Arts and Wellness Cafe - Love

 

What's Love Got to Do with It? - 

Join Me in the Arts and Wellness Café 

How are you showing love to yourself in your creative walk.  We can often put our creative needs on the back burner and be everything to everyone.  Did you spend some creative time on yourself today?

The 'I'll do it tomorrow' never comes.  I find it is in those moments that lead to self nurturing are the ones that fall by the wayside for me.  I know I will feel great but I allow non important things to get in the way.  Going to the beach and swimming in the sea is something I really look forward to and it sets me up, but I don't do it often enough.

Take some time to thing about what it is that you are putting off and how it could impact in a negative way to your creativity.

I shared some of the work that I am currently doing at the moment, stitched pieces made from scraps.  They have been given a second chance to be something else.

Stitched Projects

What ever you decide make sure that at least one of your actions leads to an example of self love.

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Art Journal Page - Gesso, collage and doodles -

I thought that I would share the clip of this video which goes into a bit more information about the image.  I was inspired by Taster Session artist Eulalia Majia who is one of the teachers with me on the Life Book 2021. 

My version of the Dragon Fly

I love creating faces and usually see faces or scenes in most of my backgrounds, so I incorporated that and did a small version of the dragonfly that Eulalia shared.  We currently have quite a few variety of dragon fly in our garden, as it it the rainy season and that usually brings a lot of mosquitoes

This is another figure that I did but she still needs to be completed.  I hope you enjoy.

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20% off - use code FEELHAPPY20

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Arts and Wellness Café - Hopeful Extended

Arts and Wellness Café

Join me in the studio for Arts and Wellness Café where we look at more ways in which 'Hopeful' impacts on you health and well-being.  

I also share with you two short process videos so that you can look at playing with backgrounds, just using Inktense pencils, collage paper in a journal, you can apply colour to the page and use it when you only have a short time to play.

Creating pages in your Art Journal Add colours to the page and activate!

I also catch up with some of the Life Book taster sessions, it is great to be able to see what the other teachers did for their sessions and here is one that I was able to do Inspired by Eulalia Mejia creating the backgrounds, using gesso and going in a mark making on figures, the one below is what we did in the classroom.  

Here is the the one below that I was able to do, it is a lovely exercise and very therapeutic as well with all the mark making.

If you would like to register for Life Book CLICK HERE

Use the code FEELHAPPY20 to get the 20% off at the checkout, you will also get all the taster sessions as well!

Weekly Podcast - Creating in Faith - Episode 246 - Hopeful

Come and join me on my latest Episode Podcast Realityarts.

Word for today - Hopeful

This week the word for the Episode of Creating in Faith is Hopeful. 

• What is it in your creative practice are you hopeful for?  
• What new things are you trying or skills that you want to learn?  

You can hope for things but you have to take the steps to make it a reality.  I explore this in my weekly podcast and I would love you to join me.  

The artwork images are pastel paintings and prints are available for purchase HERE 

Join me on this creative journey on the podcast each week for inspiring creative episodes.

You can also find me on the following podcast platforms:

  Spotify

  Apple Podcasts

  Breaker

  Castbox

  Google Podcasts

  Overcast

  Pocket Casts

  Radio Public

  Stitcher

Art Journal Faces - Each one tells a Story

In this video on my YouTube channel I share some of the faces and scenes in my art journal.  When I work in my art journal the intention is not to initially draw a face, but to work on creative play on a background without judgement at how it should look, just reaching for supplies and allowing them to find the pages.

Once the page has got to a certain point I start to think about what I can see emerging from the background, often you can see shapes of images - you may have to turn it upside or on its side to see the shapes/figures that have formed without you specifically thinking about it. 

Each image has a story to be told and you have been given to task in telling it, the first step is finding them on the page and releasing them into the world - I will let their voices be heard.

Dancing to the Beat of Your Own Drum

She decided to dance to the beat of her own drum, not worry what others had to say or tried to say.  She no longer sought the approval of others and understood that she had been on a journey collecting the tools she needed to stand on her own two feet. 

