New Post Podcast - Creating in Faith - Space Episode - 156

Welcome to Episode 156 of the Creating in Faith Episode on Realityarts podcast. Today's word is Space.

When I look at the valley, mountain, and forests and sea I know there is a God - you can look at the vastness of the universe or your home surroundings. While I don't have the mountains, or valleys near my home we can find the joy in other things that those environments can bring to us. What does the idea of space mean to you both mentally and physically? Check out the Podcast HERE and let me know what you think.

Creating In Faith Weekly Encouraging Recordings are to bless and inspire you to be the best of yourself. It can be really great to pull out your art journal/Journal and express what comes up for you either with images and colour, with words or with both.

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There are so many FREE ways in which you can support the podcast and the work that I do on some of the other channels and it is always a blessing when you connect -

• listening each week and leave a comment,
• Subscribe to any or all of my channels, visit the
• YouTube channel (remember to hit the notification bell)
• Let me know how the content impacted you and if you were inspired to make changes/additions to your work or life.

YouTube www.youtube.com/amandatrought

Blog - http://realityarts-creativity.blogspot.com

Twitter - www.twitter.com/Realityarts

Instagram www.instagram.com/realityarts/

Facebook www.facebook.com/realityartss/

Check out some encouraging boards on Pinterest

I also have an Arts and Health NHS Network for information on activities and organisations working in the field. You are welcome to join, it is a FREE resource and if you have any activities or want to talk about your work you are welcome to send me the information and I will see that it gets uploaded. You can create your own profile on the network and connect with others who are passionate about the arts in health too.

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

Stay blessed and be a blessing

Art Saves - Book Review - Arts and Wellness Wednesdays

Welcome to the blog, hope it finds you in amazing health.  I had been away and will be sharing more about my trip over the coming week.  In today's post I will be sharing a book review.  The book in question is Art Saves Edited by Jenny Doh and if you click on the title it will take you Amazon.  It is a collection of stories and prompts by some inspiring artist and I hope you will be encouraged by it

You can listen to the podcast recording below.

If you are interested in other Arts and Wellness Wednesday 
 posts I have listed them below.







Stay blessed and be a blessing.

Angel Walks - Arts and Wellness Episode - 127

Angel Walks - Arts and Wellness Wednesdays

Listen to the podcast

In Episode 127 - Arts and Wellness Wednesday I share information on the sculpture that I created called Angel Walks

Each week I will be sharing a piece of art, it is so important that we share what we do and tell our stories.

The sculpture like some of my other pieces has the apprearence of bronze, but this has a wire and clay armature and is made from fabric.  I really enjoy using these materials and creating a flow, and the way that you can get different effects from the different weights of fabric.  I also use fabrics in wall hangings and other pieces of art.

This sculpture won the NIFCA silver award which I am very proud of

Angel Walks - Amanda Trought

The arts is something that is so important that we all take part in and I hope that my work has an impact on the viewer in what ever way possible, not only being in the physical presence of the work but also viewing it.

Angel Walks - Amanda Trought

Angel walks reminds us that we never know the number of people who come into our lives that are angels in disguise.  We all have the ability to speak love and hope into other peoples lives and be a blessing and you may not realise that just by doing the things that you take for granted can be a real blessing to others and help uplift and change the course of their lives.  Listen to the podcast recording to hear more about the Sculpture.  

Angel Walks - Amanda Trought

Think about your own journey, and the times people impacted you life, those people that blessed you, the things that you did to be a blessing to others.  Think about the things that you now regret saying because it had a negative impact, and whilst your not always able to go back and make things right, think about how you can pay the blessing forward.

Angel Walks - Amanda Trought

Stay blessed and be a blessing, visit my website to see some of the other sculptures available

Arts and Wellness Wednesdays - Episode 124 Podcast

Welcome to the Episode 124 of the Podcast and the Arts and Wellness Wednesdays, and the show notes.

Today I am giving you tips on working with your art journal. and ways in which you can get over the initial fear of working in a book with loads of blank spaces, and get over it you will. Art Journals can also be used where words are hard to find or you want to express yourself in texture, colour, or what ever else you decide to create with in your art journal. If you give it a try you will soon be making your own designs, or even using those ones that you brought that seem so precious on yourself.

31 Art Journal Series

Check out some of the videos that I have created to help you with backgrounds HERE and also looking at a series of art journals I created HERE

On Wednesdays we focus on the Arts and how it can impact our health and well-being. I will be talking with artists, looking at activities that you can do to be more creative across the board and for those who are carers tips and strategies that you can use. I will also be sharing reviews, resources and other insights. I will be looking at the nuggets that the artists share and see how we can apply it in some way to our own lives, what ever your interests.

