Wisdom's Table

I'm so very honoured my Snow Queen post was chosen for this week's featured blog over at Paint Party Friday!  Our Winter Showcase opening was well attended and so fun, I especially love visiting with the other artists! I'd spent the night with galfriends in nearby Portland, so was glad to return in time for our reception. My Snow Quien is in the wall to the left of the doorway.

In the Gallery

As the year winds down, I'm finishing my Red Madonna Sacred Path painting, which has been a year long pilgrimage. I need to add gilt, gold and silver, and a bit more attention to these ladies and the world tree.

Pilgrimage of the Divine

My red thread SiStars and I are clearing our altars, preparing to join the feast laid at Wisdom's Table! This journey will take us two years, to 2020, and features several Magdalen and mother Mary scholars, joining Shiloh Sophia and her wonderful team. We share poetry, stories, laughter and tears, and receive teachings from the Hebrew and Christian traditions, (and others, as women share from their own paths) Painting instruction comes on the full moons, and we share a monthly call and beautiful meditation. 

As we prepare for the coming season, here is one of my very favorite poems! 
Blessings and love

AE  Housman (1859-1936)

A Shropshire Lad (1896)

From far, from eve and Morning 

From far, from eve and Morning

From yon twelve-winded sky,

The stuff of life to knit me 

Blew hither, here am I.

Now for a breath i tarry

Nor yet disperse apart--

Take my hand quick and tell me,

What have you in your heart.

Speak now, and I will answer;

How shall I help you, say;

Ere to the winds twelve quarters

I take my endless way.

HâPpŸ Paint Party Friday!

Holiday showcase, Snow Queen

T'is the busy holiday season, in the USA, we've shared the gratitude of Thanksgiving, and are quickly approaching Solstice, Hanukkah and Christmas, turning of the wheel toward the New Year, 2018! What a year it has been, natural disasters and those caused by humans abound, as does mulch Grace and joy. 

The gallery where I exhibit my paintings is hosting a holiday showcase of the represented

Muse of Creative Fire

artists, and I have been competing a painting which began as the demo for last summer's Muse of Creative Fire class. I have been intrigued with round canvases, so choose one for that class. 

We had a lovely group of five students at an art Center about two hours away, and spent the day bringing our Muses into the canvas. Like many of my demo paintings, she has been waiting for the next step for awhile, then began whispering. Two of my granddaughters are rehearsing for our basket studio's annual Nutcracker, which gave the inspiration for the transformation from summer muse to Snow Queen! 

The color theme shifted from the reds of summer to winery blues and silver. I darkened her background, and used plastic wrap in the wet paint for patterns, as I brought new life into her havue and halo. Both silver and interference play in the highlights, and I got silver leaf for her crown and earrings. I'm am pleased with the transformation, she's ready for the holiday show.

Snow Queen

What transformations does this turn of the wheel bring you? What treasures are nestled beneath the snow? 

Posting to Paint Party Friday

Color of Woman - Priority Enrolment

This weekend I'll be teaching "Musé of Harvest" at my friends Margot's, my third class in her space. We have 9 enrolled, and a tenth would like to come, awesome! But, can we fit one more?? (It's a garage studio, and we had 5 for our last class!) 

It is wonderful to see the interest in this mindful art practice, and I appreciate energy

RaSani Spiral

opportunity to extend the Red Thread. This fall I participated in the RaSani Body Mind Spirit fair, where Margot advertised our first class last fall, and invited fair goers to add a leaf with a prayer to a Sun spiral at my booth. 

In this weekend's class, we'll explore what we wish to harvest from this year, what's going on the "compost," and seeds we want to save for the future. We'll share the Red Thread, and contemplate what "our piece" is. We will journal and paint, and at the end of the day, each person will have a unique painting, encoded with symbols and their own process.

Last week, the Color of Woman class of 2017 gathered virtually and in person for a completion ceremony! With the California fires, we decided to reschedule the actual graduation gathering in January (Cosmic Cowgirls Ranch in Sonoma weathered the fires, but the area was still smoky and travel was challenging!) 

Nadya with Shiloh Sophia

While my SiStars in the Guild and I offer individual sessions, classes and workshops around the world, Shiloh is busy interviewing students for next year's Color of Woman teacher training, a nine month quest! 

