Creative Tools
{The Artist Unique by the lovely Carmen Torbus}
I have been in this business for nearly sixteen years now, and am incredibly blessed to have met, worked with, and developed friendships with some astoundingly creative and inspiring people. My forthcoming book ~ Desire to Inspire: Using Creative Passion to Transform the World ~ is, in many ways, a celebration of this circle. I’ve brought together twenty astounding contributors, all of whom have shared their stories in what I hope will be a catalyst for more transformative creative endeavors.
One of the contributors is Carmen Torbus, who just released her first book. The Artist Unique: Discovering Your Creative Signature Through Inspiration and Techniques is a book of tools, tricks, stories, and techniques to help both budding and seasoned artists develop his or her own unique artistic style. I am a proud contributor to the book as well as one of its students, as I recently followed the instructions for a technique developed by Bridgette Guerzon Mills. I’ll be sharing my afternoon working with encaustic wax transfers in a future entry, but for now I simply wanted to let the world know that I think Carmen Torbus is the bee’s knees. And I’m not the only one who thinks so ~ Mary Anne Radmacher has started her own series of posts about Carmen and The Artist Unique (in fact it was Mary Anne who inspired me to work on a technique from Carmen’s book and post about it) and you can read her first entry right here.
Join me in a celebration of the creative powerhouse that is Carmen Torbus, a cheerleader in every sense of the word.
Love of Havana
For some beautiful thoughts on Cuba, read this entry from Stories of Conflict and Love.
One Thing
{Photo by Justin Davis Davanzo}
For all of you Los Angeles locals, there’s going to be a great photography show at Gus Harper’s Studio ~ the space where I was privileged to spend my creative summer last year ~ this weekend. I hope to see you there!
Photography Exhibit
Featuring the works of
Justin Davis Davanzo, Heather Connolly, and Rayne Roberts
Sunday, June 26, 2011
12:00 – 4:00pm
Gus Harper Studios
11306 Venice Blvd.
Los Angeles
More details here.
Just Released
Ten Tips & Resources to Deepen Your Writing Practice just went up in The Wish Studio, and musings on road trips with my husband at Gypsy Girl’s Guide.
Turning Down the Volume
{Photo taken at Petra, Jordan last year.}
My blog and other online shenanigans are heading into a quiet mode. I will continue posting brief announcements, links, and other inspirations here, but will otherwise be focusing on life away from the computer screen for a bit.
“Oh soul,
you worry too much.
You have seen your own strength.
You have seen your own beauty.
You have seen your golden wings.
Of anything less,
why do you worry?
You are in truth
the soul, of the soul, of the soul.”
~Rumi
Five Things
1. SAVOR your summer over at {with}PRACTICE.
2. LINKwithLove
3. Tapeswell ~ Practical pretty tape. Oh so swell!
4. Light From Far-Away Space ~ I saw this at the American Folk Art Museum last week and couldn’t keep my eyes off of it. Who knew a quilt could be so mesmerizing?
5. Pixie Dust Chocolates ~ pretty and yummy!
Each Moment
{The California Coastline. Photo taken by my husband in 1972.}
“But what minutes! Count them by sensation, and not by calendars, and each moment is a day.” ~Benjamin Disraeli
Skirt June 2011
Skirt! Magazine, June 2011 An essay inspired by this month’s “YES!” theme; you can read it right here.
A Few Things
I took this photo by accident in New York City last week. It probably happened when I was putting my phone back into my purse, or maybe in a pocket, and when I discovered it this week I was strangely drawn to it. The colors, the movement, the barest hint of my feet in sandals…it looks as if it might have even been taken underwater.
There are big changes ahead, and new journeys to prepare for, but right now I’m here to share a few things that have been making my heart swoon in the midst of recent travels, a few deadlines, and a day of jury duty.
* I am excited to announce I will be teaching at Teahouse Art Studio with the amazing Maya Stein this October. I hope you’ll join us for PaperStories: Artistic Play + Writing Exploration. All the details are right here.
* Yesterday, while waiting to see if I was going to be sequestered in a courtroom (all of us potential jurors were released – woohoo!) I started reading Paper Garden: An Artist Begins Her Life’s Work at 72, and I already know this is going to be one of my favorite books ever. Inspiring beyond words.
* My new obsession is Pinterest ~ what a fun way to collect images, particularly for specific projects I might be working on.
Happy Wednesday!
October 22, 2011 ~ Teahouse Art Studio
PaperStories: Artistic Play and Writing Exploration
Spend an inspiring day with Maya Stein and Christine Mason Miller at Teahouse Art Studio investigating personal stories through writing and mixed media collage.
The workshop interweaves journal prompts with mixed media techniques to give participants a variety of dynamic ways to enter into their work. Narratives will be explored through writing and expressed through the creation of a multi-layered collage, with opportunities to share and discuss the process throughout the weekend.