 

A big learning curve had taken place and she was free to be who she wanted to be and live her life.  She could express herself in the way that tapped into her creative dreams, visions and goals - it truly blessed the world and herself

I hope you enjoy looking at some of the images on the video and look forward to seeing how you start to approach your Art Journal.

Experiments in the Garden

Come and join me in my Creative Garden and see some of the things that I use for my creative projects. Let me know what your getting up to in your green space.

You an also check out some of the other Gardening videos while you are there:

Join me the Creative Gardener

Distraction Art Journal

Distraction Journal

In this video that I shared I show you in 'real time' working through two art journals and creating two faces. It is a great idea to have a space where you can spend a short time in being creative.

You don't have to worry about things being finished in this journal, it just gets you being creative rather than doing other things which saps your time and makes you loose focus for the real work you want to do.

In this video that I shared I show you in 'real time' working through two art journals and creating two faces. It is a great idea to have a space where you can spend a short time in being creative.

The emphasis in my distractions journal is to give myself time to play creatively so that I can get on with other work. I usually start by adding color and marks to the page and then my 'go to' is to create faces. I don't restrict myself by having to finish it all at once, but I am able to dip in and out of the journals.

I love using the water soluble pastels/pencils or crayons as they dry quickly and come in a wide range of colors.

There are times where we put things off when you need to try and break through and complete your tasks. Very often we also have to look at the position that we are in (literally) and shake ourselves up. My distractions journal is a place where I can unwind and recharge my batteries

Supplies used

Neocolors, Derwent Inktense and Graphite Soluble. You can check out the supplies on Amazon HERE

I would love to hear how you use your art journals to help you stay focused, leave a comment below. Stay blessed and be a blessing

Arts and Wellness Cafe - Personal Growth and Development

Come and join me in the Arts and Wellness Cafe, it is always great to have you accompany me as we ponder on the various aspects of Arts and Creativity.

In todays video I wanted you to think about ways in which you invest in your creativity and work on your growth.  It is important that you are constantly learning.  It might be a subject that you want to experiment in - there are so many free tutorials around that you can access, books that you can read.  You only have to decide what the subject will be.

I have been one of the teachers who shared a taster session on Life Book recently and my session was all about creative play.  I love working with different and new supplies and constantly look at ways in which I can do more with the supplies that I have.  If you didn't get to see my finished piece it is below.

Life Book Taster Session - Amanda Trought

The great thing about Life Book is the amount of lessons that you are getting, a wide selection of teachers and techniques, so you will be spoilt for choice at the range of techniques, you also get to continue to have access to the FREE taster sessions if you didn't get to complete them all.  It is also a useful idea to redo some of them using different supplies.  I would love to see what you do using different supplies with my session.

You can sign up for the Full 2021 Life Book Course HERE Remember to use the 20% discount code FEELHAPPY20 at the checkout.

The other thing that I am excited to share is some of the Eco-dyeing with Avocado seed.  Artist Dylan Sara shared how to create your own inks as part of his Life Book Taster Session.  I decided to experiment and see what effects I would get dyeing fabric, and here are a few of the designs that I did:

Avocado Eco Dyed

I created a paste and applied the avocado seed to fabric

Avocado Eco Dyed Fabric

I allowed it to dry in the sunshine and it acted like a resist.

I will be sharing the process I used in another video, you can see in the video above some of the results once the avocado has been washed off.  It was great fun to do and I shall be looking forward to adding them to my fabric stash and getting to use them.

Creating a Sculptural Loom - Recycled Materials

Sculptural Looms 

One of the things that I have always done is make something out of the things that I have, looking at things with new eyes and seeing what else I can do with them.

Sculptural Loom made with Paint Brushes

In this video I will be sharing with you how I alter old paint brushes and marker pens to use in another creative project. I will be showing you how the sculptural looms came about for me. It is essentially a loom that you create a woven piece on then you decorate with beading and jewelry and create a mini wall hanging.

