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! 

Wonder Woman

My friend Dr Jess is offering a wonderful online adventure which begins today, an encounter and painting adventure with our own internal Wonder Woman! 

Jess lives and teaches in Sweden, so this is a rare opportunity to tap her unique perspective and guidance! I'm excited to be with others from around the world on this journey, ... Discovering more of my own super powers. HereHe her video invitation

Celebrating super powers!

My daughter and son-in law love and are inspired by the stories of super hero's, and my daughter created a Wonder Woman costume  (for herself!) one Halloween. 

What are some of your super powers? 

Happy Paint Party Friday! 

Still Room Revisited

In a week, the new gallery MECA will be opening, and all of us are excited to see our art on the shelves and walls! During my last visit, Holli asked if I had any pieces in addition to the "ladies" I might want to show? 
I mentioned my Apothecary painting... "send me a photo!" So I did, and she wants it! 

Paintings have their own processes and time frames, don't they? The Apothecary process focuses on distilling tragedies, turning them into potions and remedies. It is a wonderful, rich, and sometimes intense process! You can share parts of my journey here, here and the request for some new items here. 

Some of the requested items were shelves, more Nick Nacks an Alembic Still, and some "real" additions. Shiloh invited us to stitch some red thread or ribbon into the canvas, and I haven't yet...

.. 

Last spring, I added some shelves, carving (gel), and sketched in the still, .... and then went on to other projects, while the potions bubbled away ...

Now  a still requires heat, and there is a Red dragon in the area, so she kindly volunteered to keep the pot bubbling when necessary! I've sketched her in, also a water dragon peeking into the vessel on the far right (I realized only three dragons were showing!)

At this point when revisiting a canvas, I often do a glaze, (full or partial, choosing transparent colours) to get back in touch with my process, and pull out my journal for some current inquiries ...

Sketched in - Red Dragon & Alembic Still

I've begun painting and adding more details to the still and Red dragon 

What's your creative process today?

Happy Paint Party Friday!

Alembic Still and red dragon

New Year, New Gallery

Happy New Year!  
Last year was a rather strange one for me, I spent more time "percolating," and not as much creating - change is in the air - I already feel a shift, do  you? 

She Changes© Nadya King

For me, one of these shifts is moving to a new gallery, one my friend Holli and her husband will open this spring. McMinnville Center for the Arts, MECA, will be a  place of inspiration and service to the community. I'm excited to be one of the MECA artists.

I've loved being an artist at Ten Oaks Gallery over the last two years, enjoying all the art, and attending events. ...and, Holli has taken several of my Intentional Creativity classes, so it feels perfect to be part of this new venture. I hope to offer some of the community classes there, as well as show my art.

In On Sunday, I picked up my work from Ten Oaks. This week, I have been working on my bio, and choosing 5 pieces to hang at MECA - whew! What a process! It's intriguing to me how that process goes. 

Two of the ladies, Siren Song and Elen Star Path, were in a show "Myths and Legends,"

Siren Song© Nadya King

several years ago, and also part of my show as a Featured Artist at Ten Oaks, September 2016. I love the magic of legendary figures, and bringing them into this world. Siren Song is one of several Mer women who have come to me. 

Order of the Phoenix and She Holds the Heart of the World were painted in harmony with our greater of continuity, during online offerings. I was a Hearth Tender for Black Madonna, which included both painting prompts from Shiloh, and history of the Black Madonna in Europe from Kayleen Asbo. I love the depth Kayleen brings to all of her shares.

The fifth painting, She Changes, began as the demo painting for one of my own classes, and I continued working on her in my Gaia as Portal class last spring near Earth Day. I invited my students to bring a canvas to repurpose if they wanted, and my 20x20 Birch Panel seemed perfect! 

Elen Star Path© Nadya King

Elen Star Path 
(16 x 20", acrylic on canvas)

Guardian of the ancient pathways, the Leys, the kundalini currents of the land. 
The horned lady, Elen leads us aplom the first track ways, the migratory paths of the reindeer in the Northern lands. She leads us home.

Siren Song
(16 x 20", acrylic on canvas)

I call you from the depths, invite you to sing your song.
Listen to the waves
Listen to your heart beat
Which moves the currents of your very being
Listen. Listen.


Order of the Phoenix
(16 x 16", acrylic on canvas

Order of the Phoenix© NK

)

From the ashes, we rise transformed. 
From the ashes, we are born anew.
Enter the fire, and find rebirth.

She Changes (20 x 20", acrylic on cradled birch) 

She Changes everything she touches, everything she touches changes. Earth Mama invites you to listen for her voice in the wind, to see her patterns in the stars and swirling water, to cherish this sweet planet. Will you answer her?

She Holds the Heart of the World©  NK

She Holds the Heart of the World  
(18 x 24", acrylic on canvas)

She hears the cries of the World
And ponders them in her heart.
She Holds holall dear
Treasures beyond measure
She Holds us in her heart.

Oh! It was hard to decide which ladies to submit! ... I was almost ready to relinquish my "thesis" painting from my Color of Woman quest, Priestess of the Cosmic Portal, but when I looked up her message in my Initiate book, realized she has more to teach me. Such is the power of creating with intention, and juicy Juju Journal making.

I'm looking forward to meeting the other artists this weekend at our Blank Canvas event, and to the Muse nudges I'm feeling! 

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