This is a wonderful opportunity for anyone who loves inquiry and creativity, and is interested in sharing those with others, as a way to process experiences. There's a free class Wed Nov 8, Consciousness and the Musé. This will include both an IC (intentional creativity) process, and more information on the training. (You can view live, or watch later) 
Women will be gathering from around the globe, the training can be done entirely online, and there are "in person" options in several areas for the painting segments. My roommate at graduation was from France, others had arrived from NZ, Canada and around the USA. 

If you're already familiar with Shiloh's work and teaching, through my blog and/or participating in her offerings, you may be ready to apply, and schedule your 1:1 interview with Maestra Shiloh!! Are you shaking in your boots at the thought?? Good!! 

With Priority enrollment, there is a significant savings on tuition, and the 2018 class is

Serena of the 7 Seas

already half full. (There are several love loans available, for those who need to make payments! I was blessed to receive one for my own training)

This is such an amazing experience! 
I did my CoW quest in 2015, ... I didn't intend to sign up, though I watched the invitational video, I didn't think I was quite ready... 
I registered to paint my Legendary Self (the prerequisite) ... and then, Shiloh opened registration got a few more students!! Dang! ... ok, I'll apply, 
... when I had my interview with Shiloh, she was in the car, with her husband Jonathan behind the wheel, and we don't lose signal in the tunnel!! ... and it was a strong "yes!!" for both of us. Who knew? 
I offered my first classes within the first couple of months, both Red Thread Reiki, and a Mystical Mermaid class with my friend, IC teacher Lora, ... I was on my way! 

Is Color of Woman your next step?? You're invited to consider the possibility! 

Sunshine Award

The Sunshine Award is an award given to bloggers by other bloggers. It is awarded to writers who are creative, inspiring and bring joy (sunshine!) Into the world! Dia's Creation Station was nominated by Wendy Fairy Art; thank you, Wendy! 

Once nominated, the blogger is requested to wrote a post which includes: thanking the person who nominated them with a link back to their blog, answer the 11 questions, nominate and notify 11 other bloggers who inspire and bring joy and Sunshine, write 11 new questions for them to answer, ...

Let's begin

How frequently do you lifeplan, and what does this look like for you?

Goodness, I don't know that I do! Well, more in little ways than BIG, ...I did a lovely vision planbook for color of Woman a couple of years ago, and am making another one soon. I make lists and plot out monthly overviews at times.... at others, fly by the seat of my pants! 

Vision plan book

How do you keep yourself on track and accountable when you need to?

Lists and those monthly goal pages... (I don't always stay on track, and tire of adulting!)

Where and when do you do most of your writing?

I've kept a journal since I was a pre-teen, and usually have a blank book around for that. I love composition books, and have several themed Smashbook and at journals going, ... I write about creativity and take voluminous notes in those. I write my blog posts on a kindle, and love to "swipe" rather than type! (Though auto correct has its way with my words!) I write anytime, journal most mornings, blog, often in the evening.

What or who truly inspires you the most? 

I'm inspired by Maestra Shiloh Sophia, she has truly influenced thousand of women within our Art community and beyond, and done much to bring Back our awareness of the divine feminine. Ram Dass is a wonderful spiritual way shower, and great man not overly impressed with himself! 
I love reading, all sorts of fantasy and fiction, especially with strong female characters, books on feng shui, my We'Moon calendar, channeled and other inspirational books. I'm entranced by Stars, rivers, mountains, the ocean and the natural beauty of our blue green planet. 

What advice would you give now to your fifteen year old self?

Don't take life too seriously, and don't sweat the small stuff! Heritage Is Important, and Indian sand painting and basket weaving are beautiful intentional practices! (Not a "waste of time" to study!) Keep creating, and keep smiling!

Where in the world feels like home to you?

Oregon, the Pacific Northwest, the mountains/Breitenbush Hot Springs. I'm playing for the forests of the West, in this season of fires, and especially my beloved Breitenbush. May the rains come soon! 

Where would you like to live, no limits? (not necessarily the above)

A cozy house on a lake with lots of Windows and boho style and a serene studio with great light for painting.... a houseboat! A tiny house, caravan, or mountain chalet, an octagon house (I loved in one for a year at Breitenbush) or wooden yurt.

What are your most important personal belongings and why? 