In the next video in this series I will share with you how I weave on the looms.

Thank you for joining me on this creative journey.  One of the things that I want you to leave with is that you can try any creative activity that you would like.  You don't have to stick to one thing you can see what it is like and make your mind up from there - life is too short to be holding yourself back!!!

Other Great News!!

Life Book Taster session have been EXTENDED until 18th October, so you have a bit more time to go through all the FREE sessions.  Let me know how you get on with mine, and there is a question about the critic that it would be great to get your perspective on.  If you haven't yet had a chance to sign up you can do so HERE

Registration has opened for Life Book 2021 if you are considering Signing Up you can get 20% discount using the code FEELHAPPY20

I have two great sessions to share (we will be working with a clay project and a slow stitched project)

SIGN UP HERE

When you get a chance subscribe to my YouTube channel if you haven't already.  I have lots of tutorials and art videos coming up for you to continue to wet your feet and enjoy.  Tomorrow I will be sharing in the Arts and Wellness Cafe, you can see back recordings HERE

Creating with Neocolors

Do you have art supplies that are just sitting there waiting for you to use them but you said they were for 'best'?  You were waiting for that time to come when you would use them, but when you eventually did go to use them you found that they had either dried up or disintegrated.

That has happened on a number of occasions and I should have learnt by now, but from time to time I still use the cheaper products on myself and the more expensive ones for the 'professional work'

I know Neocolors are not the most expensive water-soluble wax pastels you can get but they did cost quite a lot back in the day and they were definitely not going to be used in my art journals but I had to wait for a canvas before I used them.  Well - No more!!  

I decided that all my supplies were fair game and that if there was anyone that I should be using them for it should be me and my creative growth.  This would mean that to value myself I needed to use supplies which I value on myself rather than wait!  It is not a nice feeling to go to use your supplies and find after years of putting them on a pedestal they are not useable.  

The video shows you my creative play with the Neocolors, and when you are playing it doesn't have to have a specific outcome, just spend time with the supply and this will also help you to get to know them.

Neo  Colors come in tins of 10, 15, 30, 40 If you would like to try working with Neo Colors you can check them out on Amazon HERE

Arts and Wellness Cafe - Nurture and Unleash your Creativity

Come and join me in the most recent Arts and Wellness Cafe where you are encouraged to unleash your creativity.  Start trying new things, revive some of those art supplies that are just sitting down doing nothing.  If you are not familiar with the way they work then ask, take a course - you can even connect with me and I will show you how - you can take a look through my YouTube videos and you may find the answers there, above all, just don't give up.

Another thing that you need to be mindful of is 'self nurture' - it is alright not to have everything planned out all the time.  Sometimes you need to take stock, take a break, really look at where it is that you are going creatively and in other areas of your life.

Looking after yourself using creative activities have an amazing effect, and you have to also look after your supplies and where your creative practice takes place.

I also mention Life Book Taster Sessions, I hope that you have signed up and making the most of the art activities and free gifts and who knows you may be one of the ones who win one of the 40 places that are being given away.  My session is going live on Tuesday 6th October and I hope you can join me and let me know how you get on.  You can sign up HERE if you haven't already.

On Monday I will be starting my Podcast series again and Mondays is Creating in Faith where we look at a word and spend time reflecting You can check it out HERE

Arts and Wellness Café - What is part of your creative practice?

 Arts and Wellness Cafe

Join me in the Arts and Wellness Café as we look at the idea of having a creative practice. What is it that you turn to to get you back on track.

I always begin my day in my studio with a cup of herbal and a cup of ordinary tea, light my oil burner and sage stick and then allow myself to play with materials and supplies.

Cup of Green Tea made with Flower petals clitoria ternatea

I have recorded a video on the flower, it has a lovely color and you can see it HERE on my YouTube Channel.

