Winged One Playshop

In the studio

My friend Margot invited me to offer a painting Playshop at her Corvallis studio over the weekend, and we gathered to paint our Winged One, and give our dreams wings.  Four of her friends joined us for a lovely time of journey, sharing, red thread and painting.
Though I'm teaching, visiting her country  home always feels like a retreat to me as well. This is the second class I've offered there, and both have been well received. I played harp for our journey, we drew cards from the Mother Mary Oracle, and read poems from"Tea With the Midnight Musé."

Margot and Sherrie with their Winged ladies

As with all workshops, I love it as students get into their own painting grove, and each is drawing from her inner images and inspiration. Their creative Musé takes the lead, and their own style begins to emerge. 

As Shiloh says, "We us a step by step method, and my request is that you DO stick with the method. Magic will come - even if you are already brilliant at painting! And especially if you're Not!
"There's something sacred about the container; about the formula holding you, that allows for freedom to emerge! You are going to create an intuitive painting, from the heart of your own self. You'll learn to use your visionary lens for Active Imagination to connect with the light and spaciousness of your own sovereignty."

Through Intentional Creativity, you may:

Lillian and Sherrie

• Discover and integrate your own gifts and treasures
• Create poetry and prayers inspired by the process
• Receive clarity on what you are here to cause and create
• Access your own imagery and symbols which may only have meaning for you, or may affect the collective
• Embrace painting as a sacred practice

It's pure magic!

Sharon and Nadya

Creative Community

This week my friend Lora offered me the role of lead Organizer for our NW Community MeetUp group. She's moving, so focusing her energy on the move rather than on classes for awhile. An organizer can have up to three groups under one subscription, and I only have one other; so it was a simple addition. 
With three students in this year's CoW teacher training, there are now10 IC teachers in the NW, so I've invited the others to join the group and leadership team. Shiloh Sophia encourages us to build community, and is excited for us. I'm working on guidelines for offerings, as wee may include a couple of teachers from different backgrounds; stay tuned!

In our Facebook circles, we continue to challenge ourselves to think of new ways to connect and share the offerings. To dream and vision.

Paperclay on chip brushes

Last weekend's we had class each day. On Friday, I invited past students to bring projects for an open studio, to coincide with the second session of a small class, it worked well. 
Saturday's adventure was Sepha's Magic Paintbrush class, and we had a great time! My "magic wand" fell on the ground as I was getting out of the car, so I needed to redo it with a new Crystal. I used paperclay around the handle and painted the clay before wrapping with the waxed linen, and actually like it better! The charm is Mexican silver, from our bead store field trip.

On Sunday, we offered a sweet class for friends of a woman who's terminally ill. She and several of her co-workers had done "Paint Night" events with Sepha, so invited her to offer a Private party! They all worked on a large piece, and did a smaller version on 10 x 10" canvases. I brought my harp Tuilleadh, and played for the visioning. That was one of my visions for my classes, and I really enjoy offering the meditative background!

And, Ta Då!! This is my one-hundredth blog post!! Mägic & CreativiTea are flowing!! 

Mägic Wand Brush

 Happy Paint party Friday  & Express your Creativity

#intentionalcreativity #Nadya'satelier #magicwand

Color of Dreams

Certificates and cards with Queen

I am a Color of Woman Teacher and Intentional Creativity Coach!! My certificates and the Mother Mary Oracle card that Shiloh pulled for each one of us came last week, & I'm still a bit in Awe.  I. Did. this!  WE did this - our wonderful tribe of Color of Women students and the teachers who supported us on the journey! A dream made manifest.

Today Shiloh and her beloved husband Jonathan are on their way to New York, & the UN Commission on the Status of Women, CSW60 conference. The theme this year  is Women’s Empowerment and its link to sustainable development. With the Establisment of the NGO Intentional Creativity Foundation, Shiloh and other artists and dreamers are designing and taking part in two panel discussions. The second will feature footage from the Color of Woman teachers around the world, engaged in creativity & empowering women in their communities!


The website also includes profiles of Intentional Creativity teachers around the world! You can click on the map, or type in your area to connect with someone in your area. Several also offer online classes. Here's my listing! If you've found my art or words inspiring, I invite you to write a brief review on my page.

Denise & Sepha's Story Cards

At the beginning of March my friend Sepha, who is enrolled in CoW 2016 & I hosted the first of our Monthly Red Thread Circles, in the Back Door Studio of the Co-op Art Gallery. We had a simple card making project, fun, laughter, tea & chocolate!  Our next Circle will be Thursday April 7.

This weekend we will be painting our Winged One, to help give our dreams Wings! 

Winged Ones take flight
Butterfly, birds, soaring dragon
giving wings to Dreams


Here are a few inquiries to take to your Journal - & see what Wings come!

* are your wings clipped?

* do you find it hard to focus, with too many dreams & ideas?

* do you find yourself helping others fulfil their dreams, and neglecting your own?

* Does your timing seem 'off'?