Check out the Arts and Health NHS Network for information on activities and organisations working in the field. You are welcome to join, it is a FREE resource and if you have any activities or want to talk about your work you are welcome to send me the information and I will see that it gets uploaded. You can create your own profile on the network and interact with other organisations and individuals working in and around the NHS.

For information on arts events in Barbados check out the Barbados Visual Arts event online Magazine Published by Corrie Scott, and also check out the artists, pop up exhibitions and events listed on Bajan Art - https://bajanart.com - also has Exhibition details for Season of Emancipation at St George Parish Church. 9am - 5pm.

You can also find me in other places on social media:

YouTube Instagram Pinterest Website Blog Twitter Facebook

Also take a look at my page on Amazon where I recommend some Art Journal Books for Beginners for you to take a look


I look forward to having you join me, stay blessed and be a blessing.

Inspirational Shorts - Authenticity

Welcome to this week's Friday Podcast - Episode 113.

Authenticity 

The doors are opening, are you ready to walk through? The time is coming - you have put in the hard work, you stayed up late and got up early, you made the sacrifices and carried on making your mark despite the circumstances. The time has come for you to look back at where you came from, look at all your achievements, no matter how small, you have come a long way!  Be proud of what you have achieved, be proud of your authenticity.

*  *  *

I thought I would give you an insight for the weekends, and prepare you for Mondays.  These Friday podcasts will be typically under 3 minutes, and just a pit stop.

Each Friday I share with you an insight or revelation and I hope that It will bless you as it blesses me.  Today it is to encourage you to go out and do some exercise, in whatever way you want to do it. have a journal or art journal handy, so that you can either make notes or create something from what inspires you. 

You can check me out on the following platforms,

Amanda Trought on Social Media (Realityarts):

www.youtube.com/amandatrought 

www.twitter.com/Realityarts 

www.instagram.com/realityarts/ 

www.facebook.com/realityartss/ 

Inspirational Shorts Episodes

Welcome to the Blog today where I share with you my latest podcasts.  I thought I would share with you some of the recordings from the most recent Inspirational Shorts.  Of course every episode is note worthy, but I wanted to make sure that you got your inspirational shot for the weekend.  We have such fast pace lives that it seems as if we only have minutes to 'Get the job done'!

Inspirational shorts is a 2 minute inspirational creative snack, that you can have on a weekly basis.  When you have more time, stop by the podcast on Mondays for some 'Creating in Faith, touching on why we do some of the things we do, and the Arts and Wellness Wednesdays, putting creativity in our lives, looking at what we can do/are doing as artists.  Let me know which one speaks to your creative spirit.

Episode 110

We all have something to be grateful for, and often those very small things that go unnoticed can mean the world of good for others.

Episode 109

Within this episode I talk about Forgiveness, the way that we move on, and sometimes the one that we find the hardest to forgive is ourselves.

Episode 106

The topic for this one is something that I am constantly reminding myself about and that is investing in my health.  We ask our bodies to do so much for us and we can treat it rather shabbily.  What have you done today that invested in your health?  I went to the beach, and it was a long time coming.  One of the bathers remarked that it looked as if I was in heaven, and for that moment It felt so good being in the water, it came close to heaven as I gazed out into the blue waters.  Think about what you are doing to invest in your health on a daily basis and let me know.  You can listen to the recording below.

Episode 103

In Episode 103 of the Podcast I shared about courage, and it is a gentle reminder, each week to step out of your comfort zone and just start.  You can listen by clicking on the image

What do you need courage for - where should I begin now?

Let me know how you get on and while you are at it you might choose to listen to some of the other episodes.  Do you have a creative topic that you would like some information about, are you stuck trying to find which creative turn to make.  Connect with me and I may be able to create a video or episode that speaks to an area that you are passionate about.

Take care for now and stay blessed.

Episode 97 - Inspirational Shorts - Progress

Inspirational Shorts are to lift and encourage you, in today's recording the title is progress. 

Listen to this short recording and get out your art journal and ponder over the words and see how they may apply to you and your circumstances

Reflection - Progress

When we feel ourselves making progress we should feel satisfied with the momentum of movement that takes us to and understanding of lives. Our progress cannot be the one that is based on the views of others as they do not see the work taking place in the still of the night or the early morning. 

As you make progress and do the things that you love doing and the things that you don’t, you do that the things that can challenge you and take you to the very brink of what you feel is your sanity, don’t let the judgement of others sway you from your course. Live life to the full every day, don’t take anything for granted and every now and again look back at the progress you are making.
Stay blessed and be a blessing

Realityarts Podcast - Episode 89 - Celebration

Listen to the Episode below

What is it that you have done that you can celebrate, it doesn't have to be the usual things like birthdays, Christmas and such, but you can go right back to the simple things that often get over looked, like our lives, being able to take in the beauty around us.

