Category Archives: Creatively Fit

Jun14

Viva Art & Life

Posted on June 14, 2015 by emeraldcitytangles

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 😉

May21

The Times They Are A Changin’ or Living Life on the Fly

Posted on May 21, 2015 by emeraldcitytangles

Standard

Both the titles above are apropos to my life as I’ve been involved in quite a number of things since my last post. So let me start with the fact that there’s been a date change for the “ZenXpressions” showcase (see more below).

I’ve been busy teaching and taking classes and have put up pictures in the gallery for you to look at.

When I returned from my cruise I had scheduled a Zentangle workshop at Botanica. We ended up with 34 students and it was a great learning experience for my and the students. One student in particular came with some of her work (she had started creating about a month prior to the class) and her talent was remarkable! There were lots of talented people in the class but her’s in particular was extraordinary. I encouraged her to look into becoming a Certified Zentangle Teacher.

Apple Collage

As a teacher, I realize that I need to stretch my own abilities past what I already know. Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson was teaching a paper paintings collage workshop in Lincoln, Nebraska, which I took advantage of since it was only four hours from my home. It was three glorious days of making our own printed papers and learning her technique for creating paper paintings. From afar they appear to be impressionistic, but when you get up close and personal you realize that they are made of painted papers. How fun is that? All of the students who were there did a fantastic job…we had people from all walks of life, from fabric artists to surgeons. The night before we left, my roomie and I held a “soiree” (I really like that word, I’m going to start using it instead of party when I have people over…reminiscent of a by-gone era)! Everyone brought something to add to our stash and we had a great time talking art, techniques and learning about each other. My piece is shown to the left. For my first try I was pretty pleased, more so with the background pieces than the apple and foreground. My favorite part of the project was painting the papers; I need more practice on my collage skills.

OF NOTE… there has been a change of date for the “ZenXpressions: A Showcase of Zentangle Inspired Art“. It will now be held Final Friday, September 25, 2015. The only thing that has changed is the date, SO DON’T PANIC!! Those of you who have already registered, I will contact you directly about this. For the rest of you, it gives you time to continue creating your Zentangle inspired art pieces to show.

WHAT I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND: This show is not just for those of you who think you are “qualified”. This show is to share Zentangle inspired art with the City of Wichita. Many times the voice in our head tells us that our work isn’t “good enough” or “I’m not as talented as so and so”, or “I don’t have enough of a creative mind to share what I’ve done.” Well, let me tell you, do not to listen to that negative part of your brain!!

JUST DO IT! You would not believe how creating a small sketch, coloring in a coloring book, trying your hand at a painting, scribbling in a notebook, or making something out of twistee ties helps to fuel your creative brain and fuel your life to help you with the choices you make. So start making your Zentangle inspired art pieces, register for the show and begin to find your artist within!!

Click here for all the info you need! Fun, food, drink, and prizes will all be part of the show…so join us and also help us get the word out by inviting to the event (here’s the Facebook invite).

Hula Hannah

In my February 4, 2015, post I mentioned that I am on the Creatively Fit journey with my own artist within. I’m almost finished with my certification and want to share part of that journey with you. In my earlier post my “aha” moment was to “be in the moment” — a revelation to me. I am so enjoying just painting and playing now, and watching as my artist within becomes stronger with each passing day. My perspective on things has changed and my imagination has begun to become a bit more imaginative. I admit I still have a lot to learn. Whitney Freya’s book, “the artist within – A Guide to Becoming Creatively Fit” is a wonderful book, full of insight, storytelling, creative exercises and principles. Going through her program and book has been amazing and I learn something new each day! This year I’ve created more things than I think I’ve done in the last 20 years! Even down to the silly little twistee tie hula lady (one of the exercises – pull out stuff from a junk draw and see what you can make). Actually, I think she’s my favorite. I’ve named her Hula Hannah and she sits in my dining area to remind myself to be silly and see what I can conjure up! Such a simple little thing, but again such a revelation.

Links are included throughout this post if you want to know more, but suffice to say that I can now start sharing this artFULL and colorFULL journey with you!! The first step will be to offer what is commonly called “Paint and Sip” classes. These are painting classes, which I’m calling Viva Art & Vino, that last around two hours or so — you bring your own bottle of wine, a friend or two or three, and have a fun evening of painting, socializing, and embracing your personal creativity. No previous experience necessary!! The second portion of the journey will be Viva Art & Life, for those of you who are interested in exploring and utilizing art as a form of life inquiry, to better understand yourself and others, and find out what it is you really, really want – to be, to do, to have. Again, no previous experience necessary!! The Viva Art & Life series will be session programs, anywhere from a weekend to a series of classes for a certain number of weeks. There will be more on that in my upcoming blog posts.

