Finito Friday

#Finito Friday - our Red Thread community takes time to share Ta-das and finished projects! 

A big one is celebrating the graduation of extension or Muse Time students from their Color of Woman teacher training! So proud of these gals for their dedication and wonderful peer support - Congratulations! 

Color of Woman graduates

One of the final alignments is teaching a longer painting class - traditionally two days when offered in person. At the beginning of February, Heather Jackson and Rowan collaborated to offer "Queen of Your Heart" to an online group which included several of their sister students. I joined them for a potent day of painting and inquiry. 

We accomplished a lot in 6.5 hours! I love Heather's Zentangle "Diva Dance" rose, which overlaid the spiral is done in her throat -vortex of the empowered voice ....

"From deep in the sea, and long ago/in the future.  Song under the stars and drink deep from wisdom's well 

"Sing with the ancestors

"Swim with dolphins, and meet octopus in the nest of your open heart."

Sea Rose - We-co'ma Kloshe tip-so 

(Chinook jargon)

Awaken in the

Mystery - hear her calling?

Her voice, her presence

Sacred breath beckons 

Treasure so vital, precious

Queen of deep water.

She's rather fierce! I look forward to future offerings from these sisters - we've built a sweet international community, and plan to continue meeting to share inspiration and creative offerings.

I've been enjoying experiments with Oil Pastels, after seeing some lovely ones on Instagram. Checking on YouTube, I discovered shine fun ones tutorials with Black Bean, and playing with his "scritchy scritchy" mark making! (Using Dollar store screwdrivers!) 

 

Eye studies

Face in oil pastels

My sets are all inexpensive ones I've had for awhile or been gifted ... 

Thinking of investing in some higher quality crayons, Neocolor and Sennelier are some of those suggested  ...

Update - I got the set of 24 creamy Sennelier oil pastels ....

Face in Sennelier oil pastels

This article gives an overview of the suggested brands and qualities. I used my harder oil pastels for the details.

Happy Paint Party Friday - what mediums or tools are you exploring?

Oracle and Ally - Legendary Journey and Glow

As Shiloh began teaching the process we've come to know as Intentional Creativity, one of the first steps has been a journey to reconnect with our Legendary Self in a several week class  that includes journaling, visioning and painting. As the prerequisite for the Color of Woman teacher training, over 120 women are in our virtual classroom this year. Nearly half of those will go on to join the teacher training in March.

From the first splashes of color and journal entries, the stories begin to flow and images emerge. Much of the legendary journey involves delving into the stories that shaped us, turning into the compost that will nourish our growth. And at times, sparks and speckles of white paint, dancing stars and biophotons...

Legend and Ally

Layers build, on the canvas, in the journals. Sketches, messages from the Oracle via our painting, glimpses of allies and receiving their messages ... 
We knock on the doorway, and seek admittance to the world of our Legendary Selves. My first Legend in 2015 was Snande'nea Star Gate, and was the largest canvas I'd worked on - yikes! 

Sherry, Nadya, Rema and Angie (with Sherry's Legend)

In 2018 we hosted an open studio during the Legendary online journey, gals from around the state who had been painting in their own studios loaded paint, brushes, and thrir big canvases in their cars to join us. Several others came with smaller paintings, done in one of our classes. 

Three of those who brought their Legends are now teaching IC (Sherry and Angie) or Cosmic Smashbooking (Rema). I brought the legendary lady I'd begun the year before, with the class of 2017. 

Sherry at our fall class at MECA

After several layers (Golden Fluid acrylics, acrylic ink) journaling and sketching, this big dragon appeared in the patterns, is peeking through the portal ...

Legendary portal - 2020

Which then shifted again ...with a layer of milky white - sprayed and dripping - bringing in more light

Milky integration

And was finally ready for the forms to emerge

Sketch on canvas

Blocked in, time to listen

We are opening,
Connection integration
In the unfolding

Oracle's wisdom
The dance of critic and Muse
Finding a balance

As we paint, we Try to preserve the Glow, the "steady radiance of light" a bit of the background, shining in one side of the defining lines... 

This bit of light reminds us that we are all "cooling sacks of stardust," and actually, we emit a bit of life-light, biophotons in the ultraviolet range! 

