Inspired by….some more intuitive painting with Flora

I am three weeks in to Flora Bowleys ecourse….Bloom True.

Talk about an emotional roller coaster ride….but one that I am loving! I laughed out loud when I heard Flora use that exact term to describe the process. At least now I know I am on the right path!

The typical painting goes something like this…

Oh, so much fun. Spreading paint with wild abandon.I could do this forever…this is what I love.Spray, splatter,swipe. Loving the cool colors and textures I am creating. Oh and I never knew how to make that color!! Wow, looking good..

Oh oh, now that’s just plain ugly. How did it just go from great to bad? Shouldnt have done that. Paint over. Damn, just painted over a part  I really like. You want me to add black and white..oh ok..well now its just really ugly. Wheres the gesso. No, dont touch it…let it grow,trust your instincts….

Its madness. I have caught myself talking out loud.. more than once. Sorry, I mean talking to the dog.

I love it…I hate it..

I  have had moments of feeling like a superstar…the next Rothko. I have had moments when I have questioned this style of working.I have had to leave the house more than once to just walk and clear my head.  My husband is very thankful he is away traveling.

Well here you have my process….plus a possible finished product.

Stop shaking your head….I know…poppies again… ahh…my comfort zone. I saw more than one parrot lurking around in there.

Not signed yet…so there is still lots of time for changes!

I have to be honest,  this style of intuitive painting is right up my alley. I have comittment issues  at the best of times and the beauty of this style is that it can go any new direction at any time. Makes me feel so free…

I do shake my head a bit at another poppy painting. But, there is a rhyme and reason to it all. I am trying to explore themes and different ways of presenting the same thing. Things that I love…things that inspire me. I have never painted just pods so that’s a little different.

I would be curious as to which stage of the painting you liked best. I know I was in love around Layer 4-5 and when I first started adding the images. I am finding that with most of my paintings I am loving the middle section of the process vs the final product. I believe there is a lesson to be learned here. I need to stop then…maybe go a little abstract and keep it loose. I find I am loosing all of the wonderful marks in my journey back into my comfort zone…texture.

Constantly learning…. It feels good and while I do get a wee bit frustrated, it is nice to know I am making progress!

Thank you for all of your comments as I stumble through this process. At times I still cannot believe I am putting it out there, but I really do love and appreciate the community that I have become a part of….so much fun!

Have a great weekend!

Do you want to be part of this crazy, creative process with Flora Bowley? It is really quite fun! For more info on her course click here.

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Inspired by….Bloom True (the e-course)

I am at it again. Stalking poor Flora. Read about her here….over here and here… I really should become her PR gal. Hmmmm…

This time I am taking her newly released e-course Bloom True. As I expected it is everything I imagined and more.She is true to her word.

I am OPEN to it all!

So bear with me for the next 6 weeks as you help me intuitively paint myself to greatness.I will try to limit my ” Help ..What do you see?” questions.

I have really been enjoying our classroom community. I love reading everyone’s comments and thinking “Yes, I get what you are saying, I see that…I know where you are coming from… ” But it is our own process and each and everyone of us will find our own way.Its just so nice to know you are not alone in your process. Everyone is finding and sharing.It is a great learning environment.

The key is trust.Not an easy value to uphold when painting. Especially when you have an inner critic sitting right next to you, critiquing every move…..

Currently we are working on our mark making. I have been searching the house high and low for tools. Just recently I received a lovely bottle of wine as a gift…wrapped in some fabulous cardboard.

What am I thinking you ask? I am eyeing the cardboard with great enthusiasm thinking the ridges on it will be a fine mark making tool. My children and husband no longer speak, they just glance sideways at each other and hope and pray that they did not inherit this gene….

So here you go. What I have found helpful in my mark making process. Fun times and lots of play….

My very own homemade cut outs. These are made from sturdy paint chips, a couple of different hole punches and an exacto knife. Anything goes…
 Fruit and veggie mesh. Great for spraying paint or inks on.
 Scrapbook paper cutouts, ridged cardboard,raised paper…
 Anything to scratch, etch and move paint around.

 Scrap cuts outs. Love these. Once again great for spraying through or painting on top.
And last but not least. My favorite…

Spray bottles, fluid paint and ink. I am loving these. My walls and floors are not!
Great for spraying through cutouts, or into wet paint. Great for drips!

So there you have it. Add a paint brush or two, fingers and rags and you have an arsenal of great mark making tools!
I would love to hear what you are using. Please share and feel free to add a link!

Thanks for dropping by…and remember…..

practice, patience and perseverance

For more information on Flora Bowleys workshops click here!

Trust me, it will change the way you paint.If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email me at jules@bollah.com

Inspired by…Flora Bowley Bloom True E-course (yippee..)

BREAKING NEWS!!

(well in real life it would be, but in the internet world it is almost old news..and it is only 2 hours old!)…… AEDM creative challenge continues below…….

I have some very exciting news for you today. I have mentioned Flora Bowley numerous times in my blog. She is one of the first artists whose work resonated with me. She sparked my imagination. She helped me reach a whole new level of artistic playfulness.