As you are listening to the episode think of things that you are able to celebrate and see how it can keep your momentum up as you move from strength to strength and shine your light and be an encouragement in the world.

Let me know what you are celebrating in your life at the moment, share and see how your small actions can open the way for someone else who thought they were on their own.

Please share the podcast, and sign up for the mailing list and receive some of the free downloads that are available.  Stay blessed and be a blessing.

Podcast Show - Episode 87 - Meet Artist Khuumba Ama

Welcome to Arts and Wellness Wednesdays, where I speak with artist Khuumba Ama at the Caribbean Fine Art Fair.  Khuumba 

Born in Savannah, Georgia and later moved to Harlem USA, is a full-time Multi-media artist of original and one-of-a-kind creations. She is a teaching artist and mentor to assist children in self-esteem workshops and designed a creative program to help seniors living with dementia.

Check out what she had to say about the work that she does and the inspiration behind her art.

Art and Wellness Podcast

I have started a new episode of talks on the Podcast, which covers Arts and Wellness.  I will be talking to artists about their work and how it impacts on their wellbeing, reviewing books, materials and supplies that promote using art as a therapeutic tool and more, and also talk about ways in which we can use art more in our daily lives.  Over the next few weeks I will be sharing short interviews that I had with a variety of artist who exhibited at the Caribbean Fine Art Fair which happens in March every year in Barbados. 

I got to talk briefly with Minister John King the Cultural Minister for Arts here in Barbados while he opened the Caribbean Fine Arts Fair a yearly Art Exhibition, bringing in Artists from all around the world.  Minister John King he shared briefly on some of the plans they have for the arts and National Art Gallery in Barbados.  Minister King started his career as a singer/performer and brings his experience as to his role and insight to some of the needs of the arts here in Barbados.

Here is the brief talk with on my Arts and Wellness Episode with Minister King.

Some of the takeaways from the talk is the need to raise awareness of the arts and artists in Barbados, showcasing the work of artists and looking at building that are empty and can be utilized better. 

Artist, Mother, and more - Mavis Trought

Part of my experience is as a carer and an artist with the elderly with dementia and their carers and running art and creativity workshops. Some of the things that he said about the buildings that had been disregarded and left to run down – with so much history that they could tell us about Barbados, struck a similar note in the way that the elderly are treated around the world.  

One of the things that seems to be changing as a community is the lack of value that we place on our elderly within the community, with so many feeling isolated, on their own, families fragmented and they get forgotten.  There is so much wisdom that they have that can often be lost over the generations and we have to find ways to harness their knowledge and find a way where we can create inter-generational projects to pass on their wisdom. 

In the fast paced life our elderly become casualties, like the throwaway containers their knowledge becomes undocumented, distant until no one remembers.  We have to spend more time with them and each other have meaning conversations and experiences, understanding their lives can still be fulfilling and find ways for the generations to interact and learn from each other.

So something for you to think about in your creative interactions is how you can utilize your creative skills to impact on the life of someone who is an elder and living on their own, or in a care home.  How can you be of service and be a blessing touching the life of someone else.

The next Arts and Wellness podcast will feature artist and photographer Lisa Mona.  Sign up to my mailing list and join me each week.  The show scheduling is as follows:

Mondays - Creating in Faith

Wednesdays - Arts and Wellness

Fridays - Inspirational Shorts

Realityarts Podcast - Inspirational Shorts - Creativity

Welcome to the Podcast today, where I give a brief insight to Creativity and spending time in a creative activity.  We all have the ability to use creativity in our day to day, and I hope that you will be able to find time to yourself to uncover what type of things you are drawn to.  I hope you enjoy the recording below and notes for your information

Can you see the gifts that you have within you, all that creativity in all its glorious forms within you. When we spend time in creative play and have some understanding of what our purpose is we often see glimpses of the gifts that we have waiting to be birthed. 

They can often be disguised and it isn’t until something happens that we realize that the strength, skill, or gift we needed was right there all along. You don’t have to be an artist to be creative, it is within each of us. You have to find the right tools to enable you to use your creativity in the way that will work for you. 

Do not settle for less than you know you are worth, spend some time in a creative pursuit and allow your gifts to surface.

If you are interested in a creative activity check out my YouTube Channel for creative projects and videos.

Creativity, and Mixed Media Art

Also check out some of Creative Live Courses, they have free live videos on a variety of subjects that may wet your taste appetite!

Mixed Media Play Date

Come and join us, you can now get $25

Sign up HERE

So with that take the time to see what kind of things that you might enjoy.  The posts and podcasts over the past few weeks all seem to have flown together.  I look forward to sharing more with you over the coming week.

Stay blessed and be a blessing.