Though I did the original sketch in brown, I highlighted the outlines in white, bringing back some of that glow.
This is perhaps the first time the sisters are introduced to the concept of bringing the Glow into their paintings, it will thread through future canvases and classes, bringing more vitality and interest.
There are many layers still to come on our journey to meet our Legendary lady's Oracle and Allies. Who else will emerge, and what messages will they bring?

Do you receive messages from your paintings/ drawings? 

Happy Paint Party Friday and Rain's Garden Thursday Art Date - Glow

Colour Play - Mothercolour

How do you use and play with colour in your art? 

This year the Intentional Creativity Guild and CoW students are delving into color theory to bring more coherence to our work and teachings. After Shiloh began her art career, she started as an Art School drop out - frustrated with the rigid Rules and emphasis on creativity stifling critique - can you relate? 

I loved my HS art class, and was one of this kids who drew in the margins of her notes, sketched the neighbors' horses, and played with geometric patterns. I'd get a paint by number set, then use any left over paint on a canvas from the Dime Store. A couple of college art classes were followed by occasional occasional Community College or Art Guild classes, with color theory part of the mix.

The Color of Woman method has relied on a more intuitive use of colour, with the intermittent use of glazing for unification. This year, Guild members from several traditions are bringing in color theory and teachings on using Mothercolour in our paintings. Our first Mothercolour lesson came from Australian artist Jassy Watson

Mothercolour swatch

A Mothercolour is created by mixing several colours together (often 3), and then experimenting with adding different amounts to each of the pure colours. Thou see this in some of the paintings of the old masters. 
The glazing process we use, covering the canvas with a thin coat of a transparent color at least once, has a similar unifying effect. The recommendation to have several colours on our palette, and dip the brush into ones we wish to use together, rather than thoroughly mixing them before painting, also contributes. A tip from Shiloh's teacher Sue Hoya Sellers was to add a new colour in at least three spots around the canvas.

Mothercolour swatch #2

I was reminded of a quilt show in the 80s - one group chose a fabric for each woman to use in her square, and set the squares with strips that harmonized. The colors were more cohesive and pleasing than the random sampler block quilts from other groups.

Jassy studied color with the Australian Flying Artist, Merv Moriarty, who learned to fly so he could take art classes to romote areas around AU! Now in his 80s, Moriarty is still passionate about color, art and education! Both Watson and Moriarty are influenced by the Australian landscape.

Among the Tree Sprites 10-19

In the online Treesister class last fall, Jassy encouraged us to look to our surroundings for shapes and our colour palette, and limit the colours we used. In the first class I took from Jassy, painting Gaia in 2014, she also invited looking to our environment for inspiration. The leaves were from the Rowan yes in my yard, and the amethyst colors from a crystal in my collection.

Mama Gaia - 2014

This video from local artist Flora Bowley offers another way to explore colour and contrast with the paints in your collection. This is a good time to pull out some of those rarely used, and experiment! 

What are some of your favorite exercises for exploring colours? Do you have ways you bring unity throughout the piece or a series?
Share in the comments below - and HåPpÝ Paint Party Friday!

Apothecary 2019

Our painting community is embarking on another journey into the alchemical plan of the Apothecarian, with around 100 from around the globe using the process of inquiry, journaling and paint to transform tragedies into remedies. 

This will be the 5th time Shiloh and Jonathan teach Apothecary, and is the second online version. (You can read about last year's journey here)  Our art journal prompts come from the wonderful Jenafer Joy, and are awesome as usual. The process itself has been put in the crucible, and is being distilled for IC teachers to offer our own versions of Apothecary to local students.

I am one of the gals witnessing and offering support in our online classroom, and am working

Altar holding space

this morning to get my space ready. For more than a year, I've been "in process" with moving my studio from my dinning nook to part of my living room, about time I finished that project, don't you think??!! (Where does the time go?)

Yesterday we opened the Apothecary class with a Zoom session - this is such a great way to connect with community! 
Shiloh invited us to do a couple of "pen and paper" exercises, identifying one old story that was coming up - draw a representation of it, then find and draw an antidote. 