At the end of the Arts and Wellness video I share with you some of the projects that I am working on - I am really excited, I have been pushing myself in a variety of directions.

What ever you do in your creative space, make sure that you spend time on you!

While you are at it, remember to take a look at the Life Book FREE Taster Session HERE 

Life Book Teachers for 2021

Get 20% off when you Pre-Book

It will be starting Tomorrow (Monday 28th and continue to the 11th October)

I also share some of the things that I have been working on in the studio.  I have been experimenting with Leather and working with a wood burning tool to create patterns and designs

Designs in Leather

You can check out some of the wood burning tools HERE and HERE on Amazon  You can also take a look at some of my favorite supplies HERE

Let me know what your creative practice comprises of and how you deal with the times when you don't feel like creating.

Stay blessed and be a blessing.

Would you like 30 FREE Art Sessions? We will be starting Soon 👀👀

 

Free Taster Sessions Event  Life Book 2021. We have a week to go before we begin 2 weeks of fun creative immersion! All for FREE, it is going to be amazing! Have you signed up to join us yet? The team over at at Willowing have worked very hard to present you with another FREE Taster Event, This time, it's for Life Book 2021, which has is also now available to pre-order I began my Mixed Media Art journey taking the classes in Life Book around 2008!! and I am so stoked years later to be one of the teachers on the Year Long Course!!   Life Book 2021 will feature dozens of amazing artists of which I am proud to be one and will bring you the best art classes focused on YOU and your well-being!! You can pre-order the full course right now! :) Hop on over here to pre-order the course (Use FEELHAPPY20 to get 20% off!). However if you want to learn a bit more about it first, then: To learn More about the teachers CLICK HERE Sign up for the Free Taster Lessons

FREE Taster Alert! To introduce you to the Life Book course & the teachers (and just to have fun too), we are running two weeks of FREE Taster Sessions!  :)  If you want to learn more about this popular course and enjoy this Free Event (with free introductory classes, live faqs and giveaways), then make sure you:

Join the Life Book Free Taster Sessions by Clicking Here

The Taster Sessions are completely free and will start on 28th September 2020 (mark you calendars, we hope to see you there)! Should be so much fun!  What is it? A COMPLETELY FREE 2-week long exploration into art and wellbeing! The Sessions are filled with inspiring classes, art sessions, give aways, meditations and wellbeing activities to help you get present and connected to the healing power of your creativity! WHAT DOES IT INVOLVE?

30 teachers giving free classes over a two-week period, of course as your host, you'll get free lessons from Tam too! It’s going to be a big couple of weeks in our creative community!  We all can’t wait! Not only are these Free Sessions filled with inspiring classes by amazing artists, but there will be freebies from each of us, as well as the chance to win a free place on the full Life Book 2021 course! When you attend the Life Book Free Taster Sessions you are able to: Watch the sessions at your leisure! Join our Facebook Group with like-minded people from all over the world! Wear whatever comfy clothes you want and enjoy the Free Taster Sessions from the comfort of your own home!  Play, make mistakes, be fabulous or sad, it's all welcome! You are accepted just as you are! Enjoy free art & well-being activities

GIVEAWAYS Give Aways! If you want to win a spot on Life Book 2021, each teacher will be giving away 1 place (and Tam will be giving away 10 free spaces!) The giveaways will be held in the Life Book Taster Sessions Facebook Group, so make sure you join the Taster Session by going HERE and put your details into the sign up box! You will be sent an email with all the information. Before You Go - Pre-order Life Book 2021 HERE You can now pre-order the course early if you’re a 'YES' already. Use the Early Birdy Coupon Code to get 20% off!

To Recap Free Taster Sessions for Life Book begin on 28th September 2020  - Sign up here. Pre-orders for Life Book 2021 are open NOW! Check it out here.  Life Book 2021 the course starts on January 1st. Find out all about this course here.  Stay blessed and be a blessing.  Hope to see you on the taster week,  Amandaxx

Sign Up for the Taster Sessions by Clicking HERE