Good Medicine

Mmm, some precious books and journals, my harps, (3) and music, my paintings and art supplies, red Thread, my electronics (kindle), crystals, handthrown pottery cups and bowls, wooden spoons, Oracle decks. Essential oils, flower essences. I like pretty things, most essential are my "Tools" for balance and harmony. 

Do you think your physical "stuff" can hold you back?  - Why (or why not)?

Ah, living in this western society, I have way bunches of "more stuff" than I need, and there's a certain "weight" to knowing that! I'm better at weeding stuff out than actually getting it out, lol! And being a "boomer" a bunch of that is paper, other is inherited.... Like many, I am working on pruning, and I love the concepts of feng shui. But I'm a creative, and love having lots of supplies! 

Name one thing that if you did, would change your life for the better: 

Being More organized with my paper flow and those responsibilities, sigh. This is a subset of a lean toward procrastination in general.

Which of these was the hardest question to answer and why?

#2 ... what's "on track?"

Coming soon...

Part 2 - my nominees and the 11 questions ...

Ooo, and I want to invite YOU to the Nurturing Soul Spa my friend Heidi Sequoia Moondancer is offering! 

It's a FREE online event, from Sept 18-30, so sign up now! I'm one of two dozen guest teachers from around the globe, offering sessions in movement, breath, visualization, and other exercises to spark your creativity and recharge your spirit! 
We'll begin with a Red Thread Circle for quantum connection, led by Maestra Shiloh Sophia. My offering is Qigong and Qi Massage! I'd love you to join us! 

Happy Paint Party Friday!

And thanks again for the Sunshine Award nomination, Wendy! 

Featured Artist

About a year ago, during our annual Art Harvest Studio Tour, I was introduced to the owners of the Gallery at Ten Oaks, by one of the artists they represent. I asked if they were accepting art from New artists, and they said, "Yes! We'd love to see your work!" 

My friend Sepha and I went together a couple of months later, with 5 pieces each, and they were delighted to show our intuitive, mindful art! They spotlight one artists work each month and already had a full schedule; so asked if we would have a combined show, as their Featured Artists in September! 

5 of My ladies on the left

We were in the path of totality for the eclipse, and a couple of the pieces for the show include the moon and Sun's corona. I revisited my Queen of Your own Heart, "She Sees By Starlight" and had to paint a little Dragon! I think my Red Madonna Dragon will hold the eclipsed sun as well.

It was fun to look back, and see paintings I had for my first Featured Artist show, Musings, back in 2014 at Walnut City Wineworks, shortly before entering the CoW teacher training! 

Eclipse from Central Oregon, © Ken Strode

My painting Sekhmet hung at the Wineworks for the next year, and is in this show as well. 
I have several classes on the schedule for September, Red Thread Reiki 1, and a Musé Day offering, Musé of Equilibrium, exploring themes of harvest, compost, and cycles.

* are you too far away to visit the Gallery? Enjoy this 1/2 hour YouTube clip where I share my harp and art on our local cable channel, with host Howie Harkema!! 

Blessings as you move into fall, and happy Paint Party Friday! (Head over to the blog roll, and add your post to the list!

Tenderness Moon

Each month/Moon in our Red Madonna Sacred Path Journey, there is an inquiry and process, this month's focus is "Tenderness." 

Shiloh invites us to consider, "Where in my life am I seeking tenderness?" And, "where have I experienced tenderness?"

We've spoken of nurturing hands, having our foreheads stroked, holding hands with a

Moon of Divine Connection

mother,a daughter. I remember once, sobbing on my bed after being rejected by my boyfriend, and my often-gruff dad coming in, sitting beside me, saying he wished he could fix it/make it better! Tenderness! 

Our Lady moon we explored connecting with the divine presence, and spent timeless time making strokes and patterns of light on our ladies' mantles. We contemplated our own sense of "divinity," articulating beliefs.

In this moon of Tenderness, what tender moments do you remember? Where can you be more tender with yourself?

Tenderness

Here are my ladies, with tender strokes of light and biphotons. I glazed their mantles (Renaissance Reed and Violet), and brought light to the Dragon and Phoenix.

Linking to Paint Party Friday and sharing on the Red Madonna.