These processes are so accessible, and are one of the tools I use in my coaching practice. Mine was around feeling I need to do it all myself - the antidote is the triple spiral of connection/ interdependence! 

Journal process

Time to get back to the clearing and shifting of the Atelier! 

Happy Paint Party Friday! 

Rose Beads and Red Thread

June roses are so magical and I love those with old fashioned fragrance! 

Since my teen years, I've been making rose beads, you can read about my adventures here, and here. 

For yesterday's Red Thread Circle I led a group of 6 SiStars through the process, and everyone went home with at least a dozen beads in an egg carton! 

One SiStar shared a necklace she made when her son was young, strung with beads she'd made wrapping the petals around a toothpick, saying a prayer/wish for him as she wrapped each one. 

I have 5 fragrant roses: an old Moss from a pioneer cemetery, my family dark pink rose, a

Fragrant fresh rose petals

variegated   Rosa Mundi, with pink stripes on white, and two David Austin roses (Gertrude Jekell and Jude the Obscure) 

With the abundance of fresh petals, I gather petals daily, simply pulling loose petals off the centers, leaving the hips to develop. 

I filled my crockpot nearly to the brim, and added a splash of rose tea. I kept the spices simple, Garam Masala and some extra cinnamon, and began simmering three days before our gathering.

Rose tea : rose petals, rose geranium leaves, lemon verbena, yarrow and lavender, steeped in my little French press.

I'd turn the crock pot on, stir a bit, and leave it at the lowest setting for an hour. I did that a couple of times the first two days, adding a splash of liquid as needed. Late the second day, I ran then through my food processor, and returned the mash to the crockpot, heating and cooling again. Since many of the petals were pale, and the crock pot ceramic, the mash stayed pale. Using darker petals and exposure to iron makes darker mask and beads.

Rose petal mash after grinding

We had a delightful circle, with 4 of the 6 gals traveling 20 - 45 minutes to join us! One wore a necklace she'd made with beads filled with prayers and wishes for her son (now a teen!) She'd simple rolled petals around a toothpick! We each passed our necklace around the circle before beginning to craft the beads.

I brought fresh raspberries and strawberries (both in the rose family!) And two sun teas - one raspberry leaf with yarrow and lemon verbena from my yard, the other a ginger mango white tea. The chocolate was a delicious Honey Mamma bar, with rose petals and lavender! 

I brought shallow cups for our handful of mash (squeezing the juice back into the crockpot). We filled our cups, chatted while rolling our beads, and had plates for the finished beads. They will shrink as they dry, so make them about twice as big as you'd like them. (More details on the process here)

When we finished, we each had 1-2 dozen beads, and took then home in an egg carton or

A carton of Rose Beads

two!  Give the egg carton a shake to keep the beads from sticking, and pierce holes the next day. After our circle,  several of us went to a favorite restaurant, and then on to a drumming circle! What a lovely way to compete the day! 

When I got home, there was about 1/2 C of liquid with bits of mash in my crockpot, so I gathered a last round of fresh petals, and added them to the pot. Then got out a couple of jars of dried roses and petals, and separated petals from the stems and other pieces. 

Grinding dry petals: I fill the hopper of my seed mill, add a sprinkle of powdered Garam Masala and cinnamon, and whizz several times, then dump the powder into the top, and refill the hopper with whole petals, tip in the powder and grind again. I do that a couple of times, which makes for a finer grind! (I'm always learning!) 

- This was added to the pot, plus some more liquid, and heated (I may have left the crockpot on the warm setting all night, oops!! Could smell them in the morning - mmm!) So sometime today/this weekend I'll  grind them, then roll more beads!! I can think of worse things to do! 

Lastly, here's a sweet video Jodi shared with us - I love the way this Harper/ fairy women sings while rolling the beads! I'm a Harper as well, and the pale yellowish rose at the beginning looks like my Jude the Obscure (one of the Austin roses) 
If you are inspired to try it now - here is a tutorial on making 4-5 beads using a couple of dried roses! (Neither of these gals simmer their petals!) 

Jude the Obscure

Do you have a favorite memory/ use of summer roses?

Happy paint party Friday!! 

