What Did You Learn This Summer?

I have always loved this time of year. There is something so exciting about going back to school. When I was a kid I loved going to the store to get new supplies and even as a mother I could't wait to take my little guys to stock up on pens, paper and folders. 

Every year when I say goodbye to my boys and send them off for another year, I feel like it is the beginning of my new year too. 

My boys on the first day of school

So many of the women I work with are mothers. They are go-getters. They push and plan and get things done. It's often about this time that they are feeling drained and a bit deflated. The summer flew by and they feel like they didn't get everything done they wanted to accomplish. 

As their coach I tap into what they are feeling and I help them make adjustments. I ask questions...lots and lots of questions...

• What worked for you this summer?
• What didn't work?
• What would you like to spend more time doing?
• What would you like to spend less time doing?
• What is one thing you could do different next summer?

And then do you know what I have them do? I have them go into their electronic calendar and go forward to the beginning of summer next year. I have them write themselves a note with all of the important things they learned this year so they will be reminded next year. 

I do this for myself all the time. I have learned to embrace technology and make it my friend. I always think I will remember these great things I learn but I never do so why not use my calendar? It's like having my own personal assistant to help me stay focused on what is important to me. 

So often we forget that our year ebbs and flows. We want to continue doing everything the same way throughout the year and yet it really doesn't work. Our energy shifts and changes and the more we can pay attention to the changes the sooner we can honor ourselves and create a sustainable lifestyle. 

I personally take it easy during the summer. I spend so much time with my family I don't have as much time to blog, create and coach. I used to try to fight it and life felt so stressful. Now I embrace it and I plan for it and let me tell you when those kids go back to school my creative juices are flowing.

 

I have so much energy to paint and write. I have new ideas flowing and it feels so good. I have learned to work with my lifestyle. 

So what did you learn this summer that will help you next summer?

The Gift

I have not always been very good at dealing with my emotions. After years of ignoring them and shutting them down sometimes I still have a difficult time even fully recognizing how I am feeling in the moment. 

Process art has become a doorway to allow me to tap in, recognize, and then release bound up emotions. 

On this particular day, I was feeling out of sorts. Emotions were swirling around and I didn't know what to do with them. I decided scribbling was the answer. 

I taped a large poster board to the wall and grabbed two graphite pencils, one for each hand. I approached the paper and simply placed my forehead on the middle of the page and began to scribble with both hands. 

I scribbled and scribbled with varying degrees of fury. I scribbled through tears and I scribbled through fears. Anger raised its head and sorrow lowered it. Every ounce of emotion that I was holding onto traveled through my hands, into those pencils and onto the paper. 

When I felt complete I lifted my head from the wall and stepped back and I was shocked and amazed to see a heart so clearly left where my head had rested. 

When I started I had no intention to paint. I simply wanted to scribble with pencil and now here I was, standing in front of this pencil sketch and I KNEW it needed to be painted. 

As always, I followed my intuitive urge and chose the paint color. I was a little surprised to want white but I honored what I was feeling and let go. 

It wasn't long before the cool colors were calling my name. I played with one of my favorite colors, Prussian Blue and livened it up with sky blue and a cool shade of purple. 

I just kept playing and adding colors. Allowing fun lines to appear. 

Pink is my go to color when I am feeling love. The heart was ready to be painted and what better color to use than pink?

And then it was as if fireworks were going off. Every color was alive and dancing on the page. it had energy and was expressing exactly how I was feeling in the moment...alive and grateful. 

There is typically a point in my creation process where I get lost in the moment and forget to take pictures. This was that point. 

I continued to paint and add what the painting was asking for and in the end I was left with this soft, garden of love. 

When you lose yourself in the process of intuitive creation, you fall in love with your art. It holds a very special place in your heart. You almost feel like a mother loving your creation and this painting evoked these feelings in me,. It was the culmination of a powerful emotional journey that I was fortunate enough to be part of. 

Without going through every phase of this process and allowing myself to fully feel all of the constricting emotions, this painting doesn't have the same power. It is surrendering to the truth of the moment that fuels the process and allows something unique and sacred to emerge. 

What a gift!

Exploring Oil Pastels

Oil pastels have not been my favorite medium in the past. I typically don't like the way they feel on my hands and I don't like the way they smear onto everything they touch so I was not 100% convinced that I was going to enjoy this intuitive art process with them but I decided to go for it anyway. 

I taped a big piece of paper onto the wall and turned on some primal drumming music. I couldn't help but begin scribbling with passion. Whatever color tickled my fancy was used until the urge to get a new color arose. The energy was flowing and I didn't want to stop.

