The Inner Critic

Whew. This one was a little sombre. I guess I should have known that when women are faced with looking at their inner critic (or outer critics), we are ultra hard on ourselves and tend to not only look at but feel all the things that we think are wrong or not working. And, with lives that are so full of responsibilities, expectations and choices, it's easy to pay way more attention to the things that aren't
getting done or that aren't working or good enough instead of looking at all that we are and all that we accomplish.
Luckily, part of the exercise was a second portrait that reflected the opposite of the critic - based on questions like - "what are your gifts?" what's wonderful about you?" what can you say to the inner critic to get a little space and a little perspective?". And despite having gone so far down the path of yuck, I think we all got there and I think it shows in the artwork. I don't think that most women take enough, if any, time to pat themselves on the backs and review their successes - at least the personal ones. It's all about perspective - looking at the big picture - life as a whole - not just the pieces that aren't working in this moment.

Inspiration for this project came from several artists - you might want to take a further look. The portraits themselves are a wonderfully simple, rewarding process developed by Pam Carriker. She has a great video on her site that walks you through it. The inner critic/gremlin part was inspired by a book by Diana Trout - Journal Spilling - and another online artist - Violette.

Thanks to the ladies who put their hearts into this evening - I hope that it has tempered some of that endless nattering from the critic and reminded you about how fabulous you really are!

October's Wine, Women and a Paintbrush

These are photocopied self-portraits, over-painted, and collaged. There are a couple more to add as soon as my camera battery is recharged..

Creative Connections / Wine, Women and a Paintbrush

"You use a glass mirror to see your face;  

you use works of art to see your soul." 

                           George Bernard Shaw

Over the last couple of weeks, Cheryl and I have been following a blog from Milliande - check out her incredible zentangle to the right - who has created an amazing community of like-minded souls who love to create and want to stay connected to others doing similar things.   You can, and should, read more about her at www.milliande.typepad.com. We think she is absolutely fabulous!

Every time I read one of her new posts, I'm inspired to get out my paints and journals and all other paraphenalia and get after it.  The problem so far has been that I don't make the time (not that I've had much extra lately).  But even when I do, my creativity hasn't been nearly the priority that I want and need it to be.  That's a big part of the reason that I'm so excited about our upcoming Creative Connections and Wine, Women and a Paintbrush workshops.  Both prepping for them and then being a part of them will ensure that I'm actively creating and not leaving it for when I have a moment, after everything else is done and before I finally collapse at the end of busy days!

Both workshops, weekly on Tuesday days and once a month on Thursday evenings, will be full of learning new things, creating fabulous projects, and making the most of those 3 hours that you've set aside for yourself each week or each month.  Cheryl and I have oodles of ideas, all designed to get a little introspective, laugh at ourselves sometimes, and keep the whole thing more creative than artistic.  That said though, Cheryl is an accomplished artist who can help you build your skills in a number of media.

We are starting out with a January to June offering for Thursday evening, and a March to June session for the daytime.  Hopefully you'll be inspired to stay with us in the fall as well cause we have great ideas for those months too.  Actually, we have enough ideas for years to come but that's getting a little ahead of ourselves!

Here are the particulars:

Daytime

Tuesdays, starting March 3 from 12 - 3 pm.  At Willowridge Community Centre, 680 Acadia Drive SE.

Evenings

The third Thursday of each month, starting January 29.  From 7 - 10 pm. Same location.  Which, by the way, is fantastic!  Lots of parking and big, sunny windows that look out over lots of green space, so we may have a chance to get outside when the weather suits us.

Cost and Materials

$40.00 per session gets you 3 hours of creative fun, most of the materials needed, nibbles (contributions gratefully accepted each week), and inspiration galore.  We'll make sure you either finish your project completely in class time or help you access the things you need to keep you happily creating at home in between.

So, if you, like us, are in the mood to spend this year reflecting and growing, connecting with interesting people, and creating, join us. Email us here through the box at the left or call either Cheryl 403.542.6241 or Lori 403.452.4085.  It's going to be a blast!

Lori and Cheryl

Today I am Grateful for Me - A Mixed-Media Self Portrait

A self-portrait seems like the most daunting of creative endeavours. Why is that? Do we feel we can only attempt a portrait if we have the skills to get the likeness just right? Or is it because we really have to look closely at ourselves; if not at our actual features, then at ourselves, our lives, our values, etc. Sometimes this navel gazing seems like a huge task that we don't have the time to do "properly" - with genuine reflection and effort. Does "properly" mean that we need to get it RIGHT? Goodness, there seems to be so many things that can stop us dead in our tracks because we have this perception that we must get it right.
I think of that quote...."boldness has genuis in it...", you know it:

Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now.” - Goethe



So with that abandon to action, I attempted a self portrait that became a wonderful exercise in letting go and surrendering to the process. Surrounded in a variety of papers I found appealing, magazines I love reading, pages from old journals, and a current writing on Gratitude, pictures of family and a selection of my own artwork that had some meaning for me, I let loose with scissors and gel medium. The process of collage was completely absorbing and enlightening as I watched myself be moved and inspired by certain images, colors, and words.
The whole process was inspired by the book Taking Flight by Kelly Rae Roberts, so I can't take credit for the idea. I can however own the courage it took to jump in and allow myself the gift of engaging in the process. It's hard to give ourselves permission to take the time for these things most of the time....so for this I am grateful - to myself.
In the end, it was very moving, enlightening, and fascinating as the painting spoke to me on it's own as I worked. Only one brief moment felt frustrating...when my critical brain piped up to observe that my facial features were out of proportion. I was both amused and grateful that my Wise Woman (right brain) very quickly quipped back..."that's OK, it's SUPPOSED to be like that!"