Holistic Practices

Years ago, I overheard a college professor chastise several women students he felt were spending "too much time" on things other than their art. One was a single mom, who did amazing Susan Seddon-Boulet style shamanic work, another joined her sister who was in theater; both performing and producing a play her senior year, AND carrying off a brilliant Senior art show! But they weren't "one point focused" on their art, so would "never get anywhere" ...

I recently discovered this lovely little clip from the BBC, featuring Merritt Moore, a professional ballerina and student of quantum physics. She talks about trying to give up ballet, but finding it feeds her, and enhances her work with physics. 

Shande'nea

This ability to draw from many experiences and synthesize them as we create art is holistic and enriching. It is wonderful to have time and space to focus in, it's also lovely to have multiple experiences which feed your spirit! 

Happy Paint Party Friday!

Claiming Space

Several of my artist friends are claiming studio space, either in nearby business spaces, or in their homes. Recently one wrote about moving her studio into one of their largest rooms, with her husband's blessing. She realized she had "permission" all along, but didn't feel "worthy" of that large room. She invited us to notice where we play small, and if it's time to shift! 

This is a timely inquiry! For the past three years, I've had

Dining nook Atelier

my Atelier in my little dining nook, a space about 5 x 6', which opens into my kitchen. My daughter asked a few days ago if I'd thought of moving my seating area into that nook, and "claiming" my living room for my art! It's an area ~ 11.5 x 20' and I'd thought of using the back section (10 x 10') but not of moving my seating into the nook! 

Front living room

I go in cycles of more organized and clutter-full, and am currently in a cluttered need-to-dethug and organize phase! Sigh. And my daughter asked her good-at-cleaning and organizing husband, "which should and do first? Move stuff around, or declutter?" ... (you guessed it! ... sigh) I found this kool video on creativity and clutter from the "Clutter Fairy," nice to watch while I'm sorting through some piles! And she offers some great tips on going through craft stuff, to make it easier to get creative! 

As a Virgo, I have a tendency to want perfection, and can get overwhelmed when it's gotten chaotic. (CHAOS: Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome). I love the energy of rearranging, and cleaning around that! So, .... on with it! 

Last night at our Red Thread Circle, our inquiry was

around the messages of Cancer, what are our crab claws ready to release, what are they opening to receive? I played flute while Sepha led a meditation, and then we moved to out art materials. 

I drew a crab on the white board, and told the kid's story about a hermit crab decorating its shell, then outgrowing it, and needing to move on. One gal, who's changing jobs, used that imagery. A couple of others painted hands, closed fist and open to receive. I had a tangle of seaweed that my crab was moving out of.

This morning, I'm sketching the spaces to rearrange, and thinking of better organized storage. I cleaned out the under-stair closet on 4th of July, and plan some shelves and bins for seasonal things stored there. I had a field trip to Ikea last weekend, and got a Råskog cart for in use materials, and some lights (and lots of ideas!) 

Happy Paint Party Friday! 
What are you ready to release? 
What are you opening to receive?

Creativity for well-being

This week I accompanied my friend Glenda as she spoke about her book and the forgiveness process. It was a lovely event, and sweet evening. Glenda and her sister Sherry recently competed an eft training, and as it says in

Ladyharper

her bio, "having dedicated her life to her personal healing journey, Glenda most envoys writing to inspire others as they wood their way through their own path to wholeness." 

That is the heart of healing in a nutshell, a personal journey to wholeness!

Glenda's sis Sherry has been seeking another tool to round our her basket of offerings, and was excited when we talked about the Color of Woman quest! Early enrollment for 2018 opens in July (the coursework starts next March) and I shared that info, so she can see if it's a fit! 
She's an artist, who quit art school years ago, and is finding her way back. Like others, she recognized how many people suffer wounds around creativity, and that she can play a role in helping them heal! Shiloh writes, "The energy of Color of Woman quest begins almost immediately with your interest in the work ... I hope our threads of change weave beautifully together."

I have known about the H.O.M.E. centre where Glenda spoke for years, and was delighted to finally visit! It's a lovely, welcoming community and a serene space, and I look forward to returning.

I have also been thinking about the path to wholeness. As a creativity teacher and coach, a Harper, a bodywork, movement teacher....well being is my business! And I agree that all healing/ wholing is a personal journey, teachers and practitioners merely serve as catalysts. Maestra Shiloh is in the process of gathering input in a survey on creativity and well being, through the IC foundation. Stay tuned for the results! 
Here are thoughts on creativity shared by sisters in our IC community. Ooo, I'm just a few "likes" shy of 500 on my Facebook artist page!! Stop by and say "hi!!"

