Overnight Formula? - Daily Prompts & Blog Hop Countdown BADASS Art Journal 2017

There is no Overnight Formula

There is no secret formular for success, it takes effort, hard work and making the most of the opportunities that are presented.  You need to look at each one of your supposed 'failures' as bringing you one step closer.  Learn from your mistakes and move on!

Each day leading up to my Blog hop session I will be sharing with you Daily prompts and Encouragement to remind you just how precious you are, and if you start to put these into practice you will definitely see your creative growth and be raring to go for my lesson on the course.


BADASS Art Journal 2017

My day for the blog hop is the 15th December, and I will be sharing with you all the goodies I will be giving away when you sign up using my link here on my blog, I will even be doing a giveaway for one free spot on the course, so do come back and see if you could be the lucky one. 

Don't worry if you have never taken an online course before, you will get lots of support and be around other encouraging creatives.  It is always great to see the amount of love and encouragement that flows through the community, you have nothing to worry about and so much to gain.

If you want to just go ahead and purchase the course you can also get an early bird discount by putting in URBADASS at the checkout to receive the 15% discount .

While your at it, sign up to my Mailing list, you will be getting information about what I am up to in my creative journey, tutorials, giveaways and more and also be in with an extra chance to win a free spot on the course (thought I'd give you a heads up!)

Remember to check out the list of other teachers and join them on their blogs, and have a chance for winning a free spot on the class.

Dec 8 - Tracy Weinzapfel

Dec 9 - Tamiko McCurry

Dec 10 - Effy Wild

Dec 11- Cristin Stephenson

Dec 12 - Sharon Harkness-Dobler

Dec 13- Andrea Gomoll

Dec 14 - Jennifer Albin

Dec 15 - Amanda Trought

Dec 16 - Keri Sallee

Dec 17 - Robin Mead

Dec 18 - Tiare Smith

Start Today - Daily Prompts & Blog Hop Countdown BADASS Art Journal 2017

Start Today

For change to become permanent you are going to have to make it a habit.  Take 15 minutes each day and review your day.  Plan for the next and put the necessary steps needed to keep you going.  When your slipping take a look at what it is that you really get from those bad habits?

BADASS Art Journal 2017

Each day leading up to my Blog hop session I will be sharing with you Daily prompts and Encouragement to remind you just how precious you are, and if you start to put these into practice you will definitely see your creative growth and be raring to go for my lesson on the course.

My day for the blog hop is the 15th December, and I will be sharing with you all the goodies I will be giving away when you sign up using my link here on my blog, I will even be doing a giveaway for one free spot on the course, so do come back and see if you could be the lucky one. 

Don't worry if you have never taken an online course before, you will get lots of support and be around other encouraging creatives.  It is always great to see the amount of love and encouragement that flows through the community, you have nothing to worry about and so much to gain.

If you want to just go ahead and purchase the course you can also get an early bird discount by putting in URBADASS at the checkout to receive the 15% discount .

While your at it, sign up to my Mailing list, you will be getting information about what I am up to in my creative journey, tutorials, giveaways and more and also be in with an extra chance to win a free spot on the course (thought I'd give you a heads up!)

Remember to check out the list of other teachers and join them on their blogs, and have a chance for winning a free spot on the class.

Dec 7 - Susanne Rose

Dec 8 - Tracy Weinzapfel

Dec 9 - Tamiko McCurry

Dec 10 - Effy Wild

Dec 11- Cristin Stephenson

Dec 12 - Sharon Harkness-Dobler

Dec 13- Andrea Gomoll

Dec 14 - Jennifer Albin

Dec 15 - Amanda Trought

Dec 16 - Keri Sallee

Dec 17 - Robin Mead

Dec 18 - Tiare Smith

I'm Teaching - New Online Course and Blog Hop!

Guess what?

I have been asked again to be one of the instructors on the  BADASS Art Journal 2017 online class and I am very excited to be able to share this with you.  It is a great opportunity for you to learn from a team of 14 different artists, find out about different art journalling techniques over the course of 15 weeks.

It is amazing value and a great way to kickstart your creative connections.  We are having a Blog hop starting today, where you will find out a bit more about the teachers and be in with a chance of winning a free spot on the class.  

Here is the lineup

Dec 5 - Tracy Scott
Dec 6 - Kiala Givehand

Dec 7 - Susanne Rose

Dec 8 - Tracy Weinzapfel

Dec 9 - Tamiko McCurry

Dec 10 - Effy Wild

Dec 11- Cristin Stephenson

Dec 12 - Sharon Harkness-Dobler

Dec 13- Andrea Gomoll

Dec 14 - Jennifer Albin

Dec 15 - Amanda Trought

Dec 16 - Keri Sallee

Dec 17 - Robin Mead

Dec 18 - Tiare Smith

My day for the blog hop is the 15th December, and I will be sharing with you all the goodies I will be giving away when you sign up using my link here on my blog, I will even be doing a giveaway for one free spot on the course, so do come back and see if you could be the lucky one. 

