The 4 day class was a success! I had so much fun getting ready for it. I felt like a kid. It has taken me 2 years to get back to teaching because I was fairly burned out on teaching just technique. This workshop\funshop is all about the creative process of doing art from your body, heart, and soul, not your head. Everyone in the class loved it and I did too.



I would like to share my introduction for the 4 days:

We want to take our time, and if we can, slow time down, at least while we're here in the studio. This is sacred time and sacred space. I ask that you be: #1} fully present, #2} be kind to yourself, #3} no "dissing" (discounting, disregarding, or dismissing) in other words, no negative comments about your own work, #4} try not to comment on other’s work, though encouragement is OK, #5} trust the process, #6} trust your self, #7} take chances, #8} take deep breaths, #9} follow your heart.

We are going to make images, do some journaling, carve stamps, collage cards, make some prints, and create a book. We will explore creativity in a non intellectual way. This means we will explore the wisdom of our emotional body, our physical body, our Gut Mind and our Heart Mind. I suggest that we will awaken and rejuvenate the lines of communication with our own heart and soul. To do this we need to stay out of our heads during the creative process. There is a time for the head to be involved but it is not now, nor is it when we are using our intuitive imagination to create.

So often when we make images we can be our own worst critic. Maybe we compare what we do to others who seem to know what they are doing and seem to do it so easily. If you find yourself thinking these thoughts or being critical of yourself, I ask you to stop, take 3 deep breaths and sink into your belly. Continue working from your belly, also known as the solar plexus or dan tien. Get out of your head because your head doesn’t know anything about this. It takes practice to stay out of your head and stay in your belly, where I believe intuition resides.

There are no mistakes – they just lead you to new possibilities. Don’t “diss” the information you get or the marks you make or the intuitive promptings you receive. These are ways that your heart and soul communicate with you. Honoring this information will create a trust with your source allowing the information to continue. The imagination is the language of the Soul. When we create we open the channels to our Heart, Gut, and Soul wisdom. The more we exercise our imagination through creativity the more we are in touch with our own inner source. You are unique. The more you create the more you will know 1,what you deeply believe, 2, what is important to you, and 3, what you want to say. It is through creativity and creating that we can change our mind of old patterns that no longer serve our highest good.



The 4 Finished Art Books

Next month I will discuss more ways to stay out of your head along with fear and avoidance in and of the creative process. I will also talk about the importance of intention and it's role in art making.

Stay Well and Breathe Deep,
Love, Denise

Dialoguing with your Heart and Soul:

A Four Day Art Experience with Denise Kester

The next Scheduled class is

August 28th through August 31
September 9th & 10th and 16th &17th

All classes begin at 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM

Cost: $300.00 +$25.00 for materials

$150.00 deposit is required to hold your spot

Class is limited to 4 participants

For an updated class schedule and further details check out the Events page on my web site and email me to sign up.

Suggested Reading:

Art is a Way of Knowing

Art is a Spiritual Path

Both of these books are written by Pat B. Allen and are worth checking out. I am in agreement with her way of using art as a way of knowing yourself as well as using the creative process as a spiritual path. Though I have only just recently been aware of Pat's work, It is nice to know about her journey and feel some kinship in our processes. Pat began with art therapy and went way beyond being a therapist into teaching art as a way of deep knowing. Her work is important and inspiring. To find out more about Pat B. Allen - her web site is www.patballen.com