As of right now the Viva Art & Vino classes will start on June 18, 2015, and will be held at Three Pea Consignment, 4729 E Central, Wichita, KS (Southwest corner of Oliver and Central). Take one or take ’em all. I’ll send out an email and blog post letting you know where you can see what paintings we’ll be doing, what dates they’ll be offered, and additional information. That should occur by the beginning of June. I’m currently working on the website and it should be up shortly.

A portion of the class proceeds will be donated to Circles USA – Wichita, a national nonprofit that is helping to resolve poverty. Special store discounts will also be offered if you find something in the Three Pea you just gotta have!

Feb4

ROAD TRIP…

Posted on February 4, 2015 by emeraldcitytangles

Standard

I read a joke recently —

“How are you?” “Fine. For details, read my blog.”

Of course if you were to read my blog you wouldn’t find much. I keep telling you that I’m busy and that I’m going to get better at doing this thing. Has it happened? Not yet, but life is a journey and I’m a work in progress.

That being said, I would like to catch you up on what’s been happening on my side of the planet.

The holidays certainly kept me busy. As some of you know, I work part-time for the UPS store in Wichita. Needless to say, from about the middle of November through the end of January it was soooooo busy that I didn’t even get a chance to put up a Christmas ornament, let alone a Christmas tree. That being said, I did enjoy time with my family on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. January kept us busy at UPS with returns and such. I think things are finally calming down, though, which is good, because quite honestly I really thought I was supposed to be retired.

During that time-frame, I re-ignited my interest in my art and started painting. I did a number of pieces, mostly for family and friends. Most of it is abstract, you can see some of the pictures I’ve posted. But I’ve also been working at tangling more often, and have posted some of those, too. Over the holidays, a friend of mine in Virginia, Kathy Strauss, introduced me to Whitney Freya and Creatively Fit. What I found through Creatively Fit was another piece to put into my toolbox. I am currently working my way through Whitney’s online certification program to become a Creatively Fit coach. You’re probably thinking, so what does a Creatively Fit coach do, Bonnie, and why are you telling me this? Over the past several years (I became a Certified Zentangle Teach in 2011), I have come to realize that I’m on a journey of opening up myself to creating — both art and my life. I find it fascinating that the road has opened up to me to begin painting again. But not just painting; enjoying myself and immersing myself in the PLEASURE of art. I’m so much of a “business person” that I see everything as a “business”. My family laughs at me all the time because everything I hear about, or think up an idea about, I’m like…”hmmm, how can we make this into a business?” What I am beginning to see in myself, though, is the PLEASURE of art for art’s sake. I’m not famous, I’m not perfect, I’m not a “professional” in the sense that most people would consider an artist to be, but I am so thrilled to just being in the moment. And this is where I think the whole key lies. Instead of “working” or trying to “do”, I’m finally just “being”. And that’s a HUGE breakthrough for me.

I’m anxious to see where that journey leads me. I know that I’ve become more excited about what I’d like to share. I’ll still teach, but instead of being “the teacher” (as in standing in front of the class saying, “Now, class…”), I hope to be a guide. A guide to those around me who also want to take that journey on the road to “being in the moment”. I’ll still probably stand in front of a group of people who want to learn the Zentangle method, but I feel a shift in my thought pattern and I hope that will come out as I share in future programs. Let me know the next time you take a workshop with me if you see any of that shift. I’d sure love to know if I’m an inspiration to you. I don’t want to be droll, dry, or dead. I want to share my excitement, my passion, my joy with you in the act of creating.

Am I beginning to sound a little too far in the clouds? I hope not.

Take the journey with me and let’s see where we land, shall we?

I do want to tell you about some new classes I’ve put up. If you go to the workshops/demos page you’ll see two new classes there – BEYOND THE BASICS: String Theory and Embellishments, and SHADES OF GRAY. These are going to be really fun classes and you’ll enjoy the deeper, richer experience you’ll have with your tangling through them. Interested in both classes? I’m holding a DOUBLE-HEADER.

Once I finish my course work in Creatively Fit, I’ll receive my certification there and will be preparing to share that, probably sometime around May 2015.

I almost forgot! I’m also headed to Lincoln, Nebraska, to take a weekend program from Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson. Her collage work is extraordinary and I am super excited about learning from her. Her story is awe-inspiring and you must look at her work. Click here to see it.

Will it be another three months before my next blog? Who knows. A couple of roads keep coming to my mind…the long and winding road (Beatles) and the Yellow Brick Road (leading to Oz and home). I’m on the road and I’ll keep you posted at the stops along the way 🙂

HAPPY TANGLING, B.