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.

100 Day Project - 100 Pastel Sketches 33 - 40

Here are the images 33 - 40 of the 100 Pastel Drawings that I have been doing on the #100dayproject2019

I had a couple of days where I didn't feel like creating which is weird, but kept going, you have to, and reminded myself that I am showing up for me.  The project isn't about anyone else, but wanting to go on a journey with the pastels and use the supplies that I have.

If you would like to see the daily images you can come visit me on Instagram.  Next week I will begin sharing some of the videos that I will be creating weekly for some of the images, it is always great to see how artist approach their work, and I hope that you find some inspiration while watchin.

You will be able to see the first of the weekly videos here when I share videos 41 - 48 or join me on YouTube, I am hoping that they will inspire you to get out your supplies and create.  I will be sharing the full video on my Patreon Site, which you are welcome to join.

To see a selection of pastels and accessories on Amazon click HERE

Stay blessed and be a blessing.

Art and Wellness - Lisa Mona - Podcast Episode 81

Welcome to the Episode 81 of the Podcast and the Arts and Wellness, where the focus is 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.

Lisa Mona - Artist

In this Episode I spoke to artist Lisa Mona who was exhibiting at the Caribbean Fine Art Fair. Lisa Mona was born in Barbados with a diverse cultural background which has fashioned her artwork in an eclectic way. Her body of work is influenced by the beauty of simplicity itself, natures's colors and its organic shapes. She expresses herself through photography, jewelry, design and abstract paintings.

Listen to her interview below:

Watch the Video on YouTube

So some of the takeaways from Lisa was the connection with nature and looking at the fine detail when she is putting her work together.

When we think about arts and health some of the ways in which we can incorporate some of the things Lisa does in her work is to take time out to notice things in nature.  Step outside, open your windows and get some fresh air, listen to the sounds that you can hear around you, the colours and the shapes, what do they remind you of?

If you are a carer you can think about reminiscence and looking at old photos and getting your loved one to talk about the people and actions in the pictures.  If you don't have access to photos you can get together a selection of well known celebrities that they would recognize and have a conversation about them.

Take some photographs yourself, go for a walk and see what things you can photograph, especially within their local area that they could talk about or could be a starting point to a conversation.

The appeal of nature

Being out in the sunshine, feeling the breeze on your skin is important for us all to experience and with the majority of us being Vitamin D deficient it is important to spend time daily where possible outdoors.  

I hope that this has been useful.  Sign up for my mailing list and YouTube channel for more ideas on being creative.

You an connect with Lisa Mona on: - Facebook - Lisa Mona Art, YouTube, Instagram

If you would like to know more about photo montage, check out a couple of titles from Amazon HERE

For information on arts events in Barbados check out the Barbados Visual Arts event online Magazine Published by Corrie Scott.

The Mixed Media Play Date is in full swing, You can sign up for the course HERE or click on this link - http://bit.ly/MMPAT19 to get the bonuses (email me once you have booked)

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

YouTube   Instagram   Pinterest   Website

Blog   Twitter    Facebook

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

100 Day Project - 100 Pastel Sketches 25 - 32

Here are the images for the next 8 Pastel drawings, I totally forgot to share these.  I have been using a selection of pastels to create the images, and beginning to see that some I favor more than others.  I have been using my Rembrant Pastels - check out the selection that I share on Amazon

I would love to see what you decided to do for your challenge, remember to share.

I will also be showing you a weekly process video showing you how I create an image in pastels, you will be able to see how I start the images using the pastels, I am finding the more I create, the more I am able to find ways that suit me.

 If you would like to see the daily images you can come visit me on Instagram.  You will be able to see the first of the weekly videos here when I share videos 41 - 48 or join me on YouTube, I am hoping that they will inspire you to get out your supplies and create.  I will be sharing the full video on my Patreon Site, which you are welcome to join.

To see a selection of pastels and accessories on Amazon click HERE

Stay blessed and be a blessing.

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.

