of Intention™-a contemplative practice they can use as a tool to create positive intention in their daily lives and awaken their innate creative potential. Part two, Twelve Months of Dreams, depicts the year-long journey taken by 12 nationally known artists who used the EnVision process in their daily lives. Each artist created an art of intention mixed media piece and wrote an essay about their transformative experiences. Part 3,The Transformation Deck, utilizes a transformative deck of cards (enclosed in the book). Each card is illustrated with a one-of-a kind mixed-media painting created by the author, and will take readers on a creative adventure using visual journaling, creative exercises, challenges and activities.
Sheri Gaynor is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Registered Expressive Arts Therapist and professional Life Coach. In 1981 she received her Associate of Arts degree from the Art Institute of Ft. Lauderdale, with a major in photography. She received her Masters in Clinical Social Work from Barry University in 1989. Sheri's art has been shown internationally and she has contributed various freelance writings and photographs to such publications as the Miami Herald, the Sun Sentinel, the Florida Post newspapers and the Aspen Times Weekly. Sheri has been leading women to creative success for almost 20 years. She does this through her company Feisty Females™ offering women, individual transformational coaching, on-going creative expression workshops and retreats.