Vision Plan Book

Like Glenda and Sherry, I have gathered tools and techniques in my Medicine Basket which align with the needs of my own beloveds. 30 years ago, a friend who's a chiropractor shared his daily prayer with me, "May those who will benefit from my offerings be drawn to me, and may others find their perfect healer!" That is my prayer as well! 

Happy Paint Party Friday! 

Midsummer Musings

Happy solstice and new moon blessings! I was reflecting that 20 years ago, I was in Alaska on Summer Solstice, working in a fishing Camp on the Nushagak River!! I took this photo, looking across the river at 10:30 PM! 

What a lovely summer, (despite washing thousands of dishes!!) Slept in a tent, drew lots of earth energy, saw eagle, cariboo, moose, and are lots of fresh salmon! It's one of the few scrapbooks I actually competed, and I'm glad I have memories of the summer in this format!

One of my intentional Creativity SiStars, Amber, is offering her semi-annual Woman Unleashed event, and Shiloh had us paint our Succulent Woman ... I worked in my Smashbook! 

Dakini of the Divine Dance

Another IC friend, Sajar J, brought the blessings of Cancer, inviting us to draw/paint a crab, with the constellation superimposed; and get in touch with her messages.

One I received was the claws, which both grasp something new, and release what's no longer needed! What in your life is ready to be released? Another, mentioned by several, is the crab walk, a sideways approach is sometimes more effective! This weekend I'm offering a Smashbook class, and it will be fun to show these page examples.

This Moon's Sacred Path teaching is on Divine Connection, and we put on music and added pattern to the garments of our ladies. Shiloh connected she does this often, just steps into the Divine flow with pattern

I loved the flow of this step! Next - lights and darks on the faces, which are so rich right now, ....

Blessings of the Sumner, and happy Paint Party Friday!

How did you find me?

I visited my friend Patty
   Mrs Blue
Still at her cosmic address
   But wandering the halls of her mind
"How did you find me?"
   Bright eyed, curious, trying to place me
     and herself, ...
Her daughter Teri... "Ah, my daughter!
   She's a good person, so busy!"
Yes, good people, her kin, her family
   her children and grandchildren
The question cycled through, 
   "How did you find me?" 
   (Am I lost? Found? Discovered?)
Family scattered to the far covers of the world
   gathered in eddies, in currents.
How does she know me?
  Another question roses to the surface
Though a circle, studying spirit
   Perhaps 15 years ago, the first meeting
     Knowing, loving
        Ah, yes, the circle! 
Lost, found, connected...
   Still connected
     Through a wandering, winding thread, 
Next time, I'll bring music
   And we'll dance together, in time's halls.

Adornment and bling

My SiStars in the color of Woman teacher training are working on their Artist Archetype paintings, their TalisWomen, and such beauty is arising!! Two years ago, as I painted Songs of Light, I was drawn to experiment with materials, as Artists love Bling!

I was already drawn to interference paint, which looked so fun and shimmery on the little bottles. What was it? How could I use it? I watched tutorials, and began painting orbs, streaks in my lady's hair, eye shadow, ... rather than paint, interference consists of fine mica flakes, suspended in medium. It refracts light, adding mystique and mystery! I love it! Shimmer and shine! 

Icaricia Butterfly Queen has blue and violet eye shadow, 

Icaricia

and in her fringe, plus copper metallic paint. She has more interference on her wings and orbs. It tends to be thick, so just use a drop or two, and experiment with adding it to paint or mixing with medium. Remember to wait till you're almost finished to use it.

My TalisWoman wanted even more bling, and I turned to "gold" metallic leaf. I'd used this on canvas the summer before (Sekhmet) and was eager to try it on the smooth wood. I enjoyed This tutorial by Star Wars artist Terese Nielsen, both the content, and seeing her amazing studio! And I loved watching her save the little scraps of leaf she brushed off! 

Songs of Light

The leaf takes time and a steady hand, but the effect is well worth it! For her veil, I mixed titanium white with satin medium, and applied with a sponge brush. This is a great technique for veils, steam, smoke... you can wipe off a bit for a more sheer look, or add faint lines for folds and swirls. 