Don't worry if you have never taken an online course before, you will get lots of support and be around other encouraging creatives.  It is always great to see the amount of love and encouragement that flows through the community, you have nothing to worry about and so much to gain.

If you want to just go ahead and purchase the course you can also get an early bird discount by putting in IMBAD17 at the checkout to receive the 15% discount .

While your at it, sign up to my Mailing list, you will be getting information about what I am up to in my creative journey, tutorials, giveaways and more and also be in with an extra chance to win a free spot on the course (thought I'd give you a heads up!)

Each day leading up to my Blog hop session I will be sharing with you Daily prompts and Encouragement to remind you just how precious you are, and if you start to put these into practice you will definitely see your creative growth and be raring to go for my lesson on the course.

Remember to check out the list of other teachers and join them on their blogs, and have a chance for winning a free spot on the class.

Dec 6 - Kiala Givehand

Dec 7 - Susanne Rose

Dec 8 - Tracy Weinzapfel

Dec 9 - Tamiko McCurry

Dec 10 - Effy Wild

Dec 11- Cristin Stephenson

Dec 12 - Sharon Harkness-Dobler

Dec 13- Andrea Gomoll

Dec 14 - Jennifer Albin

Dec 15 - Amanda Trought

Dec 16 - Keri Sallee

Dec 17 - Robin Mead

Dec 18 - Tiare Smith

Alliouagana Festival of the Word 2016 - Invitation to Montserrat

November the 10th to the 13th marks the start of the Alliouagana Festival of the Word in Montserrat.  The program is quite a packed one with speakers coming from all over the world.

My husband and I have been asked to deliver a presentation at the festival and I am quite excited at the thought.  Alan will be speaking about the impact of the internet especially relating to children and he will also be running a workshop with a group of school children.

My talk is titled from Diaries to Blogs and I will look at how we can share our creative voices without being overwhelmed by social media and technology.  I will also be exhibiting some of my work.

It is a wonderful opportunity to not only go to another Caribbean island but also to share our experience and the work that we do.  I shall be keeping you all updated along the way via my Facebook and Instagram accounts, and some short videos via my YouTube and when we get back I should have more images and interesting points of view to share here on the blog.

So stay tuned, be prepared to come with me on the journey to Montserrat, see the scenery, hear snippets of some of the talks and maybe even one day venture out there yourself.

Lots more happening behind the scenes so will reveal when we get back

As you can see, some really great titles for the talks.  We are chatting on Radio Montserrat on Friday, giving some background to what we do.

There are a lot of presenters and creative activities intermingled.  I hear the National Dish 'Goat Water' is quite tasty!

My talk comes on Sunday, which I am looking forward to as well as being slightly nervous!

So if you would like to come to the festival, there is still time, last minute bookings welcome, if not be sure to come back and see some of the images that I will be sharing.

Blessings!  Amanda

Favorite Art Supplies - In the studio

I have been involved with the #1min1take videos as you might have read in my blog post yesterday.  It has been really great creating videos that you don't have to worry about editing.  It is almost freeing, of course I still enjoy some of the editing processes, but it does take quite a while to do, more if not equal to the amount of time it takes to film.

That said, I have created some mini videos that share some of my favorite supplies that I use in the studio.  I think creating these short videos are a great way to give you that spark of inspiration without being a long video, and I really like giving you where possible ideas that will kick start your own creativity. 

I will be doing longer videos for those who would like to see just how I use the supplies, the different ways you can use them and ways that you can use them that are not so obvious.

Check out some of my mini videos which I may keep going after the challenge finishes today, and let me know which ones you would like to see a longer version of.

Stay blessed and be a blessing.  See you tomorrow for some recycled projects.

How To Art Journal Interview with Kiala Givehand

A couple of weeks ago I spoke to Kiala Givehand about my work and creative practice as part of her How 2 Art Journal YouTube channel.  It was great fun and I thought I would leave the video link for you to take a look.

Been busy with other things this month, a few exhibitions to prepare for.  This week has also found me making some videos for the #1min1take video challenge with Holly Gillen.

It has been great to let go of the pressure of having to edit the video, and talking for one minute goes so quickly, so learning to be concise is becoming a great lesson.

Check out my YouTube channel to see some of the videos I have made, I hope that you will be encouraged.  Here are a few of the ones done so far

Hope you are having a blessed week so far, Friday tomorrow, need to find time to focus on the things that mean so much but can often get neglected.  That said will share some of the other things I have been doing in the studio.

Hang tight till then, stay blessed and be a blessing.

The Relatives Came - to Barbados!

