Creative Fairy Godmother

At times, writing about our paintings can be a struggle,  and how do we translate their messages for the initiate book? One of my periodic practices is calling council!  Like getting information from an individual lady, I set paintings around me, pour a cuppa, and invite their wisdom. I allow myself time, and am creative in my inquiries! Are there ladies in addition to the 5 from your quest you wish to include in your Council? Perhaps one painted with Shloh or another IC teacher, before you began Color of Woman? While you may not include their stories in your book, they are part of your story and journey! Note :  per a recent inquiry, Jena replied that many graduates share their poems and writings in their Mother tongue, if English is their second language; with just some captions and highlights in English for their Initiate book!  I called my first Council on Summer Solstice 2014, after finishing the second painting in Flora Aube's Art of Allowing online course, Sek...

As Shiloh Sophia said during Talisman,  " This is the time and space in Color of Woman to go further in your own healing journey and practice, to prepare yourself to teach in a very empowered and conscious way. ...   "Be mindful yourself not to try to save anyone else - let them have their process without needing to fix. Just witness. Which is what you will be doing as teachers - witnessing, not fixing."  This is especially true as you near the finish line on your CoW Quest, and consider what's left: The writing!  Teaching that 13-step class.  Feeling The Time Crunch The WRITING!! And Oh My Gosh!  What happens after I finish??  What do I say for my  Artist Statement  and Bio and ...?? How do I write about my paintings? Wherever you are on the quest is exactly right for YOU!!  All of your personal challenges and triumphs, the setbacks and surges; each unaoidable tragedy or glitch!! And - you've got this! ! You've come so far already ...

 As we near completion of any project or quest, we may bog down at times, or see a Shiny Object - (I think we all have a bit of SOS - Shiny Object Syndrome!!) it may be the call of another class or training, wanting to redo an earlier painting, or just that life 'happens,' and we begin to vere off course ...  As recently mentioned in the group, now is a great time to purchase a copy, or download the pdf of the Color of Woman book, for present and future inspiration and tons of wonderful information and gems of wisdom! Blessing Flower This fear of  missing out , and an urge to chase the  Shiny Object  are part of a  Mindset  that can lead to distraction! What would it take to start, and  then  see if we need more information? Can we set a task aside for a wee bit as we gather info, or start on a simpler one? I love Jena's monthly posts outlining the basic 'to dos' which can really help us focus in! It may help to print or write out the a...

  Back in 2014 when I took my first Intentional Creativity® classes with local teachers, one recent graduate, Heidi Sequoiah Moondancer , had begun promoting her classes on MeetUp .  She gave us the link to her group during our September class, and commented that inspiration for her next offering often came during a class, so she'd choose a date and post it right away! I went with my friend Nancy, who encouraged me to take Color of Woman,   "so I won't have to drive to Salem for classes!" I joined Heidi's group, and took another class in the spring, between painting Legend and the beginning of Color of Woman. (I slipped and broke my arm right after that, but that's another story!!) With Heidi at grad 2015 In the spring, I met her SiStar graduate Lora, who lived in Sherwood 45 minutes North of me.  Lora mentioned she was teaching a class to paint your Mermaid - ooo! I asked if I could audit it, and she asked, "why don't you co teach?"  So I d...

 One of the scariest of our painting process with Intentional Creativity is the  "risky glaze,"   where we take our painting into the fog ... During my  first class , our teacher Elizabeth handed us a spray bottle, a big brush and transparent color (Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold) diluted with a bit of water, and a soft cloth (piece of T-shirt). She had us lay our canvases flat, then demonstrated spraying the canvas, brushing on the color, and then burnishing it in, using the cloth! ... And then we went off to lunch!  Yikes and  Wow!!  Used this way, a glaze integrates the colours we've used, and helps unify the picture. It also offers an opportunity to reflect on what is going "into the fog," what concepts are being integrated.  We move back  (5-6 feet away from the canvas) to gain perspective, and spend some time with our journals, exploring inquiries, "what do you want me to know?" ... "What can you help me understand and integrate?" .....

 One of the most important features of our painting is the expression in the eyes! And the way you paint eyes distinguishes your work - we each have our own special touch!  Our Art Doctors often give tips on how to bring in the light, and more expression, especially as we're competing a painting. You'll want to develop how you'll teach this in your own classes.  One of the teaching tools I created early on was painting a background, then a bunch of different eye shapes and angles on a small canvas board - maybe 10×16." Some are looking down, some forward, the pupils may gaze to the right or left; eyes may be more open, or mostly closed ...  I also demonstrate eye shapes on a big paper or whiteboard, inviting questions, and have them practice sketching eyes and other features on paper or in their journals, and develop ones they particularly like. Here is a lovely little video tutorial our IC sistar Emily Grieves created on bringing light to the eyes! Her example is on...

  Shande'nea   Star Path - 2015  Muses each have their own energy and timing, their own interests, inquiries and inspiration. Shiloh Sophia, the founder of our Intentional Creativity® community, has provided a wonderful format for inviting our  Muses to flourish, and encourage us to shine in our own special ways! Since painting my first Muse Gabriella in 2014, I've danced between painting, journaling, creating cards and codxes and being in conversation with my paintings. At times I may get out of synch or distracted by life and other projects - how to re-engage? You might wish to bring out your Legendary Lady, Muse, and Taliswoman plus your notes about them, and the intention you wrote on the canvases, and call council. Pour a cup of tea and sit with your journal and your ladies.  Put on some music, perhaps what you painted to, before, or something you currently love. What messages and insights do your ladies carry for you? What codes and symbols are repeat...