What are some of your favorite tips for adornment?
Happy Paint Party Friday & 3 Muses Challenge: A touch of Red (in the lips!)

Full Moon Musings

Tomorrow my friend Sepha and I will journey a couple of hours South, to offer a workshop for new beloveds in the Eugene area! This class coincides with Muse Day offerings around the world, where we gather to share tea, Poetry and creativity! 
I've offered several Muse Days, beginning with one for my middle grandkids in February, and one last month on grief and guardians. My friend Patricia did a wonderful spirit portrait of her beloved dog Kai, who recently crossed the rainbow bridge! 

Kia, by Patricia R.

Our weekend offering is "Musé of Creative Fires," and Musés light Fuses! Today's full moon is in Sagittarius, inviting us to remember the arrows we cast in their beauty and softness,  watching them flower into wisdom. We'll share the process of creating with attention and mindfulness, and see what wisdom's fire offers our beloveds! 

Order of the Phoenix

I'll take along my Phoenix woman, and Sepha is bringing a couple, including her fiesty demo for this playshop, Rubi! 
We met for tea and an art store jaunt this morning, and are gathering our supplies. Here we go!  One of the last instructions during our events is to hand the Musé the pen, and receive a poem or missive.

I love the message from my lady, Gypsy Rose Muse in 2016, "Sweet Nadya, we bring wisdom from the stars and ancient pathways. You are so loved, so appreciated, so honored! We invite you to attune to all your senses, and enliven your spirit.
Sparkle and shine, share the joy you know deep inside. In attending to your own joy, and in doing the little things, a-tending, you will bring your beloveds hone to themselves!"
You're invited to contemplate some of our inquiries: 

• What lights your creative fire, this Sagittarius moon
• What beautiful arrows are flowering?
• What does your Musé invite you to cause and create?

When I Met My Muse 

~ Oregon poet laureate William Stafford ~

I glanced at her and took my glass off -- they were still singing.

They buzzed like a locust on the coffee table and then ceased.

Her voice belted forth and the sunlight bent.

I felt the ceiling arch, and knew the nails up there took a new grip on whatever they touched.

"I am your own way of looking at things," she said.

"When you allow me to live with you, every glance at the world around you will be a sort of salvation."

And I took her hand.

Sacred Path ladies ~ Red Madonna  (in process)

.... You're invited to meet your Muse!  
Happy PPF!!

Good Medicine

 For this week's inquiry In her year long art Journaling class, Come to the Fire, my IC SiStar Heidi asked,
"What's in your Medicine Basket?
"In ancient times (and in modern day) many cultures turned to their medicine Women for healing body, mind and Spirit. They knew certain women carried the healing wisdoms of their ancestors. Each of these healers had their own special bag or basket of medicine.  These medicine bags or baskets contained things like herbs, crystals, a drum or rattle, a chant, feather, and perhaps a red thread to help heal the people."

Medicine Basket

My grandmother Mary knew some herbal remedies, to help family and friends when we're ill, she could give a good back rub, and share a pot of tea with neighbors. 

I don't know if she spun, but she and my mama made quilts with carded wool, using a pair of the wool cards her own mama's family brought along on the wagon train, and made beads from our heritage rose.

I do spin, play harp, Native American Flute, hand drum, give a pretty good back rub, tend gardens, make herb tea and flower essences. I enjoy painting, crafts of all kinds, and sharing the creative spark with others in my art and classes ... what are some of your gifts? 

In this week's Red Thread Circle, we explored our medicine gifts, and brought them to life on paper and in our Smashbooks. It was a sweet session, with three beloveds making good medicine. We added leaves with wishes to the Witness Tree in the main gallery before our closing circle. 
I have three more events coming up this month, starting with Red Thread Reiki 1 this weekend at a water birth center. Our class Musé of Creative Fire is part of the Intentional Creativity Guild's International Muse Day series. This will held in the Eugene area with my cohort, Sepha, our first venture into that community.  

Next, I'll lead a group through creating their own Cosmic Smashbooks at the cosmic Inner Oasis! I love opening creative and healing doors! 

What are some of your Good Medicine Gifts?
How do you share them with your community?

Good Medicine

Happy Paint Party Friday, enjoy your weekend! 

Creative planning

Yesterday I saw a Facebook post by an art biz coach who advised doing a progress review at the end of each week, noting at what happened, and what goals you met. Coupled with his observation that all to often, artists let the business portion of being artists lag.

