Michelle is a whiz with the computer and internet so I have decided when I come back in another life I am going to be Michelle or my web designer, Tracey.  I asked Michelle how she knew about this article and she informed me she had a “google alert” on my name.  I didn’t even know that could be done …..guess I should do this for myself!

Check out the article on the shelter dogs….   http://phetched.com/?p=7028

I am sharing this with you since I don’t think all of us have to reinvent the wheel…… although….I’m going to feel really bad when everyone already knows this can be done and they do it!!!!!

IT IS FABULOUS TO HAVE SUCH WONDERFUL FRIENDS !!!!!

New  students arrived this week for the Color, Design and Edges Workshop and quickly became close friends and workshop buddies.  Coming from Canada, North Carolina, Texas, Colorado Springs, Arizona, New Mexico and California they joined forces and became “The Family”.  They also became what I call “the party group”….which means they took advantage of everything Taos has to offer….including a lighting show. They drove to Blueberry Hill ( a  road high on the mesa) to watch this spectacular event.  This group of students  graciously included everyone in their adventures.  When one student got sick they purchased a card, each signed it to let her know they were not only thinking of her but wishing her  Get Well Soon.  It is little the things like this that really count.

Each class is different yet the same.  They come to learn , grow and accept  the constant frustration of not being able to capture the ideas and thoughts that fill their head.  They watch the demos, listen to the topic of the day then go back to their tables ready to paint with enthusiastic vigor.  Each person in the workshop was filled with true artistic expression.

During this workshop a beautiful stray dog wandered into our space.   The dog was a nine month old female husky/wolf mix that was sweet through and through.  Her name was Moe.  She stayed with us for two full days, one student took her home for the night, and she was then reunited with her owner at the end of the second day.  I find it interesting that one of the students, Sarah Fricke, a professional dog trainer just happened to be in this particular workshop.  Great timing!!!

Late Wednesday afternoon we went to Arroya Seco to enjoy this delightful little town and , of course, Taos Cow beckoned so we all indulged in their delicious creamy ice cream.  I don’t know what the students enjoyed most….getting out in the soothing New Mexico sun, looking at all the eye candy in the shops, the tasty ice cream or just relaxing with their new found friends.  Being able to talk art constantly is real a treat!

It is always a pleasure to teach such artists.   We all come from different areas in the world, different walks of life, have different thoughts and beliefs yet when we get down to the essence of who we are….. we discover we are all beautiful spiritual human beings.

With the kinks worked out about reducing the dpi, making sure it was a jpg and  finally uploading the photos, I can now show you how much fun the  Glorious Abstract class had.  The photo above shows the class with our class mascot, Emma.  They are standing outside the Stables Gallery and workshop space.  What a group of great people!

The space at the Stables is roomy and perfect for creating.  The gals brought their I Pods so music saturated the air.  There wasn’t any way for people to not be creative……being in Taos, absorbing the light, smells and textures of the surrounding area.  When you have a room filled with those who are wanting to learn and are willing to put their egos aside, try new things, be open to failure so they can succeed…..you have the makings of magic.

Of course the shopping in Arroya Seco was a fabulous way to relax after a long day of painting.  Ice Cream at The Taos Cow made the afternoon perfect.  A soft rain fell as we sat outside on the porch of  The Taos Cow and shared our thoughts.

Here is the class picture from the workshop in Taos last week.  Fabulous people who joined creative thoughts and produced many wonderful paintings.  It always amazes me when a class comes together as this one did.  They were supportive of each other, painted with all their heart, each suffering silently in frustration with the newness of some of the painting ideas yet growing in leaps and bounds.  I have other pictures but am having trouble getting them accepted so will share them later when the problem has been solved.

Taos was unusually hot so we took off early one day and went  to Arroyo Seco to see this lovely town and indulge some Taos Cow ice cream.  Sitting outside on the porch of the Taos Cow  eatery we laughed and shared stories that normally would have been been left untold.

While in Arroya Seco the gals shopped and enjoyed the diverse opportunities that awaited them.  A trip like this awakens the visual spirit.

Workshops are gifts we give ourselves

Not everyone is privy to this energy as they are not yet awake.  It is like when you purchase a new car, all of a sudden you see the model you just purchased everywhere.  You have awaken something within you that was asleep.

Opening our brain to new things is one of the most important aspects of the creative life.  Learning new techniques,  a new way to hold the brush, how to blend colors,  finding a new surface to paint on when you get bored with canvas or paper.  When I am writing there are times when only a pencil will do.  Interesting how our bodies tell us exactly what we need and if we are connected to our feelings when we are painting we are told many things to improve the painting.  Of course, the problem is we over ride this information and we struggle with getting the painting “right”.

Go to the studio today and as you paint relax into the creative flow.  As you are painting remember when that feeling comes that shouts “use red”, but you know red does not work at this place in the painting…..use red!  Trust your gut and give it a try.  We grow when we are willing to take chances.  We grow when we are not afraid.  We grow when we no longer care what others think.

Today…..grow.

Time to witness the birth of an evening.   Time to become one with the universe.

When we take this time to become part of the universe we become  more real as an artist.  We actually see…we look….we are aware.  This is when we are whole.

Take time this week to look….beyond what is normal…..be silent…be still….absorb and breathe.

Enjoy the journey to the inner part of YOU.