* Do you spend more time on things that distract you from your TRUE dreams and values?
In Winged one, we will identify a few dreams for focus

Journey, journal and paint to find symbols & movement
 

Happy Fifth Birthday, Paint Party Friday !!

Hop on over & enter your blog post for the opportunity to win one of the PPF necklaces!!

Red Thread Circling 'round

Story Cards

Yesterday marked the first of our monthly Red Thread Circles, & the second offering in Currents Gallery 'Back Door Studio.' My co-hort Sepha & I held held space for 4 beloveds, saying prayers for women around the world in honor of International Women's day next week. Each of us made 2-4 story cards, using tempera, colored & inktense pencils, pens & markers. 

Two of the women had been with us mid February to paint our Queens, & we are thoroughly enjoying utilizing this dedicated Art space! 

Queen class - D & Sepha

 We are planning a couple of offerings each month, and Sepha is enrolled in Color of Woman, 2016. 

Next up: Winged One, March 11 & 12
Have you dreams you wish to manifest? What wings can you give them?
In Winged One, explore giving your dreams wings to fly. We'll use active imagination and Intentional Creativity to find tools to identify old patterns holding you back, and new ways to bring your dreams alive.

Icaricia Butterfly on Camas

What wings does your dreamer have? Multicolored butterfly wings? Shimmery dragonfly wings? Or the soft down of feathers? Iridescent? Whisper soft? A slip of mist?

I invite you to consider this question - what dreams do YOU wish to manifest? What will give your dream wings?

Happy Paint Party Friday!!   


 

Queens and Codes

Portal for a Queen

Next week I'll offer Queen of Your Own Heart, a playshop to encounter my student's 'inner queens' & embracing their personal power. I have been watching that series of videos from Shiloh (here's a little slideshow). It's interesting to see how her presentation style has shifted in the 4 years since that offering was produced.

Today I met with Sepha to plan a bit, then stopped by the co-op art gallery where I'll hold the class, & spent some time in the Classroom. It's laid out for workshops, with paint splattered tables & a group of easels, a deep sink and ample space. I've taken a couple of workshops there, but it's interesting to view it from the perspective of offering one.

Part of my process today was to sweep the floor. In our teacher circle, we've been discussing preparing for workshops & some of the energetics - & I'm working on a document that will include options for others to choose from. One of the simplest ways to clear energy is to do some physical clearing, & sweeping is one of the easiest. 

Last week, Shiloh Sophia and Emily Grieves offered: 'Codex,' painting Our Lady of Guadalupe, inviting us to explore with them the symbols (codes) & background of the lady. Her appearance to Juan Diego in 1531 has ripples back to the book of Revelations, chapter 12, where a 'woman rayed with the sun, and the moon was beneath her feet, and on her head was a crown of twele stars, and she was pregnant. ... the two wings of the great eagle were given the woman ...' 

Our Lady of Guadalupe

These elements correspond with the pre-conquest tradition of the people in that part of Mexico, 'She who flies on wings of eagles, from the region of Light!' The crescent moon is allied with the crescent shaped knife, which cuts away what no longer serves. Her knee is bent, she's dancing, as the indigenous women danced their prayers!

Several years ago, my daughter Mary found this little Guadalupe, painted on shell. Don't you love her sweet smile? & there is Juan Diego, whom Shiloh invites us to 'think of ourselves as him - what does SHE ask us to do?'

I love Emily (who now lives in Mexico)'s interest in & sharing about the different symbols. I've begun my lady, with the four petalled flower in the center, surrounded by those solar rays ... & the virgin (Shiloh quoted the origin of the word, which meant 'a woman in possession of herself') There will be stars - she comes from stardust, like all of us!

Am I not your Mother?

It will be interesting to see how she comes through this time, & what messages she brings, at this time, on this canvas. 
Dancing among the stars, with the moon under her feet

Happy Paint Party Friday!

Commencement

Our final project for my Color of Woman Teacher Training was to group all the blog posts from our Online Classroom into our Initiate books! I had done a good job of keeping up with the posts, and had saved most of them as files. My son, bless him, has a good document assembling program, so we played tag team to assemble it. I'd convert to pdf format, & email them, generally in order; and got together a couple of times (while he & his kids were in town for Nutcracker rehearsals), to format it. And finally, to add page numbers to the table of contents. Whew!

Priestess of the Cosmic Portal

One of our final assignments was to offer a two day workshop, then continue to work on our demo painting for several more days, completing it 'on our own' (rather than following Shiloh's lead & videos) for our 'Visionary' painting. 

My workshop (in November) was Medicine Woman, & the lady who emerged is: Priestess of the Cosmic Portal. The Compass on the bottom left includes totems from each of the paintings in our Color of Woman Compass - the Dragon dancing in the center from Legend, Rose in the N: Muse; Hummingbird in the East: Talisman; Owl in the South: Soul Fire; & Raven in the West: Visionary. There are words collaged around her heart which came during the journey I led; one is 'Raven's Gold' - the Sun is in the upper Raven's beak!