... while I appreciate his suggestions, I was reminded of why I love the whole brain, Muse led approach, which we favor in Intentional  Creativity! Our biz-coach, Stella Mac had us "Create a business plan using your winged eye – you have to know how to look with a visionary lens to craft a business that reflects who YOU are." 

And Maestra Shiloh wrote: "I answer the call to create, without feel long I am taking away anything from something or someone."

Biz-Plan

One of the biz tools I used last year was taking the year long plan we created during our teacher training, and doing a monthly Smashbook spread with my goals splashed about, "popcorn" style. Some were specific to that month, while others are ongoing (hosting monthly Red Thread Circles, painting, blogging)
I could see at a glance what I accomplished, and what I still wanted to work on. I'm about to start a new Biz-Musé journal, and will include creating these monthly goal pages! 

Red Madonna - Sacred Path

I blocked in my ladies on my Red Madonna canvas this week, and look forward to seeing where they lead! I love the little Phoenix and dragonet! 
The canvas is repurposed, from our Habitat ReStore, and is two 24x30" screwed together! (So 48" wide). It was a simple big sky landscape, and under $10! I'm one of the Hearth Tenders for this online offering, and love the rich teachings from different cultures. 

I did another of lights and darks on Mary Magdalene this week as well. She is emerging.

Happy Paint Party Friday! 

Dark Skin Tones

This week I was the Hearth Tender for Works in Progress (WIP) over in our Red Thread Cafe Classroom group on Facebook. It's such an honor, and always interesting! One of the inquiries was from a SiStar whose lady was dark skinned, and she felt the white she'd used for highlights made the skin look muddy. 

When I was participated in an online class in 2014, my lady wanted dark skin. Hmm, I was new enough to painting that skin in general  was a challenge! So I sought out online tutorials. I adapted my formulas from Eric T. Thomas. I remembered I had my notes on skin tones in my art journal for the class, and shared them with my friend.

I use Titan Buff, rather than the Titanium White Eric suggested, and tend to mix my colors on the canvas, rather than blending them on the palette. I used the first palette of colors, with Jenkins Green for some of the dark, and added red to the lips.

Spirit Dancer

Mars Black
Titan Buff
Burnt Umber
Burnt Sienna
Naples Yellow
Indian Yellow Hue
Cerulean Blue hue
Jenkins Green
Quinacridone Violet
Glaze: Red Iron Oxide, add a bit of Burnt Umber or Van Duke Brown

Foundation/blocking: 3 Naples Yellow, 3 Indian Yellow hue, 1 Burnt Umber, 1 Quinacridone Violet
Dark: Jenkins Green or / Burnt Umber (or blue, can alternate darks)
Medium: 1 Burnt Sienna, 1 Naples Yellow
Light: 3 Naples Yellow, 3 Indian hue, 2 Titan Buff, (2 Burnt Umber) 

Formula 2
Foundation/blocking/ medium: 3 Naples Yellow, 1 Burnt Umber, 
Dark: 2 Burnt Umber, 2 Burnt Sienna
Medium: 3 Naples Yellow, 1 Burnt Umber, touch Sienna
Light: 3 Naples Yellow, 2 Titan Buff, 2 Burnt Umber, 1 Cerulean Blue

Hair:
Dark 1: Mars Black/ Burnt Umber or Paynes Grey and black
     2: 2 Burnt Umber, 1 Burnt Sienna
     3: 2 Naples Yellow, 1 Burnt Umber
Any mediums and lights for highlights

Lips: 
Dark: Burnt Siena/Naples Yellow
Medium: 1 Burnt Sienna, 1 Naples Yellow, 1 titan Buff

Light: 1 Burnt Sienna, 1 Naples Yellow, 2-5 titan Buff

My friend's inquiry was timely, as my Mary Magdalene has dark skin, and I was just getting

ready to do a round of lights and darks ...

Shiloh suggested using Quinacridone Nickel Azo gold glaze/tint over the face after the lights, to give a golden glow, and I suggested my friend glaze, then go on to another layer of darks and lights. 

The tree in the picture represents one outside the cave in Southern France where Mary is reputed to have dwelt after her years of teaching...

I hope this color guide is helpful!

Happy Paint Party Friday!