We had a lovely time when my sister and her family came to stay with us a few months ago and I've been so caught up with different things that it is only now that I can get a chance to share some of that time spent.  Their visit reminded me about the book that I used to read to my son entitled The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant  

It is a gorgeous book that tells of a family setting out in their car to visit relatives and spend time with them over the summer, everyone shares the space and makes room for each other.  Cynthia has written quite a lot of children's books and more recently - Little Penguins.

They are both available on Kindle and Hardback and would make lovely gifts for children.

When we were children we would spend time weekend at our cousins, the furthest we went was to visit cousins in Manchester, and I didn't go on a plane until I was 18, unlike now where most children have been on a plane by the time they are 2 years old.  We all look back with fond memories of the times we had and the feeling of not having care in the world.  It is very different now as our kids don't meet up nearly as often and connect more via social media, but you can't beat spending time in person with the folks!

Anyway, my sister and her family came to stay with us and it was great!  We spent time going out and about, relaxing in each others company and laughing.

I indulged over those two weeks. 

 Here is a very delicious yet rich treat I had - Carrot cake at the Waterfront Cafe  it was absolutely delicious, they also do a yummy bread and butter pudding (both of which I shouldn't eat due to the intolerance to wheat and dairy, and I may try to create an alternative on my Raw Foods Fusion Blog).

We walked on the Boardwalk and saw the sun setting.  

You will never get tired watching the sunset, 

and it seems different each time, so beautiful, and we get to enjoy it every day!

We took a drive down to the Crane, again so nice to be by the sea!

Graham Hall Sanctuary was on the list, while the sanctuary part is closed they have a cafe and the grounds are beautifully maintained, and during the afternoon the monkeys move across the lawn to nearby trees 

 It is a lovely place to visit!

Saw the pre cropover celebrations in Broad Street

They had to leave the day of Cropover, though it has changed quite a bit when I first saw it many years ago. I miss the more elaborately designed costumes.

Anyway, they got a taster at least.  One of our final visits took us to the Flower Forest - and I have some amazing photos to share with you.

After the fun and laughter the hugs and the 'see you soon' it was time for them to return to London, the time went so quickly, we tried to value each moment, and continue to remind ourselves that we are not promised tomorrow. Our trip to the UK followed, but I'll share that in another post.

I will also be sharing lots of the images of each visit on my Destination Barbados Blog (under construction at the moment) which is all about my time here, the ups and downs of relocating, there will be lots of imagery as I soak up the beauty of the island......I hope you can join me!

She dreamed of a place - Digging up those long forgotten dreams - Mixed Media Painting

Mixed Media Art - Amanda Trought

She dreamed of a place, not so far away, not so long ago, but on a different dimension.  She had been there many times, and in this place she was herself, she didn't have to pretend, she was who she was created to be.

We are all going through some kind of journey and we have to decide how we we can make a difference to those things that we have the power to change.  We have more power that we realize, sitting in a garden of treasure, with the tools in your hand but looking over to your neighbours treasure and asking why you couldn't have a better garden.

All along, all that it would really take is for you to dig a little deeper, show up, be consistent, disciplined and when you least expected it as you wiped your brow it would show up.  Those little glimpses of the treasure.

As she dug deeper she realized that her journey was important, her life had meaning and she had things that she could share, so many things magically happened around her.  She would often take these things for granted. she just needed to get over, round or through herself

I value my journey, my voice, my treasures, my sparks of inspiration, my gifts, talents and abilities, I value me!  I will show up for me, stand in the gap, shine the light, to through the process and continue to dream my dreams

What talents have you been covering up, or playing small and what needs some light shone on it?  I would love to see your comments, stay blessed and be a blessing!

She went into the city - I'm Backkkkk!

She came to the city - Mixed media Art - Realityarts

Wow, it has been a while since I have posted, I can't quite believe that time has flown so quickly.  I seem to have so many things on the last two months that I got lost in it all and before you knew it we are at the end of September. 

I do enjoy sharing my posts and things I get up to and will be getting my groove back on and showing you some 'how to' videos using different materials and creating out of recycled materials.  I will share in my next post what I got up to and photos and over the next few weeks share my updated blog schedule to keep you inspired and encouraged and taking a chance - stepping out in faith as you embrace your creative self.  I have more teaching and workshops to share, and more!

This is a painting and video process that I did back in August, and it shows 'Lady Peace' entering the city.  We need peace right now around the world and it takes all of us to bring that to a reality.  We have to call out injustices in all walks of life, in all communities, business, society, it cannot be tolerated.

She came to the city - Mixed media art

We each have within us a unique spark, a gift and treasure that is to share with others around the world.  Don't be hating on others, deal with what you have, don't compare yourself to another, you don't know what they went through to get to where they are - but you have an incredible gift, you just need to know how to use it.

She came to the city to spread peace, love, grace, mercy and hope.  Stay blessed and be a blessing!