Course Sale! & 100 Day Project Pastel Sketches - 17 - 24

Pastels 17 - 24 - Amanda Trought

Here are the latest sketches for the 100 Days of Pastels.  It has been quite an interesting week seeing what comes up each morning.  I start the day with a sketch and find that it is a good way to loosen up the creative juices and also get you in the right frame of mind because you have spent time with your inner child playing.

I start each of the sketches with playing with colour laying down what comes to hand.  Some days I might start with a particular colour in mind but essentially it is what ever is speaking to me and I go with it.  I don't decide what I will draw but still look within the colours on the paper to see what images are coming out.  I am amazed at the variety when you let yourself be free.

Playing about with pastels - Check out Amazon 

The other thing that I wanted to share with you is the Mixed Media Play Date.  It is in full swing and we are having a wonderful time creating.

I am constantly trying to push the boat out and experiment with the different supplies and as a teacher learn new things as our learning never stops, and it is great to be able to see the fantastic work that is being done in the classroom.

Here is am image that I did while being inspired with Tiares session.

Mixed Media Art

Mixed Media Art - Amanda Trought

If you have been thinking of joining the Year Long class, you can do so and get $25 off the price of the course now through Mother’s Day, May 12, 2019. Just enter code: MOMLOVE at checkout to save.

You can sign up for the course HERE and when you sign up using my link I will also be sending you a host of bonuses! You can find out about all the bonuses HERE (Send me an email once you are signed up and I will get them sent out to you.)

I hope you are enjoying the creative challenge that you may have been doing and I look forward to hearing from you.

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 - Weekly Episodes 73 and 74

Welcome to the episodes for this week on Realityarts Podcast, It is a pleasure being your host for the show, I am thankful that I am able to share and blessed when you have listened and manage to get a nugget or two to take away.

On Monday's Episode - The Writing is on the Wall we talked about the way that we look at time, and after much is spent, that which is wasted will not be refunded.  Do you have regrets about things you did in your life, and how can you change your perspective about them?

Creating in Faith - The Writing is on the Wall

Inspirational Shorts

Our word for Friday's Inspirational Shorts is Comfort.  Do we settle rather than getting out of the comfort zone and into something that will challenge us?  What does the word 'comfort' conjure up for you?

Thank you to those who listen to the podcast from all over the world we are glad to have you with us.

If you would like to donate to support the work on the podcast and make it accessible to more people you can do so HERE

Thank you in advance and stay blessed and be a blessing.

100 Day Project - Pastel Sketches 9 - 16

Welcome to today's selection of sketches.  I will be posting the sketches weekly on the blog but if you want to see the daily progress you can go onto my Instagram feed and see them there or wait until the end of the week :)  I thought I would catch up with my self and share the next 8 sketches that I have done so far.

Selection of Pastels - Check out Amazon Store for Details

I have been using a range of both hard and soft Pastels - Rembrant soft, Rowney soft tints, Conte Hard, Nouvel Carre and Langnickel Hard pastels I have shared the Amazon store and added additional pastels that you can try out at a variety of prices.  I will also once the challenge has finished be creating some reviews of the pastels that I have used.  I think 100 days of testing will be quite a thorough test.  I will also be creating some videos using the pastels and the techniques that I use along the way, so sign up to my YouTube channel and click the notification bell to be updated.

Here are the pastel sketches so far 9 - 16

Pastel Sketches 9 - 16 of the 100 Days of Pastels

I shared the selection of 5 pastels I have been using on Amazon and I have brought together a great selection of supplies on my Amazon Store that you can take a look at.

have you decided yet if you will join in the #the100dayproject2019 or create a challenge of your own, it doesn't have to be 100 days but you could start with 5 days and see how you go.

If you are interested in taking classes and working with pastels then check out Creative live

They currently have a series of online FREE Classes and discounted courses to suit your needs and each week they have several Free Live classes as well, so check them out.

Let me know if you start a challenge of your own so I can come and support you on your platform!  Take care and be a blessing