Watching colors combine and take on new shades really got me excited. My hands were covered in oil pastels and I didn't care. I added white and it was as if angels were singing! Perfection!

Initially a tree found it's way onto the page and then it burst into flames. 

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What was I creating? What did it all mean? 

I didn't have time to care. I had to keep going. 

When I finished I was charged. I felt like the energy of this piece was surging through me. I was alive and unstoppable. 

Intuitive art that focuses on the process is powerful stuff my friends. It has the power to transform you, uplift you, and heal you. 

It makes you whole!

Art Has Energy

Every time I create something I set an intention for that piece. To me, art is meant to inspire something deep inside, to shift something and heal something. So when I set an intention it is to help me uncover something about myself or the world around me.

I want to feel something!

I want to change something!

I want to learn something!

Having an intention is like having an end game in mind. It's like picking your next vacation spot. Once you set your intention you just sit back and play, knowing that the journey will get you to your destination.  

I create art for myself. I focus on the process and I don't worry about whether someone likes it or doesn't. I am always so grateful when someone gets meaning out of something for themselves and I know that we are all so unique that everyone will see something completely different but that isn't what drives my creative process.  

This is what I teach when I am working with others. 

The amazing thing is when you allow yourself to jump into the creative pool in this way you are stepping into a powerful energetic flow. You allow the energy to express itself through you onto the page. 

Each piece has a "feel" to it. When you look at it you have a recognition of the energy that was accessed to create that piece. 

Even when it's "only a collage" or when it isn't "beautiful art" it has power. It allows you to move your energy, clear out blocks, and gain a deeper perspective about your inner world. 

Art is your own form of energy healing and it is so fun!

Mixing Business and Pleasure

My husband had a business trip to San Diego and asked me if I wanted to tag along.

San Diego?

Of course!

We decided to extend the tip a few days and make a vacation out of it. We fit a lot in and had such a great time.

And then it was time for him to go to work and what's a girl to do with all that free time?

Create of course!

I found an awesome Expressive Art Studio online before I even boarded the plane. I signed up for classes and even arranged to rent the studio for a little one on one time with paints. 

On the first day I arrived a bit early and decided to hang out at Santo's,  the local coffee shop. It was such a cute place and I really got myself in the right frame of mind while relaxing on the patio. 

 And the coffee was delicious!

Then it was time to play! It was such a fun space filled with color and tons of art supplies! I felt like a kid in a candy store!

The first day we played with collage. Working with color, image and texture we created pieces that reflected how we were feeling in the moment. 

  

Day two began with my private studio time. I taped up a large piece of paper to the wall...oooh the possibilities!

The tempera paints were especially vibrant and I just went to town. What pure joy it was to just play. There are a few little monsters that decided to show up. I welcomed them and let them speak their peace. 

She had a whole room just for sand play. I had never done anything like this before so I decided to spend a little time in there. 

The process was meditative and relaxing. It reminded me of my mosaic days a bit. No pressure though, just playing in the sand. 

I headed across the street for a bit of lunch and reflection time. 

Then it was time for Painting Aerobics. A wonderful bunch of women, paint, paper and some fun music. It was time to let my paintbrush dance. 

It was such a fun experience. No thought, no worries, just dancing around and splashing paint. 

The whole trip was great and my little art retreat was amazing. 

As women we need to refuel ourselves and fill our well. A creative retreat is absolutely perfect because tapping into the creative energy flow shifts you out of the everyday. It brings you to a place of infinite possibility and allows you to play in wonder. 

You don't have to go anywhere to give yourself the gift of a creative retreat. 

You can bring some crayons and paper outside and sit in the sun and color. 

You can play with magazines and cut and paste into a journal. 

You can play in the sand at your local beach and make patterns. 

But, if you're in San Diego or just passing through, you should definitely stop by and visit Tish for a little fun!

Magazine Inspiration

I love magazines. I have had a love affair with magazines since the 90's when I made my first magazine portrait.

 I love the glossy shine and the bright vibrant colors and they are really great to use when you want to play. 

I love how they make it so easy to express yourself and create your own reality while you are snuggled up on the couch with your adorable little puppy. 

I love how there is no right or wrong and no need to worry.There is only inspiration, flow and fun.

I love taking the time to hear what the pages have to say and to learn the stories and lessons that emerge from the pages. 

Welcome to My Studio!