Wonder Woman's Allies

 It's sometimes challenging to wait for the Muse to announce the theme for our monthly Red Thread circle ... "Maybe? ...no, ...ok, how about? .... Mmmm,  ...." 

We've been working with several prompts and inquiries as we journey with #wonderwoman, we ask ourselves, 

• who are her allies? 
• what superpowers is she developing? 
• how might her energy protect and support me?

So that became the theme for Thursday's circle! As we often do for these circles, we worked on Watercolor paper and, used Inktense pencils and shimmer watercolor for "bling!"'
Items on the altar included wool cards that my great grandmother brought over on the wagon train, and rose beads I made (inspired by grandma Mary's)

Red Thread Altar

I was excited to have a newly minted Intentional Creativity teacher, Jan Jorgensen from Olympia, join us! 

Jan and Nadya

In addition tho teaching intentional Creativity, Jan is also a singer and sound healer, so we have quite a bit in common! We shared the Purple thread of leadership (and got the memo on what color to wear, hee hee!) She's also made Rose Beads! 

Jan's Ally

There are nearly a dozen of teachers in the Pacific NW, it was special to meet another. Jan recently moved to Olympia, and is still in process of connecting with her tribe. 

My cousin Leah joined us, and we had a sweet afternoon connecting with allies and a common message of relaxing into sharing our Light. 

Leah's twirling Ally

• In what ways does your ally support you?
• What would you like her to tell you?
• What don't you want her to do, ever?! 
• How does your Wonder Woman shine?

Oracles and Allies

Happy Paint Party Friday!

Into the Fog

 One of the scariest of our painting process with Intentional Creativity is the "risky glaze,"  where we take our painting into the fog ...

During my first class, our teacher Elizabeth handed us a  spray bottle, a big brush and transparent color (Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold), a soft cloth (piece of T-shirt) She had us lay our canvases on the floor, then demonstrated spraying the canvas, brushing on the color, and then burnishing it in, using the cloth! ... And then we went off to lunch! 

Yikes and Wow!! 

Used this way, a glaze integrates the colours we've used, and helps unify the picture. It also offers an opportunity to reflect on what is going "into the fog," what concepts are being integrated. We usually spend some time with our journals, exploring these inquiries, noticing insights, and sketching new symbols. We generally sit 5-6 get back from the canvas while writing/sketching, to gain perspective.

The first time I glazed a painting, I was indeed shaking in my boots - what was I going to loose? This painting process becomes a crazy process of "loose her, find her!" ...distinctions disappear, lights darken, colors merge ... Now it's become a favorite part of my IC explorations, and one I look forward to!

Blessing Star

After the glaze, it's time to begin to bring her back, a new round of lights, darks and mediums, a round of highlighting, of deciding whether to reemphasise symbols from the earlier layer, or bring in new ones. Here's the story of my hummingbird that is with my Taliswoman, and has become a spirit helper for my IC classes. My WW has a Blessing Star as her ally.

It's also a time to change shapes a bit of if I need to- reposition all eye, lengthen or shorten the nose ...
Acrylics are easy to rework - you can't get this wrong!!

We generally use the Golden Fluid acrylics, delicious colors and richly pigmented, but very sheer. Like my first muse, Gabriella, Wonder Woman has a harp, and I'll use gel to bring in more dimension.

Second glaze

Wonder Woman has gone into the fog a couple of times now, (she was in a hurry, and called for a glaze before Jessica invited one!) 

We used different colors on the right and left sides of the canvas - Quin Nickel Azo Gold, and Quin Magenta, ... I added a bit of iridescent gold over parts of the hair, and burnished with my cloth. Then, I let her wanted a bit, while I explored in my journal. 

One of our inquiries is on allies and arch enemies - which super heroines balance between. What are some of those inner demons?'

We've done another round of lights and darks, bringing clarity and dimension as she reemerges from the fog. We're sitting with any new symbols, the background, and any new colors....

Wonder Woman - Stepping out of the fog

Gabriella's Harp

I love this process of exploration with intention. Here are some thoughts and images on the inquiry, "what would you tell a friend who is considering Color of Woman training," from last year's class, Color of Woman 2018.