We needed to identify and document our 'Soul Work,' the work we're called to cause & create in the world; & develope our 'action plans' for 2016. Like many of our projects, this was done both Rt brain 'doodle,' beginning with December & working back, & linear from January on.


Here's my entry for January:

• Jan. 2 Visioning 2016 Red Thread event

• update website – new format? Host? Work on print materials – business cards, menus, format for flyers, photos of paintings for cards & prints, work on email list, put known dates on MeetUp, update FB artist page
• Meet with youth and childrens' coordiators at FBC (First Baptist Church)
• formalize plans for February workshop & advertize (MeetUp, Facebook event, flyers, e-mail list) coordinate with area alumni
• attend Work Week Winedown at Walnut City Wineworks Jan 29, take cards\
  
  

  

  Siren Song

  I also have several personal ongoing goals - to blog more regularly (!!), a paint day (minimum) each week, and to do some of the things I've neglected while engaged in Color of Woman (including a good general de-thug of the house)!
  
  
  We're halfway through the month, & I've facilitated the Jan 2 Visioning event, & helped with 'Faith & Watercolor' at Church last Sunday; took down my show at Walnut City WW November & December, and entered a couple of pieces in Currents Gallery's January Show - "Myths & Legends," Elen Star-Path & Siren Song; which were accepted & hung! 
  Not bad! 
  I've also been asked to speak this Sunday on the support of the Art Community during this past year, and signed up to be part of the newly begun Intentional Creativity Leadership Circle. Our first Circle call was Thursday, & today there is a group painting experience, Weave, another exploration of dreams for 2016. 
  So though I feel I'm still integrating the training, I also realize I've not been as 'lazy' as I've felt! 
  My friend Sepha, who has helped with several of the workshops & the Vision board session, is enrolled in this year's teacher training!! Woo hoo! She is already an artist and teacher, and has a lot to offer, & we love sharing studio time. Weaving dreams, community, creativity!
  
  
  Happy Paint Party Friday
  
  
   
  
  
  
  

Elen Star-Path & class

I finished my 'Beloveds' Painting - & what a lovely turn she took! Elen of the Pathways is a horned goddess, whose tales stretch back through time. 

Elen Star-Path

Researcher Caroline Wise writes: "She is the Guardian of the ancient track ways, the Leys, the kundalini currents in nature, and as the Horned Goddess, she leads us to the first trackways, the migratory tracks of the reindeer and later, she leads us to the path of the red deer through the forests. From here she leads us to the lost Shamanism of the isles of Britain, and we can follow her across Scandinavia, Russia, Mongolia, Siberia, India and beyond."  

It was a fun challenge to paint on a smaller canvas (16 x 20") & develope this painting in a quicker time frame. ...and then
On Sunday, I held my first 13-step painting Playshop' - "Dancing with the Muse!" I had three students, and we had a lovely time! This was my first Intentional Creativity class on canvas & I was a bit nervous, but it went really well.

One, my friend Sepha, has been teaching for years, & is a 'Paint Night' instructor; she offered to share some of her tips & helped me set up! What a blessing. 

At the Canvas

• A bucket and pitchers for water - we were in a room without a water source, & this was great! You bring water in the bucket (s), fill the water cups, spritz bottle & pitchers, students can dump dirty water in the bucket periodically, & refill their paint jars. At the end of class, you simply dump the bucket(s).
• Microfibre cloths for cleaning up spills - squeeze into the bucket.
• My friend Elisabeth suggested using old T-shirt pieces for paint rags, & for 'burnishing' the canvas after 'glazing.' (I had paper towels at each station as well) With the 'glaze' step, we cover the whole canvas (or part!) with a mix of water and a transparent color, to Integrate the colors & elements of the painting. You can let this dry, or burnish it in.
• Inexpensive plastic tablecloths (Dollar Store) on the tables, & be sure to wipe dry after use, so they don't get musty in storage
• Tabletop easels (we could have painted flat) 
• A clock 'just in case' the room doesn't have one (this one didn't)
• I brought several 4' x 5' tarps to have under the tables/chairs (Duck taped to the rug at the corners, to avoid tripping) 
• TV table for my paint supplies
• Master's Brush Cleaner for the brushes when we were cleaning up - helps extend the useful life of the brushes
• Square trays (dollar store) for each paint station - I'd purchased these before my 'Soulful Story Card' class, & they are a boon for keeping supplies corralled! 
• Totes & a good Dolly for transport (I am still acquiring my tools for this!) 
• I got a 12 x 12" three drawer container for the paint & other small supplies 

It was a fun class, our ladies are still 'in process ... a couple of the students already paid a visit to the art store, for paint, a new brush, ... while I got a jar of the brush cleaner, & D hooks for the back of my wood panel paintings, which will be in my next show at Walnut City Wine Works.

And this morning, my Muse was whispering in my ear instructions for crafting our next class, 'Medicine Woman' .... stay tuned! 

Harvest Muse - WIP

Posting to Paint Party Friday - & to Express your Creativity  - come join the party!