experimental art

Just a quickie to remind you that the Spring Experimental Art course is starting on Monday. Run by Amelia who writes my favourite creative blog 101 bird tales.  Its a fabulous course and I  highly recommend it for so many reasons - mainly its fun, and you will discover new ways of  being creative that you hadn't thought about, it can unlock your creativity and get you going!!.  Sweet Myrtle is doing it again and has written a beautiful post about why it is so good.... check it out!

when I get around to organising my creative retreat.  Amelia will be top of the list to do a workshop I can tell you.

kicking the creative rut into space

Hello again.  I just wanted to say that I have spent the last hour or so immersed in creating freely.  I have totally and utterly had a lovely time and I feel happy inside. Inside my heart there has been some leaden feelings and they have been hard to shake off.  Hello creative play!  It so works.

I started out because i have entered into Louise Gale's Creative Colour Challenge.  And so like me, I have missed the deadline.  I have already received a delightful and delicate painting from Fur Will Fly and there's me, all in a huff and had forgotten all about it.  So with this beautiful reminder that came so unexpectedly in the post (how totally awesome to receive an unexpected parcel?!) (FWF I am on the case, it will be coming your way soon!! I Promise!) I came upstairs this evening to create my piece.  The theme is BLOOMING COMPLIMENTARY.  Its bloom and complimentary colours.  I chose green and red and started by cutting out green and read bits from a magazine.  Then I got some green and red paint and made a bit of a mess on various bits of paper. FUN.  And finally went for it.  I have used the words Bloom True.  Because this is the name of the workshop I will be doing with Flora Bowley at the Do What You Love retreat in May.

After the last few days, and my work load of late. I am so absolutely and utterly taking this time out to go and immerse myself in wild and free creative painting.  Posting about Amelia's Journal Your Dreams workshop (and YES I am going to do it again!) earlier this evening, got me thinking about how I had used a photo of Flora painting in her studio as part of my Journal.  And how she came to symbolise what I want to be as a painter and how I had journalled about wanting to find the time and space to CREATE.  It all sort of came together with Beth inviting Flora to be one of the workshop leaders at her Do What You Love retreat.  I felt that it was all a bit pricey for me, and my husband definately is not sure its something I should be spending the money on...... but I am sure. And the work that has come my way since, and this unexpected insurance payout.... and EVEN this horrible fit of the blues I have just gone through..... this finding the time and space to create is TOTALLY necessary to me.

So Bloom True.  It was so good to create a piece that means so so much to me right now.  In honor of all the magical coincidences and dream manifesting and creating community I have found here in the blogosphere....

Oh and I am going to be adding a new word to my WORD for 2011.  SPACE.  Its yoga and its about space for me to Bloom True to myself.

Later::: I just found this.... its just EXACTLY what I need to read just now.... 

3 favourite things of today (or more maybe it was a good'un

Today was a good day.  Bub and I went up to the Southbank (BRILLIANT PLACE - never went there when I lived in London.... ) to meet up with Amelia (who organised it as part of the Experimental Art Course she runs), Concetta and various other Experimental Artists to chat and do a really fun photography assignment.  36 photos in 36 minutes.  I think I may well have taken more than 36 but having Bub with me kind of helped me lose count.  My excuse anyway. So some favourite bits of today.

1. getting to go to London and discover how cool the Southbank was - and just going on an ADVENTURE with Bub - always such fun

2. Bub's face going on the Jubilee line tube train for the first time ever
3. Meeting Amelia and Concetta in person  - and some other lovely ladies whom I have virtually met only on Flickr; The Rachel Papers, Banky Moon (Leslie Ann) and Beth and Sarah..
4. Lots of fun taking crazy photos and getting very positive feed back on them! 

Off to London to Experimental Art it tomorrow

I am working out a way to go along to the Experiental Art E course photography meet up tomorrow.  I am going to have to take Bub with me.  But at least I will get to meet my fellow e coursers and Amelia which is totally cool.  The work that is being done is really exciting and despite somehow managing to fall behind with it (AGAIN! How did I manage that) I am still getting so much out of it this second time around.  I am glad it is up there for a few weeks after the course officially ends as I have some catching up to do.  What I like about it is that it opens up doors of exploration and encourages creative play  - in ways or mediums you might not have considered.  Great for souping up creative thinking and getting unstuck.

I was thinking I couldn't make it to the meet up.  And I was sad about it.  I thought I can't go because Hub has to work and if I ask he will be annoyed and say no.  So I thought I need a way to ask so that he will think its a good idea.  And so he has to work, and we will get out of his hair for the day by going on a day trip.  COOL.  We can have a nice lunch somewhere and meet the gang too. Though we may be slightly scuppered on the actual taking of photographs bit.  But I don't think its a case of half is worse.  (does that make sense?) I think its a compromise but better than not going at all.  

Poetry in MOTION!

WEll, my year has taken a while to get going.  I am still pretty much deaf in one ear, which is a most unusual and slightly isolating experience.  But I am fired up now.  Yesterday I made a life aim.  I am going to be a yoga teacher when I am 70.  I have plenty of time to pull it off I guess, but I went to my class yesterday.  It was fantastic to get back on the mat and I felt fabulous afterwards.  And I also spoke to Jim who runs the classes as well as the teacher training I am interested in doing.  I am now composing my letter of interest.....  I expect I will need to complete the minimum requirement of one year's regular practice with Vajrasati Yoga.  But its great to be on a path that is too big for me to imagine being able to finish.  Its a mountain I am starting to climb and it feels very right..

Another thing I have started doing again is my morning pages.  And kind of out of that, I am taking up the returners offer from Amelia and doing the Experimental Art e-course again.  The first time I signed up for it, life got in the way and I fell behind and felt I really didn't give it a proper go. 

Not this time, NO WAY JOSE!  I am going for it. 

I love the whole premise of the course, which is to get experimenting and creating outside of the ways you may habitually turn to, hence expanding your range, and also injecting back in the joy of playful experimentation, pure joy in creating. 

In September I was looking after my son full time and also, not unpleasantly I was offered a surprise holiday for free, which I took with glee, but really missed out of much of the course.  This time Bub is at nursery for 15 hours a week.  And while i do still have other stuff to do...... oh my I have more time....

The first assignment is up this week - so for anyone thinking about it  - come and join me -  its only just started - I love Amelia's style and energy (check out her brilliant arty blog 101 bird tales)  and I can whole heartedly recommend her e courses to anyone who might be wavering at the edge of their decisions.... Jump in with me!

She says its just one assigment, to be honest you could, if you wanted spend 6 weeks doing this first one.  There is so much to it.  So I am sure that she won't mind I share this little part of it.  I did some of the other parts last time so this time I am picking out this (and more if I can manage it....... Its part of the assignment one; creating a WILD SKETCH book (how cool is that?)

create a smoke scene: collage a small house from a magazine at the bottom of the page and above it do billowing smoke effects playing with graphite, pencil, charcoal, white chalk, inks etc, including finger-smudges, drawn swirls, waxy loops - greaseproof paper or tracing paper is great for this one!

So as you can see, as the fog of illness is clearing I am raring to head off into 2011.  I shall be keeping you posted on my Yoga exploits as well as sharing some of my Experimental Creations!! I am POETRY IN MOTION!!

xxx