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Remember this created October 5, 2009?
It has manifested to this....The Mandala Studio: A Center for Expressive Arts and Transformation!
EDUCATION.....COLLABORATION....COMMUNITY!
Opening with a special Soul Sessions: Painting Your Heart Out, Harvest Blessing, Sunday Nov 8th! Join us and Rock Your SUNDAY!
This is my Everyday Bliss for the day. I am so grateful for this life...
Enjoy...stay tuned for Part Two of "Learning to See."
During our last Soul Sessions class, one of my students who has worked with me for awhile said, "I finally get it, I get what you do, it's CREATIVE RECOVERY." I stood there dumbfounded, as I had never thought of it that way, yet when she said it to the class, and I saw all the nodding heads, I felt like I was finally able to "name," what previously had been intangible.
As a result, I have been thinking about these last couple of weeks about what it takes to find our own creative voice. Learning styles and techniques from mentors and teachers is a very important step in our creative recovery. It's a safe and playful way to open the door to rediscovery and remembering that art and the creative process belongs to everyone.
This is Emalie, my friend creative Goddess Linda's grandaughter. The voice narrating is Stephanie, Emalie's mom. This video, will make you weep, if you've forgotten..
At some point it's time to begin to trust the source within. Your source, your innate creative wisdom, the golden gem you were born with. At first this can be VERY scary! No magazines? No photo transfers? A blank sheet? Yep! That's exactly what I'm inviting you to do and I want you to know I experienced those same cold sweats when beginning my own creative recovery so many years ago. Oh the voices...they were VERY VERY LOUD! Remember...I became a photographer, because I was told I could not "draw," and had a deep need to express what was inside me.
So what's the first step to beginning this journey? All it takes is the willingness to take a risk, to make a mess and the willingness to accept what comes WITHOUT JUDGEMENT! The intention is NOT to make a pretty picture. If you begin there, it's a set up, because you are beginning AT THE END...not at the beginning with the Zen concept of "Beginners Mind."
Soul Session-#1, 1999
This is my very first Soul Session, created in 1999 on newsprint with acrylic paint on a tarp on the floor of my bedroom. What's your first impression? Go on, be honest, you won't hurt my feelings, I promise! I show this painting to all my introductory students in Soul Sessions. It's the first painting I did when I decided to find my own voice. I made an agreement with myself that I would not show the paintings to anyone. I would date and title each piece and when I was done, I would thank whatever showed up, talk to the Venomous Toads and then put them away. It wasn't easy to tame the Toads at first, but eventually I was able to learn to accept what showed up, knowing that the image had something to share with me.
Art is accessible to EVERYONE, not a select and elite few. Would you like to take a risk today to learn to see? Take some time today and finger paint. Be willing to PLAY...that's all that's required.
Continue reading as our series continues and leave a comment and let me know how it's going.
Welcome to the Boutique. Here you will find links to my shops which carry products to support your personal and professional transformation, as well as gear to show off your Feisty spirit!
Here's a small sampling of the goodies at my CafePress Site!
Feisty Gear for Mom's and Kids!
And my new ETSY shop where you will find Fine Art Signed Prints, of the Deck of Transformation found in the book.
| Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade sherigaynor.etsy.com |
Photo: from the Book of Dreams journal in Creative Awakenings: EnVisioning the life of your dreams through art
I'm thrilled to announce my first Creative Awakenings online class! WOOO HOO! Join me and Alison Lee of Craftcast.com for a Feisty, creative and fun evening!
We'll show you how to make your very own Book of Dreams journal and get you started on the EnVision Art of Intention process, so you can create a guidebook for your dreams and intentions!
We've got free goodies and giveaways AND....All participants will be registered for a drawing of signed edition of Sheri's book, Creative Awakenings.
Photo Credit: Linda Drake from her blog...Another Artful Day
Please take some time today to read this beautiful and revealing story by my dear friend Linda Drake about changing your story through visual journaling.
Linda's art is featured in the hot new book by Linda and Opie O'Brien called Who's Your Dada! That about says it all.
Linda has stood by my side through thick and thin. She is one of the reasons there is a book at all! Her work is delightful, whimsical and will bring a smile to your face. Her blog is a wealth of positive expression it's a must bookmark and please share her link!
Click below to let us know what you think!
My October EnVision Art of Intention. Wonder. So here's what is amazing. I don't traditionally date my pieces, but at the last minute, decided to add 10/5 at the bottom. I then realized that the exact opposite numbers 5/10 is the month I am WONDERING ABOUT!
That's exactly how EnVision works! I hope you'll join us monthly for DreamTime Monday's, so you can begin to create your own Book of Dreams journal.