Much love

gwen

First, during a regular walk with my dog Emma I tripped over a small tree trunk.  Tripping while going down hill isn’t recommended.  Not able to recover my balance I slid down hill on my face and body…..also not recommended.  When the slide ended I knew I was not a pretty site…blood, skin hanging and eye glasses destroyed.  Left ankle swollen, right knee too big to be within the normal range.  Emma, was attentive and worried.  Arriving home was a huge relief since it was a two mile walk.  I kept wondering ….where was my Berqa (face veil) when I needed one?  Not being one to horde pain pills I reached for the bottle of wine while cleaning the destruction.

Second, the final move into the new studio space is now over, packing for the trip to Taos took time and effort plus the healing process for the huge knee (required being drained three times) took its toll.  It actually sounds worse than it is but the good news is …… I HAVE GREAT BONES !!!!  No breaks …wow!

I am now in Taos where time moves slower and life is more centered.  This is exactly what I need.  Slow, focused, clarity, peace …all  mine to soak into my soul.

What did I learn from my experience….slow down !  Be aware. Be present.

Another thing  the fall did was remove  confidence in myself.  I never gave walking a thought….I just walked.  I now feel I need to think and  be aware of what is around me when I walk.   We walk automatically but sometimes our radar is off and we fall.  When we fall we lose confidence.

In relation to being an artist how many times have we lost our confidence when we have been rejected from a show, when a friend, neighbor or colleague makes a statement about your art that makes you feel less than you are.

Loss of confidence takes us down a peg but if we are able to look at the situation we can learn a valuable lesson about our self.

Being an artist is a gift we give ourselves.  We are all creative but few people actually say…”I am an artist”.  Being an artist requires a lot of things…..courage to try, courage to put your creations before the public, courage to listen to the comments about your art, courage to believe in yourself.   Maintaining this courage requires we stay focused and centered within ourselves.  This is why a lot of people just won’t take the effort to be their best as it take tremendous effort.

I am now back on track.  The sun is shining,  birds are singing, my dogs are happy, my children and their children are safe and healthy……life is good.  I  look forward to hearing from each of you and sharing our journey of self discovery plus finding that place deep within us that screams “YES”.

This is my studio. This is my last studio.  It may be for a day or twenty years…..but it is mine.  It is filled with soul.  It is filled with an infusion of creativity that screams “Welcome”.   It has come to me with open arms.

Last night I painted the cold gray concrete floors with a warm transparent Terracotta stain then  a layer of  vibrant Tuscon Gold.  They merged into joy.

I have waited a lifetime for this  passage…. childhood, marriage, birth, children, divorce, sorrow, death, disappointments ( in self as well as others), caretaker, widowhood, success, sickness, transformation…..only to arrive at the gate of “myself”.  How lucky can a person be?

I drink a glass of wine to the birth of who I am….I drink a glass of wine to life….I drink a glass of wine to YOU.

With my mindset in tow I figured out how long it should take and prepared my psyche.  Oh, how wrong I was!  I forgot about inspections,  electricians, drywall, wet concrete, painters,  the sealing of the concrete floor that has to sit for 3-4 days before I can stain the floor, rain, drying time, etc.  Having the best crew in the world didn’t help with my impatience.

I guess what I am saying here is….. I need a little help.

How do you handle your impatience? Does it effect your your ability to write, paint, create?

I need some “feel good” advice.

(PS….I would have added photos of the studio in progress but the files were too big ….another thing to learn)

Creativity blocks….those  dreaded words.  These blocks  holds us back, keep us in a box and fill us with fear.  We can sense it in our bones when  they enter our psyche.

The big question is why do we get creative blocks?

I remember when I received a big award at a major show.  I was thrilled and excited as I felt I had finally arrived.  I was being recognized as a competent painter.  After a full year of rejections the glow of this award had special meaning.  My excitement and celebration  lasted until I went back to the studio.  As I entered  I felt my whole body change.  My thought process was different.  I expected more of myself.  I felt anxiety and fear enter the room and absorb all the oxygen and all the energy.  Questions started coming like flies to honey….where did the award winning painting come from?  Were there more paintings of this caliber in me?  How did I paint that painting that the judges thought was so wonderful?  What if I would never be able to do it again.  The room was overflowing with fear and anxiety !  I froze and then I sat down and  cried.

It was an all-consuming creativity block.  Fear had stopped me in my tracks.  I gave it energy and it crushed me.

When this happens fear will keep you where it wants you…..paralyzed.  Fear wants control and our lizard mind is more comfortable when we are not challenged therefore we allow fear to take up residency in our brain.

Here are the five simple ways I use to alleviate creativity blocks:

1.  Accept the fact  you are  standing mud deep in a creativity block. It is not an illusion it is a fact.

2. Leave your studio and go on a long walk.  Being alone in nature removes the cobwebs in the brain.

3. On your walk do something different than just walk…… skip, sing, talk out loud to your fear, confront it …..then  let it go.  Give it to the wind.

4. Back in the studio  take out a piece of watercolor paper or canvas and start applying paint with abandon.  Put the music on loud….very loud.  There is no judgment on how you are applying the paint or what you are painting….You are free.

5. Sit quietly and give thanks for being You. Being grateful for who you are opens the heart and a heart that is open grants access to creativity.

Try this the next time a creativity block enters your studio and claims you as its own……  see if it helps.  Let me know.

How do you handle creativity blocks?