Autumn Intentions

oak leaf - the product of an artistic moment at the office

Inspired by Meghan's post at her oh-so-soothing space {with} PRACTICE, I decided to list some intentions for the upcoming months. Different than to-dos (I'm really good at those), it took a few tries but managed to come up with something I like.

This autumn I intend to:

• slow down
• get outside
• hang with D. and Cassie
• cook comforting meals
• preserve food
• read
• make art
• see art
• sell art
• be still and seek insight within
• follow through with integrity
• sip coffee
• clean house (literally)
• visit and connect with family, hold my seven month old niece and smother the top of her head with auntie kisses
• keep focusing on aligning life and values

What are your intentions for the season? Tell me.

Thank you September, Hello October

 

silky puppy paws

Dear September,

You were full: travel, family, celebration, reflection, expansion, growth, sadness, death, healing, roots, music, love, art, friendship, joy, nature, community, trust, fear, discovery, admission, surrender, laughter, transformation, dissatisfaction, fatigue, worry, comfort, baby smell, big paintings, accomplishments, frustration and hope.

I thank you for such an intensity of life. It was quite the gamut of being human and I am grateful for the privilege.

Sincerely,

Steph

xo

~~~

Dear October,

September kicked my ass.

I embrace your clean slate. Please help me let go of the to-dos that didn't get done in September, and while I'm at it, maybe those I have planned for this month too? I know there are emails to answer, blog posts to write and an online shop to open, but they'll just have to wait because there's homemade soup to be simmered, afternoon walks to be taken and a dog to snuggle.

I feel spent. It's time to replenish. I look forward to your continued support.

Much love,

Steph

xo

Squam Art Workshops Day 3: Bloom True

work in progress, acrylics on 30"x30" canvas

I left the rest of the clutter in the picture to give you an idea of scale

Workshop: Bloom True

Teacher: Flora Bowley

Key materials: 30"x30" canvases, acrylic paints, sponge brushes (the little black ones with wooden handles from the hardware store), a willingness to get out of your head and paint freely

urban reflections, acrylics on 30"x30" canvas

again, I left the rest of the clutter in the photo to give an idea of scale

What I learned: I can paint big canvases, quickly; I freak out just a little bit when there's too much colour and action going on on the canvas and I have no idea where it's going; how to harness a particular portion of a work in progress that I like (for example, fortuitous colour combinations or shapes) and build on that as a next step; I really enjoy intuitive painting; I looooovvvve Golden's Light Ultramarine Blue and Turquois (Phthalo); when I really let go cool things can happen

~~~

For each of her workshops, Flora had her students bring their work outside and lean it against trees or rocks or buildings to dry and display. Walking amongst the paintings was like walking in a magical forest of colour and art. I felt my anticipation for this class building up as of Thursday lunchtime and tried hard to keep it in check, but it did not disappoint.

This was Saturday's half-day workshop, what we produced we produced in three hours. The entire vibe was cool & loose & fun and the results around the room were incredible. It was a perfect release after such an intense Friday.

If ever you have a chance to take a class with this woman do it. Your creative soul will thank you.

~~~

I'm toying with a recap or wrap-up post on my S.A.W. 2010 experience. Stay tuned...

Squam Art Workshops Day 2: Graceful Transitions

morning sky over Squam Lake

Workshop: Graceful Transitions

Teacher: Helene Finizio

Key materials: a notebook, a pen and an open mind (and heart!)

What I learned: there's a relatively new branch of psychology called "positive psychology" that - and this is my simplified interpretation - focuses on enhancing what works vs. fixing what doesn't; family, home and community play a major part in my reason for being and a call to love freely will drive many of my life decisions; I have trouble coming up with a list of things I love about myself; group energy can be very healing and powerful; it is humbling and a privilege to witness healing in others

~~~

I chose this session because of my last-minute decision to register. Had I registered early on I probably would've chosen something else, but at such a late date my initially preferred class was full. Turns out at the time of registration I was smack dab in the middle of a struggle involving a major life change so a workshop called Graceful Transitions naturally caught my eye.

Thank goodness for serendipitous chains of events.

This session with Helene and the group was intense and powerful - "like months of therapy in a day" I heard someone say.

Helene does what she does very. well.

~~~

Tomorrow, back to painting for Day 3...

Squam Art Workshops Day 1: Layered Lines

l'air gamine

images are transfers from 1950s Chatelaine magazine and clip art

Workshop: Layered Lines

Teacher: Diana Fayt

Key materials: graphite and charcoal pencils, oil pastels, heavy weight drawing paper, chalk pastel for image transfers, brushes and Turpenoid Natural for blending the oil pastel colours, gouache for finishing touches

goddess

line art is an image transfer from my 2005 mandala series

What I learned: how to paint with oil pastels - they were a new medium for me; how to transfer an image from one piece of paper to another using a chalk pastel and a pen (soooo easy!); how to let go of the final outcome and focus on practice & learning how to work with the materials; to persevere

I was unsure of my ability to produce anything I liked in this class since my imagination and drawing skills weren't quite sharpened, but thanks to an easy-peasy image transfer process Diana taught us I managed to come up with something of which I'm proud. Diana also taught us to not be afraid to colour over lines and that not everything has to be realistic. Hair can be blue. Really.