On Saturday I led another Intuitive Painting Playshop with a fabulous group of people. I love helping to guide the participants’ creative journey and seeing how the intuitive painting process promotes permission.
Permission to get out of your own way.
Permission to take up space.
Permission to fully feel your emotions.
Permission to use as much paint as you want to.
Permission for things not to make sense.
Permission to delve into deep, dark places.
Permission for things to be ugly.
Permission to tell your inner critic to take a hike.
Permission to listen (I mean really listen) to your inner muse.
Permission to have fun and to delight in yourself.
Permission to keep giving yourself permission… in your painting…. AND in life.
What permission will you give yourself today?
After a long time away, I finally returned to intuitive painting class this week. It felt good to be back in the studio again. To be done with my deadlines. To be surrounded by color and creativity. And I got to paint alongside my dear friend Julie Daley, which was an extra special treat.
I picked up where I left off with my crazy dodo bird/parrot/flamingo that I created last month. It amazes me how easy it is to get reacquainted with a painting. The magical world of your imagination and intuition is right there waiting for you. All you have to do is show up and be ready to play.
I don’t know why I’m always surprised, but a few more interesting creatures appeared. I have no idea where this painting will take me next and I’m curious about what will unfold. So I just gotta show up and paint!
If you’re interested in exploring your own world of imagination and intuition more deeply, I’ve got a couple more spots available for my Intuitive Painting Playshop on Saturday, August 21st in Oakland. Your inner muse is waiting for you to come play!
I’ve been feeling overwhelmed as of late. I’m back on deadline editing my manuscript. I’ve got lots of converging deadlines, piles of administrative crap, and a general lack of sleep. If it weren’t for my VA, bookkeeper, accountant, Nurture Huddle, and wonderful hubby, I would probably be at my wits end. Thank goodness I can lean on them for support!
Yesterday I was finishing up a video on self-care that will post tomorrow on Spring. It was a great reminder to ask myself what I needed in the midst of all that’s going on.
While I didn’t make it to painting class today, I carved out 15 minutes to connect with my inner muse. I covered the kitchen table with a huge sheet of butcher paper, squeezed some paints on to a tray, and allowed myself to enjoy the sensation of putting paint to paper.The paint even smelled good! It was amazing to just give myself that bit of time to recharge by doing something I love.
My deadlines aren’t going anywhere, and I acknowledge I’m just in a crunch time for the next few weeks. But even so, I know there are small, simple things I can do to stay grounded. I can pick up my paint brush again tomorrow, I’m drawing boundaries around e-mail correspondence, and I’m enjoying going for walks outside with my dog. Remembering to breathe is good, too!
This morning I led an Intuitive Painting Playshop with a lovely, small gathering of women. I had so much fun being a steward of their creative process. And here I am with the wonderful Gina who came all the way from Sacramento.
I was delighted to find one of my scrap papers from teacher training pinned up on a wall at the studio. I think Nadine had asked us to jot down a few words to describe what freedom means to us. As I witnessed the women play today, I’m reminded how liberating the intuitive painting process is. How it’s a gentle doorway into your imagination, your creative flow, your intuitive wisdom, and your childlike self. A place where anything is possible.
Since I haven’t been to painting class in awhile, I took the opportunity after my playshop to pick up some paints and play around myself. This strange and colorful parrot/wobbly-legged flamingo/dodo bird appeared on the page. We’ll see where it takes me the next time I’m back at the studio. It’s always a surprise!
I’m excited to lead my next Intuitive Painting Playshop in August. If you’re in the Bay Area, I’d love to have you join us!
Now that I’ve completed my 10-month Expressive Arts Teacher Training certification, I’m thrilled to share the magic of intuitive painting with you!
If you’re in the Bay Area and are yearning for some creative freedom and authentic self-expression, please come join me for some intuitive painting playshops in Oakland this summer. (For those of you not in the area, I’m also working on an self-paced e-Course based on the Playtime with Your Inner Muse session I led at the wish*full virtual art retreat, so stay tuned for that).
Intuitive Painting Playshops
I’m offering two classes this summer in Oakland (near Lake Merritt):
- Saturday, July 17th from 10am-1pm
- Saturday, August 21st from 10am-1pm
In this playshop you will:
- Unleash your inner artist
- Give yourself full-permission to make “ugly” art and get messy (it’s actually quite fun and cathartic!)
- Come face-to-face with your internal world of imagination, creativity, and personal growth
- Allow yourself to take up space! There’s plenty of room to paint BIG
- Enter a safe, sacred space to work through blocks, emotion, and the unknown
- Receive support and guidance from a certified expressive arts facilitator and experienced coach
- Surprise yourself with how much fun it is to become a kid again!
“Jenn sparkles with creative force! She led me into a magical place where all my dreams were possible. Her attention to detail and solid presence created an exquisitely safe container to try on new and expansive aspects of myself.” — Danielle
Visit ArtizenCoaching.com to read more testimonials and playshop details and to register.
Featured Article on Expressive Arts and Coaching
Also, I was recently featured in an article about using expressive arts and creativity in coaching on The Coaching Commons. You can read more about how I incorporate creative approaches into my coaching and you can watch a short video.