Episode 75 Weekly Podcast - Creativity

Welcome to today's Episode and the Show Notes to listen click below

Creativity

What will you create to make the world more Awesome? 

We were all born to be creative in some form or fashion. We were created for a purpose and in turn we have that inner drive to create. However you choose to express it is entirely up to you. When I was younger growing up there seemed to do two types of people. Those who did 'proper jobs' where you could earn a living, like in a bank, office or school and the others who were 'Artists', who we were told didn't seem to make any money and were typically shown as messy, spontaneous, reckless, and disordered. My view of the world was that you became an adult and worked hard doing a job you didn't like and then had children and worked even harder to give them the things that you never had. It's what my mum and dad did and they were my reference.

Deep inside though I knew I wanted to be different. I wanted to be among those artists who did what they loved to do, shared their passion, inspire others and who also made a living. I remember standing on my balcony of our flat as a child, and singing at the top of my lungs a song that I had made up, about the despair of an eleven year old trying to make it in show business.

My singing sessions were tolerated by my parents and the neighbors, though my little brother always made fun of me. As I grew up and went to college I started singing with a group of friends, and later went on to do musical theater, and in my 20's started painting and drawing on a regular basis. It still didn't seem like something that you could do full time and get paid, and I always kept them as hobbies, feeling the push to do more, express more. I now try and immerse myself in creativity and whether or not you want to make a living at it there is something about taking part in a creative activity that impacts on your state of mind and your general health and well being.

By allowing yourself to be creative you are able to go on an adventure of the imagination, soaring to new heights of possibility. We cannot leave it to chance either, there is no way that you could leave your materials on a blank canvas without doing anything come back and find they have created a masterpiece, you have to show up and that's where the miracles happens. Creativity doesn't happen by accident and neither were we made by chance. As you go about your day take time to think of one thing that you find really challenging and try and approach it in a more creative way and see how it turns out. 

I am challenging myself with my art pastels, and doing the 100 Day Project, check out some of the images I have done so far, and think about starting your own challenge, how ever long you want to make it.

Take some time out to be creative and do some work in your art journal or journal

I would love to hear from you and you can connect with me on a number of platforms 

YouTube   Twitter  Instagram  Facebook

Pinterest

If you would like to support the Podcast you can do so HERE

Realityarts Podcast - Episode 67 - Family OUT NOW!

Today on the podcast I talk about Family and what it means to me, both the immediate and extended.  I also touch on those people who you spark from and feel sometimes on first meeting as if you have known them for a long time.  

Coming Home - Mixed Media Art Page

Take out your journal and create a page about what your family means to you, what memories of your family do you have, and experiences that you want to hold on to and pass down to younger generations.

Join me on the podcast, you can also listen on your favorite platform and find me on there as well, I am looking forward to connecting with you

If you listen to podcasts on different platforms check below and see if yours is listed and you will be able to enjoy my podcast from there, take your pick!

Anchor 

Google  Podcasts

Spotify

Breaker

Castbox

Pocket  Casts

RadioPublic

Overcast     

Stitcher 

Apple Podcasts

Stay blessed and be a blessing

2019 Podcasts, Courses and Bonuses

Well we made it through to the 2019, and I started working on a new series on my Podcast called 'Creating in Faith' which helps you look at your creative practice and with suggestions and journey insights.  What happens when you are asked to do something that takes you out of your comfort zone?  Say 'yes sure I can do that' while I freaking out on the inside?

I was asked to lead an online group in a weekly practice and by the time it came for me to get on with it I realized that it wasn't as big of an issue that I was making it and if I just let go of the doubts and the fear I could actually enjoy the process.

I want to share that journey with you in which I had to lean upon my faith to get through, some days I didn't want to create in such a disciplined way but I pressed through, because I realized that the growth was in the journey.  

Each Monday I will be sharing insights - using a different word each week as a starting point, and encourage you to take some time to be creative in some way.  Don't make excuses why you can't, would've or could've but find some solid reasons to give yourself the time and stick to it.  I suggest that if it is not something you are used to doing then you start off with say 10 - 20 minutes - you should be able to find that time for yourself on a daily basis, or break it down if you have to into smaller chunks say 5 minutes - there is a lot you can do in that time.

This weeks title 'Leap' encourages us to step up and step out - feeling the fear, but doing it anyway!   I encourage you to make time to work on yourself, your dreams and goals and put things in place that will see you achieve those things that you always wanted to do.

While you are there, check out some of the other episodes that I have created.

The Mixed Media Play Date Online course that I will be teaching on has started!  I would love you to come and join us.  I have a selection of bonuses that you can get when you sign up using my link - Check them out HERE.

May 2019 be the year that you unfold your gifts, shine your light and be a blessing to you and others.