Come and join me as we look at ways we can use our creativity to relax. Also how can you break down your creative tasks and use them in those moments where you are forced to wait in a que, or an appointment. These small tasks are ideal to slot into your day.
I also share ways in which you can get your art journal started by creating a series of background. If you only have a short time to create you can prepare the background by adding colour then going back when you have more time.
Let me know how you use your creativity as a tool to bring more relaxation into your life.
Join me in the Arts and Wellness Café What is it about your creative practice are you taking for granted? Are you undervaluing an area or over valuing it? If you had to drop one of the things that you were doing because it no longer served you what would it be?
Are you holding on to things because 'you have always done it that way' I would love you to share what you feel one of your strengths are, it sometimes helps to remind ourselves of what we have with us all the time and celebrate those strengths.
Welcome to the Arts and Wellness Cafe, in this video I will be sharing about the Materials Bank that I have visited and picked up some items to create with.
The Materials Bank was initiated by the NCF (National Cultural Foundation) to provide a space at the Queens Park Gallery for supplies and materials that creatives can access for FREE.
Check out some of the things that I got on this visit.
I would also love for you to share about your creative journey, what are you working on at the moment, what creative challenges have you been having.
Welcome, I am excited to share with you the FREE Life Book Taster Sessions. I hope you will join me for some amazing & Free Life Book Taster Sessions which begin on September 28th!
This is my lesson lots of creative play
Do you want to learn how to create more well-being in your life?
Do you want to create, express, develop and grow?
Do you want to play with paints, get messy with collage, enjoy mark making and drawing?
Do you want more hints and tips on how to use your creativity to become a happier person?
In this video I share about taking time doing things that don't actually lead to your priorities and before you know it you are running out of time to do the things that really matter and you wonder where the day has gone.
Welcome to my studio - Mixed Media Artist Amanda Trought
Welcome to Arts and Wellness - Episode
In today's episode I talk about some of the work that I have been doing, the importance of being creative and having some activities that may not be related to your main creative output - say using a different medium.
Come and check out the Arts and Wellness video where I look at some stitched projects as well as reflecting on current events.
Let me know how you get on and which is your favorite wall hanging. Will be finishing them and adding to my Etsy store - (details to come) Or just contact me for prices if you would like to purchase sooner.
In this video we look at how the arts and creativity can and do impact on our health and well-being.
We look at taking a variety of materials and seeing how using collage can often enable us to communicate thoughts and feelings.
You can create on separate pieces of card/paper and then add to your art Journal. Don't be afraid to experiment and above all have fun..
Stay blessed and be a blessing.
Creative Encourager - If you want to talk about
creativity and the direction you are going and need a listening ear, sign up
for a FREE 30 minute call http://bit.ly/Encoura
Join me in the video or on the podcast for this episode of Arts and Wellness where I look at the effects of the varying lock down, social distancing, death, unemployment and mask wearing around the world there is a knock on effect on our health.
Working in an Art Journal can have positive effects on our health and well being, let me know how you use yours if you have one, or check out some of my art journal videos for some tips
Listen to the Podcast
.Creating backgrounds can be useful as a starting point
Welcome to the show notes for the Arts and Wellness Episode - 216, so glad to have you here. If you have not yet seen the video you can catch it down below
You can listen to the podcast below
Part of my normal routine starts the day with herbal tea made from Moringa, Broad leaf Thyme and on occasion another blend, alongside a cup or ordinary tea as I head my way over to my studio.
Frangipani flowers from the garden and Scaevola cutting.
In the recording I share information about my art journals. This is my Restoration journal, one among many. An art journal is a great place to put your thoughts in images and words. I work in several art journals depending on how I am feeling at the time. I love making journals.
Art Journal - Restoration, Amanda Trought
Pages can be prepped before hand, and I usually see the process in 3 stages, depending on how much time I have to work on a page. The page below has lots of texture, colour, and I have journalled on the pages. I initially layered the background colours on the pages, then went back at a later date and added the images.
When I felt in the mood to do some written journalling I looked through the pages to see which one was speaking to me then added the written text.
This is usually how the page starts out on the left, with layers of colour on the page
This is another activity that I have enjoyed doing, creating pieces to slow stitch. These are quilted painted pieces that I then have been adding stitching to. There are many more to start working on.
Slow stitch fabric
The pieces also have stencils gessoed on and I often add an image to them.
Closer Detail, painted fabric and stitch - Amanda Trought
What are you finding speaks to you creatively at the moment. I would love to hear what you are working on.
You can also join me if you want to have a chat about what you are doing creatively where you want to take it. You can book two free telephone calls were we can explore where you would like to go to next. Check it out HERE
Welcome Arts and Wellness Wednesday, slightly later than planned. I hope you get a chance to view the video below if not I have shared some of the images below that I spoke about.
listen to the podcast
This is where Cole plants himself, directly behind me so I have to step over him to get passed. I built a barrier of boxes which he is not amused by and every now and then he jumps over and is practically sitting in my lap!
These are the hand made books that I made at my book binding course, it was really great, all in all we made 5 different books an I try and make sure that I make at least one every few weeks.
Art Journal Page Technique
Art Journals/books I made in Book binders course
I love making my own books and quite often make them out of alternative materials - fabric, recycled, old prospectus and more. There is always a wealth of materials available for you to work with.