Do any of you remember the HGTV show called That's Clever? They toured different artist studios around the country.  I used to love that show and taped every episode. They always seemed to start every segment with the words,

"Welcome to my studio."

I used to hit the 6 second rewind button when my husband walked through the room so he would hear that phrase over and over again. You know, hint, hint. He used to laugh but we both knew there was no way I was getting a studio any time soon.

Well, over a decade later and I'm finally getting my studio! Honestly, I am so excited about it!

We are turning my living room and dining room into one big studio for me. It's a pretty big job that involves electric work, new doors and walls, painting, and floors but the work has begun!

Stay tuned for more updates!

Full Moon Painting

One of the assignments we did in the Ignite program was to paint under the full moon every month. It's funny that I never really paid attention to the cycles of the moon before. I am a Leo you know so I am all about the sun. But I have to say there is a softness that emerges when you tune into the moon. It's a different energy...a feminine energy.  I know I can use more of that in my life so I have decided to continue this practice in my 2015 journal. 

When I paint I don't go into it with any idea of what I am doing. I have no preconceived plans for what I am painting. It is a total mystery. I usually just start with a few colors that are calling my name and get them on the page. There is nothing worse than staring at a boring white page so I get some color on!

From there I just start playing. I tend to like a nice flowing line. I like to feel like I am fluid when I paint...like my paintbrush is floating over the surface, leading me where it wants to go.

Again, I have no idea if "something" will emerge. Oftentimes I will see a face or some kind of image but today it looks like I am just creating shapes and line and it feels so good.

When I finished with the paint I decided I wanted to go back in with crayons and pens to add some fun little details. I don't over think it. It's just easy breezy.

One of the things I learned about this process is that I enjoy adding words to my journal pages. It is nice to go back and look at what I was thinking or feeling at the time I created the page.

The page felt a bit chaotic and all over the place and yet there was this quiet and serene space left an it gave me this feeling of inner peace. 

Enjoy the full moon! Maybe you will want to get out your journals and have a little fun playing!

xo
Michelle

Be Here Now.

For those of you who follow me on Instagram (I LOVE Instagram! Come on over and follow me!) you know that I am in the process of getting an art studio...well, OK, my husband is in the process of making me an art studio. Hee hee.

I have always wanted my own art studio. My husband has spent the last two years toiling away in the basement to create an awesome space for my boys so I decided it was my turn. The idea is to turn my living room and dining room into my space.

The hardest part is running the electric for overhead lights and putting up a wall to give me some much needed privacy. I got a glass door for the entryway to allow light to pour through. I am so excited to see it when it is up.

As you can see, things are in a bit of disarray. I will spare you what the dining room on the right looks like. OMG, it is piled with stuff. Needless to say, this makes it rather difficult to access my paints and my art supplies. So I have been crocheting...A LOT.

At first I was kind of disappointed in myself. I love crocheting and it is a big part of my life but this was my year to paint and to create and it hasn't really happened.

But then I looked around and realized that there is no way I can really give myself to the creative process 100% at this point. It is the reality that is my life right now so why beat myself up? What good does that do?

And I surrendered to where I am and I focused on what I can do and how I want to feel and let me tell you, it has been wonderful. I have enjoyed myself so much this month. I have created so many fun pieces and I have shared my work with people all over the world and it feels good.

I think that it is so easy to get caught up in the idea of what we "should" be doing and allowing that critical voice inside to run rampant on our hearts. We want to DO everything and BE everyone but sometimes that is just not possible.

I encourage you to be where you are right now. Don't wish for something different. Stay in the moment and work with what you've got. Make THIS moment the best it can be. Focus on how you can be your best RIGHT NOW and see how things shift.

xo
Michelle

Midwest Beauty

 As I mentioned in my Embrace Winter post, I have spent a great many years of my life wishing I lived somewhere else. From the first time I traveled to Hawaii I thought for sure that was the place for me.Then I just KNEW I had to live in Northern California! That was the place for me!

I even tried out a few places in my mind...Costa Rica...Asheville, NC,... Tennessee... the all sounded so great. Anywhere had to be better than the MIDWEST!

When I started shifting my perspective and changing the way I looked at things I suddenly started seeing beauty all around me. Even in my own boring backyard. 

The colors of the sky are of course my absolute favorite . Blue, purple, orange, yellow and pink...oh, it's so divine!

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Waking up early enough to see the full moon shining above as the sun rises is like a precious gift. 

Even the stark and desolate mood of a white landscape has begun to appeal to me. 

It is truly Midwest Beauty. 

I'd love to hear how shifting your perspective has changed things for you.