Definition and more color

Happy Paint Party Friday

Emerging with Wonder

It is such magic to paint with friends halfway across the globe - I'm so enjoying our Wonder Woman journey with Dr Jessica Enovald-Duncan, who lives in Karlskrona, Sweden. (Our class was in English!)

Dr Jess and her husband own and run the Gefion Guest house. I *met* Jessica (online) during her Color of Woman in 2016. Jessica was one of the students under my wing, as their *Reader,* and I enjoy watching her blossom! 

Inktense journal process

In our Wonder Woman journey, we are identifying our Super Powers - both how we access them, and some of our weaknesses, so we can fly higher!

Some of the inquiries:

• what needs to change?
• what are some of my superpowers, magical tools and qualities?
• how will I develop and access them?

Emerging in the early 1940s, Wonder Woman was a new role model for girls and women, at a time these roles and opportunities were rapidly changing. She was brave, and fought oppression. Strong and beautiful, she was a natural leader, who redefined everyday qualities.

The child of an Amazon and a demi-God, Wonder Woman still inspires and invites us to tap our own superpowers and our humanity.

• She has a Lasso of truth
• Speaks all languages - how do i communicate/receive information?
• Magic bracelets to defend herself - how do I do this, with least harm to others?
• Liberation - approach each mission unencumbered by past experiences - but with the wisdom gleaned from them.
• Theme Song to engage power
• What to Wear Dare - what reminds me my own superpowers? 

We've been exploring our symbols of power, our allies and mission, good and "bad" angels/behaviours we want to explore, and ones which no longer serve. 

We began with dipping string (red thread) in paint, and putting nadis/ lay lines on our canvas (I love round canvases, and chose to use one for my WW.) I invited my students to begin this way in our Gaia class, it's a wonderful way to connect with the energy! 

Wonder Woman Altar in my supply wardrobe (repurposed entertainment console!)

After several under-layers, she begins to emerge!

Color blocking

Symbol Sketches

I love this process, and Inktense pencils are so vibrant when activated with water!

• Harp - theme song and healing tool
• Crystalline - Stellar connection
• Winged heart of compassion
• Chalice of renewal
• Phoenix of transformation
• Winged eye of inner vision

Wonder Woman in process, with symbols

Happy Paint Party Friday 

& Ultimate Blog Challenge!

Class - Embracing Mama Gaia

One of my favorite themes for a workshop, especially in April when we celebrate Earth Day, is an encounter with Mama Gaia. So when my friend Margot and I began heart storming for our next class in her beautiful rural space, we quickly agreed on Embracing Mama Gaia! 

We began putting out invitations, and I was especially pleased that two Oregon

Linda Allen

students enrolled in this year's Color of Woman teacher training came! Both Angie and Linda have painted with me a couple of times, and decided that though they are so busy with CoW and life, that this would be a good "reset!" They also felt it was a good way to observe another teacher, as they discover their own flow. (And they loved seeing my prompt cards!) 

Margot and the other three students had painted with me before as well, so the class was easy for me! And I love seeing the paintings develop! 

The Critic and Comparison Queen peeked in, but we sent them outside to smooth out the gravel in the driveway! (One of my favorite distraction tactics!) One beloved with an active critic later shared that she'd sat with her journal and what was coming up, and was able to see more of the issue, and shift it - yes!! She's struggled with this in other workshops, so it was a powerful breakthrough! 

I appreciate Intentional Creativity classes the focus on drawing on one's own images and symbols, and on inner light, and these blessings of insights. Unlike the popular *paint and sip* parties, with most participants creating cookie cutter paintings, each of our IC images is richly unique, from colors chosen to angles, shapes and symbols. 
Each student is invited to delve a little deeper, and see what messages their process and painting carry for them. Each is fascinated by the diversity of images arising from the same (open ended) instructions! 

Embracing Mama Gaia

During our morning circle, I invited each participant to share a favorite mineral, a place in nature, and a metal. I shared about lithium and boron, Breitenbush Hot Springs, and that while I usually wear silver, gold often appears on my canvas. I was intrigued how often salt was mentioned, and the metal copper! The ocean and Mt Shasta were brought in, and the wonderful lichens hanging from Margot's trees.