Art and Health in Barbados - Magazine Article

A few months ago I was given the opportunity to talk about the impact that Art can have on our health and well-being in a monthly magazine called Better Health. Each month they cover a variety of topics that highlight a wide range of health issues and gives the readership in-depth information and sign posts them to resources to enable them to be proactive in taking steps to improve their own health and that of their family.

I shared my story about my journey and it is funny when you look back over your life and see the many different roads you could have gone down.  I could never have foreseen my current move that brought me to Barbados and I know that every step of the way has brought its highs and lows but in each situation we have to see what the gift is in the lessons we are being shown. If you’ve followed my blog and read some of my posts you will know that I’ve worked in a few diverse fields before becoming an artist.

I think that the common theme that runs through each of the areas of work is wanting to help others  I worked for many years as an Executive Secretary in education, design and then in the NHS before doing my degree in Complementary Therapies.  I focused on Nutritional and Massage therapy because I could see the link between the food that we ate and how we treated our bodies.  I had also lost my father and brother to cancer and my mother was diagnosed with dementia, so looking for a holistic approach to health has been vitally important for me.  I further saw the impact of massage therapy and later art and creative activities including music, dance, theatre and even horticulture, and started to do more research.

I found that art and creativity consistently had a big impact on individuals who either viewed activities in the 'arts, say by going to a gallery as well as those who took part in creative activities, and it really enabled people to express themselves in ways they were unable to verbally, and people were able to say how they felt using a range of different tools and be involved with a creative practice that brought about the feeling of well-being.  This was also the case for those who took part in my 3 year project with the elderly who had varying degrees of dementia.

If you have taken any of the classes I have run as part of either The Journey Within, One BadAss Journal or My Color is Beautiful Art, I try and create lessons that not only get us learning a new technique or creating a lovely piece of art, but also to get us to ask ourselves the questions that we often try to avoid.

Art for me is an integral part of my life and it was such a pleasure to share a part of it in the magazine.  I see art and creative activity as a vehicle for sharing the stories and acting as a bridge between what is told and what is left unsaid and brings out the richness and the passion that is handed down and that captures the imagination of generations.

My journey here in Barbados has only just begun and I hope to share more of our journey, insights, highs and lows of taking that step of faith.  If you want to read the article in the magazine, send your email address to amanda(at)realityarts(dot)co(dot)uk and I will send you a copy.

I would love to hear how art and creativity has impacted on your life and the way in which you use it to tell your story.

Adventure Awaits - Mini Card Transformation Series and Video

Watch the Video below

They say that time will not wait for no man.  Often in my walk as an artist I get the feeling of time running out.  I am always chasing after myself, with so many things that I would like to do, learn and experiment with.  I often find myself becoming overwhelmed with the 'stuff of stuffness'

Stuffness is a word I think I made up, but don't quote me on that.  All this stuff we surround ourselves with, what we really should do is to get rid of them, cut back and focus on the things that really matter.

This little painting is part of my daily practice and what it reminds me to do is stop focusing on the things that perhaps don't look right and focus on that which is to come.

A couple of years ago I wrote on a paper a word for that year and stuck it up in my kitchen, it said 'WHAT IF'.  I feel that the answers to this question are what is on the other end of stuckness!

What if you were able to do all those things that you wanted to do, but convinced yourself that you couldn't.  What if you wanted to change, and to stop the negative voices from rearing their ugly heads?

All you have to really do is let go, take that step, have faith, and you can truly move mountains!

So the question is, what are you stuck in, what do you need to change, to do differently that could potentially change the course of your life - why play small!

Mixed Media Art 'Minis'

Transformation Thursdays - Mixed Media Art Painting

Transformation - what does it mean to you?  Do you think of dramatic change or small change, is there something that you can think about that you can remember showing this transformation that took place.

For me transformation is about change from one thing to the next.  If we consider the flower, starting from a seed, and after a period of time what emerges from the ground is totally different from what was planted, and will change as it matures into what it is supposed to be..  Change can take place in many different ways.

I see the way that creativity transforms a blank canvas to an amazing work of art.  I would like to think that I am part of the big transformation that takes place, adding my 'two pennies' worth and making a difference in the world. 

These paintings over the course of the weeks that I produced them was about simply looking at a card and creating something totally different.

In each painting a character came forth and had their own story to tell about transformation, and what it could now mean for the life of a painting.  It could be sold, kept in a draw, displayed for all to see with special meaning and purpose. 

Anyway, my girl with the flower has her story of transformation that brought her this far, gracing the pages of this blog and into your homes.  What she cannot express through words she shares with her expression.

Knowing that you can create why don't you get out your favorite art supplies and spend some time playing with colour and texture, it could be the very thing that you need right at this moment.

Mixed Media Art - Girl with the flower

Stay blessed and be a blessing