Flower Power

There has been a lot going on here lately!  This Thursday, the first Viva Art & Vino class kicks off at Three Pea Consignment Shop and we’ve got a nice class roster going. I am looking forward to sharing but must admit I’m a little nervous.  I’ve been teaching Zentangle classes now for three years and feel quite comfortable with that, but this is a new venture for me.  I’ve loved art ever since I was little and now, finally, in my 60’s, I’m DOING IT!  Part of my mission is to share this, so that people don’t have to wait that long to tap into their right brain creativity.  I’m hoping that younger women will take time for themselves, to cultivate their creativity sooner.  Women, especially, are tuned into working, taking care of their families, doing the shopping, laundry, cooking and all that goes along with either having a family or having to provide for themselves that they often don’t take time to nurture the person who they NEED to nuture — themselves.  I know because I was one of them.  I was so busy DOING for everyone else that I completely lost my identity and my creativity.  So, PLEASE, PLEASE, take time to nurture yourself so that you have more to give to those you love.

Okay…off my soapbox 🙂

I wanted to share with you some of the pieces that I’ve been working on recently, I’ve peppered photos throughout this blog entry and they are now in the gallery.  A

Torn Face Collage

So along with the Viva Art & Vino classes, I’m working on what I call Viva Art & Life.  Working with my coach, Whitney Freya, has been such a wonderful experience.  Before I started with her I was what I would call stiff and compelled. By that I mean, I was judgmental of myself and the work I was producing.  I felt that to be an artist meant that I had to do perfect work, work that would be able to be sold, because wasn’t that the definition of an artist?  Someone who was professional and could sell their work?  I also was so crazy about making sure everything was clean and neat!  I wasted a lot of paint (and time) because I would constantly be washing my brushes out or throwing things out.  But with Whitney’s guidance through her Creatively Fit Coaching Program, I have thrown abandon to the wind (instead of the paint and canvas)…well, not completely, I still like to be somewhat tidy but nothing like I was, obsessed!  Now I choose to be nonjudgmental, I choose to mix colors on the SAME paintbrush, I choose to paint over something if I don’t like it (rather than toss it)!  My right brain has kicked in and I am learning to accept ME. Such a marvel.  I have learned so much about myself in this process.  Part of my coaching has been to use a journal for my scribble drawings, paper collages, sketches, etc.  These tools have been so useful in my journey.  And…. I now Am an ARTIST! Even if it’s just for me, my eyes alone.  Even if I can’t sell it (LOL – I’ll give it away to my family for Christmas!).  Even if it has to be painted over, because then I’ve learned a valuable lesson.

So, with that said, I’d like to begin sharing some of those tools and concepts with others as well.  I will be sharing about the first Viva Art & Life workshop in the next couple of weeks.  I am finishing up the syllabus for that workshop as I type.  I’ll give you a hint – it will include drawing and painting mandalas.  It will teach you how to mix colors, how to create mandalas, how to tap into your right brain creativity which will, in turn, help you to focus MORE on the things you want in your LIFE.  You can read about MORE in the May 26, 2015, blog post.  Here’s a portion from that blog post…

Stained Glass Window Painting in progress. Notice how I’ve painted over the Flower Power painting!

If you want MORE, where do you go???

When I say MORE, I’m talking about:

• MORE MEANING in your life
• MORE OPPORTUNITY in your life
• MORE REJUVENATION in your life
• MORE ENJOYMENT in your life

Won’t you JOIN me in this JOURNEY??  I can’t wait to walk the road with you!

In Gratitude & Appreciation – B 😉