When we chose our underpainting colors, I also had them then choose metallic paint - I think we all got some copper! I brought along stencils and Dylusion paint, and we used those on an early layer - ferns, leaves, raindrops, sacred geometry ... I continued with my stencil on the sides of the painting, and liked the addition of pattend.

It was a wonderful, rich and powerful weekend. 

my Gaia- in process

Several students continued with their paintings after they were home, and the results are stunning. Mine is in process as well, with stars and symbols beginning to appear. I like the sheen of Micaceous Iron Oxide (Hemetite!) in her hair, and the salmon beginning to emerge. 
Others were content after they finished Saturday, and already knew where their lady would reside. 

What's on your canvas or appearing in your notebook?

Happy Paint Party Friday! 

Fall Musings

The fall rains have returned, time for warm tea and cozy blankets!  I found a lovely

Nourishing Nettle Chai

recipe for Nourishing Nettle Chai, and made a cuppa - added nettles to some black chai I had on hand, plus adaptogens ashwanga, chaga and fo ti - warming and nurturing. I made adaptogen rich energy bars last week following a recipe from Mt Rose Herbs that are delicious.

This week our teacher Shiloh Sophia offed a muse day - Colorful Scars, another in her art as healing medicine kit. I played in my sketch book, and will revisit the teachings in a few days.

Our SiStars in this year's Color of Woman teacher training are nearing the finish line, hard at work on competing their initiate books, and artist's Thesis or record of the Quest. It feels a bit odd to have been watching from the sidelines this year ...awhile while support this year's class more directly. 

What projects are on your table this fall (or spring)? What are you leaning into? 
I'm working on some new pieces for my gallery, and listening to the muse for class offerings ...And enjoying new connections and inspiration via Instagram 💖

HåPpÝ Paint Party Friday!

Collage As Oracle

Since the beginning of my Color of Woman teacher training, I've enjoyed the fun and inspiring journaling guidance from our Journaling Maven, Jena Joy! She often provides journaling prompts to help us unpack information, and discover more of "what we didn't know that we know." She has a FREE offer on one of her little workshops  - register by Monday! 

This fall we embarked on a 13 moon painting process called CODEX, and began with

dedicating an Art Journal for our journey. One of the early exercises was to make a collage, then cut out sections using a round template for Oracle "coins." We interpreted the Oracle of the first com, then glued it into the journal.

I've long loved oracles, both printed cards and my own interpretations, including soul collage and story cards. And I especially love round cards ... So I had fun creating my collage, then choosing small images to cut from the pages! 

Collage spread in CODEX journal

I  

brought a few magazines, printed napkins, scissors and glue sticks for this week's Red Thread Circle, and we used drawing paper for the background. We used the top of a tea tin as the template, for slightly larger cards. 

I decided to glue one of the two pages I created into my #codex journal, folding in one edge, as it was a longer paper, then added more collage to the back of the folded bit. 

I may glue these cards onto watercolor

Morning reading

paper to make them a bit sturdier and give them a layer of sealer.

• What's in your cup, how do the tea leaves read?
• Time for an adventure, Paris, anyone? (Or a tour through nearby art studios?)
• Or perhaps a cozy rustic retreat, nurture the body and soul

Do you use Oracle cards? Have a favorite deck? 

Happy Paint Party Friday!

Self care and fall leaves

The Northern calendar has turned to fall, colors are changing, it's cool enough for a cost today! Though I haven't painted energy day, I've enjoyed adding several layers, and

Blooming and Codes

some crackle paste to my canvas! I've had it awhile, but hadn't used it yet - needed to add a thicker layer to get crackles! 

Have you tried something new recently?

Whether it's fall for thou or spring, October is a good time to attend to self care. 

• Ask yourself, are there a few things you'd like to add to, or subtract from your daily routine
• Are there some friends you would like to spend more time with, or some you need to ease away from? 
• What creative practices bring you joy, or soothe your soul? 

Often playing with image and color well will you answers, so pull out a sketchbook and coloring materials, and feel into these questions! Trust your intuition to give you answers.

Happy Paint Party Friday! And #30daysofselfcarechallenge