Art Journals - Amanda Trought
This is a sneak peak at some of the other things that I have been creating - Sculptural Looms with embellishments and stitching projects.
I look forward to hear what you have been up to and seeing some of the images that you share.
Welcome to Arts and Wellness post. It is important to make sure that you are taking part in a creative activity on a daily basis, pretty much as you would exercise, get fresh air, eat your fruit and veg - creativity, is on that list (well at least it is for me). When you spend additional time on a daily basis in an activity that can either take your mind off events, or help you express how you feel about the events or anything else that is going on in your life it will definitely have an impact on your health and well-being. I have also been making time for reading, and other creative projects that allows me to come whole to my creative practice. I have also spent quite a few weeks when the Covid 19 virus started to grow in the news looking at ways in which, if needed I could create my own protection, especially in light of the shortage of masks for those who were on front line services who are exposed to the virus more frequently than I would.
Making Masks
I decided to make a mask and you can see what things I considered that were more suited to how I wanted the mask to fit me.
After mark 4 I came up with one that felt comfortable and effective for me. You don't need a sewing machine to sew them and they are really easy to put together.
Let me know how you get on, do you have a favorite out of the ones that you have seen. Stay blessed and be a blessing.
What do you do when you feel like you are one of the characters in a Disaster Movie, and you are waiting for the director to call 'Cut' but there is no director and this is real life. You have to find ways in which to manage the emotions that you may be feeling, and ways to work through the day to day. Depending on where you are in the world your freedom of movement may differ and you may be experiencing a variety of emotions as you try and make sense of it all, the scale, magnitude and everything in between,
In last weeks Arts and Wellness Wednesday I shared some tips that you might want to think about moving forward. It included setting a routine/schedule for yourself - the first week that you may have been off it might have seemed like an extended holiday or weekend, but the days seem to be rolling into one so having a routine that differentiates the days will help.
Thinking about learning a new skill or picking up an old one might help with your day to day. Check out the video below to see some of the other ways in which you can put things in place to help you cope with the emotions that may arise.
In this weeks video we look at some additional tips that you might want to put into place, especially for those who are carers. Using art and creativity is always a great way to help express what you are feeling and it is important to acknowledge as time goes on.
Listen on the Podcast
If you would like to join me on Creative Encourager you can schedule 2 free half hour sessions to look at where you might want to take your creativity, areas of growth - see the link below
Creative Encourager - If you want to talk about
creativity and the direction your going and need an ear, sign up for a FREE 30 minute call http://bit.ly/Encoura
Welcome and a Happy Friday to you. In this post I will be sharing two episodes of this weeks podcast. The Arts and Wellness Wednesday and the Inspirational Shorts where I will be sharing a review. I hope you are able to listen to them and get some useful takeaway pieces of information. Arts and Wellness Wednesday I share events that are taking place in the UK and you may find useful to your creative practice -
We have our Artists Studio Tours on 14th and 15th March - I am location 15 on the map and it would be great to see you & Caribbean Fine Art Fair on the 11th March to 15th March both not to be missed
Inspirational Shorts
For today's Inspirational Shorts I will be reviewing a Bees wax product that you can do a range of creative projects with, alongside candle wax and petroleum. I have been using them for some small batik projects alongside semi-encaustic on pastels. I will be sharing more with you. I am using a simple oil burner with tealights, which makes the wax melt fairly quickly.
You can listen to the podcast episode below as well as watch the video and see the products.
In Today's Arts and Wellness Podcast I talk about the need to nurture and make sure that you prepare yourself for the Christmas Season - for some it can be a lonely time. Were possible see if you have anyone who may need that extra support, welcome them to your homes and family gatherings and be part of a wider community that cares for the individuals who may have a hard time at this time of the year
We can often forget to take care of ourselves as we are rushing around caring for others, and so it is important to take stock every now and then to make sure your not running on empty.
Remember to check out the Art Journal page creations in Mondays Creating in faith as a way of you taking stock of how far you have come and the direction in which you are heading. Taking one step and one day at a time you are able to make sure you are always prepared for the events that may crop up and your perspective is one that is coming from abundance rather than lack.
I look forward to the journey with you, do let me know how you are getting on in your pursuits.
In today's show I take a look at the work that I have been doing, working with fabrics
and stitching, in preparation for an exhibition that will be taking place in a couple of weeks. Also the idea of planning and how not to be drawn into overwhelm. The stitching to me is a very therapeutic activity
and it is great to be able to pull the work together a combination of stitching,
fabric manipulation and embroidery techniques.
Social Media
I have also been considering changing up my approach with social media, and look at the need for us to share our
work and be more strategic in the content that we are going to share. I am in the early stages of my planning but it is coming
together We all have something to share
and we just have to get out of our own way and get on with it, we have a
mission to get done.
I also wanted to share with you some events that are taking place this week and into the new year in regards to the Arts and Health events, and I have provided links below for you to take a look at:
Training session designed to give arts facilitators greater understanding, increased skills and confidence in communicating and working creatively with people experiencing the early stages of dementia and their carers
This event, produced by Midlands Arts Centre on behalf of The Baring Foundation and Arts Council England, will explore the role of creativity, arts and cultural change in the experiences of growing older and ask if a medical model of old age can address the creative and cultural realities of our lives
Realityarts - Creativity Book Shop - Some really great titles for you to dive in
Creative Resources
Affiliate Links
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