Flora Bowley surrounded by her artwork

I could even go so far as to say Flora knocked me on my ass! I was a bit lost after my True Bloom workshop with her two weeks ago. After, I had to sit down and re-asses how I wanted to express myself. I hate to say it was life-altering, but I really do believe something shifted in me.

I have posted about my experience here. Will I be taking her Bloom True – the e-course version? You betcha’!  It’s not just about learning her style. It is about letting go. Opening yourself up to endless creative possibilities. Exploring.

All practices that we, as artists, should learn to embrace.

Well, lucky for all of you…she has just announced her first e-course! (For those of you living in remote places…now is the time to jump for joy)

Bloom True ~ the e-course

Bloom true: the e-course’ presents a groundbreaking and transformational approach to painting (and living) that celebrates intuition, connects body, mind and spirit and allows unique and expressive paintings to emerge naturally and authentically.

Brimming with high-definition video demonstrations, new techniques, unique lessons and inspiring prompts, this course will empower even first time painters to unlock their creative flow while gleaning life transforming lessons along the way.  This will be unlike any other online painting e-course out there, and it may just change the way you paint… forever.

Registration is open now and this five-week painting adventure will begin on Monday February 6, 2012. See http://braveintuitiveyou.com/e-course/registration/

If you havent signed up already…you should! Dont forget to admire her new website while you are there!

xo

For more information on Flora Bowleys Bloom True e-course click here!

p.p.s….. creative everyday resumes below!

Still inspired by… Flora Bowley

All I want to do is get down and paint! If those are not the lyrics to a song…they should be.

Just had a fantastic awe-inspiring weekend of creating at a Flora Bowley workshop ~ Bloom True.

I have had my eye on her workshops for a while now, but unfortunately they have always been a wee bit too far to really consider. How excited was I to discover that Artfest Annex was hosting one of her workshops in Seattle? Very. An opportunity not to be missed.

endless color

Oh what I would give to have a few more days surrounded by a group of like-minded souls creating with no distractions. Time spent exploring art and friendship. It doesn’t get any better does it?

her apron matches her artwork..

Flora Bowley…where to begin? Big smile, easy-going. A free spirit.Very grounded , but with a tendency to sing out her words. I smile as I write because there is just something about her that makes me chuckle. I like her!
I believe my first encounter with Flora was on a rainy Sunday morning, latte in hand, blog hopping through my other world. I instantly fell into her artwork. Her color scheme, her use of organic shapes and her marks all drew me in. What I was most intrigued by though was her layers. I love layers. I love to stare at a piece and each time discover something new. Never ending layers each peeking through. It makes me want to sing!
Having spent a weekend with  Flora, I now get it. She has fun with her work. She surrenders herself to her paintings and paints from her soul.She doesnt over think the process. She commits to little.She only keeps what she loves and will easily paint over hours of work. She is willing to change her course at any time… What you see is what you get! And trust me…its lovely!
I am proud to say this woman is definitely artistically afflicted… She has the courage to constantly question her work. To search for what she wants to portray.To let go….all lessons we need to embrace as artists.She gives me hope!

As I mentioned in my previous post, I not only walked away with a whole new arsenal of tips and techniques to apply to my own style of art, but I also learned some very valuable life..art lessons. Because really now.. it is all one in the same.

Heather grooving to the tunes

Floras workshop was held at the Artfest Annex in downtown Seattle. You must check it out! I will now go  on to sing the praises of Teesha Moore. Another soul in the art world who has inspired many with her art journaling and Art festivals.This woman has created a beautiful awe-inspiring art studio. High ceilings,wood floors, brick walls and flooded by natural light.To top it off you are surrounded by her big, bold beautiful art work.Insightful art work. One cannot help but feel inspired here.

Beginning marks...

finding images...

Still not sure how I got from this to this….but I know it involved a lot of layers,more marks,standing on my head and ….letting go.

finished product...

An awesome weekend was had by all.
For me personally….I think it may have been a turning point.

Thanks ,once again, Flora!!

For more info on Flora and her wonderful course, click here!

P.S. A sneak peek of Floras new book…coming out soon! Watch out for it!

sneek peek....

Inspired by…Flora Bowley

Hello friends,

Just returned home from a whirlwind weekend in Seattle where I had the privilege of attending a Flora Bowley workshop – Bloom True. To add some icing to the cake..it was held at the Artfest Annex, Teesha Moore’s lovely studio in downtown Seattle.

I learned some new tips and techniques. I learned a lot about mark making and different supplies.Most importantly though I walked away with some life lessons around the process of creating and expression. A very well-rounded weekend!

I think I am going to need a few days to digest and absorb my weekend before I post about it. I want to make sure I am able to relate the full experience to you.

Until then…I will leave you with my weekend creations. Liking the poppies. Undecided about the bee. He may just fly away..

How decadent is it to be able to spend two full days painting?
Very decadent.

Feeling very grateful. Thank you Flora!

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Have you thought about trying Floras painting class online? I have taken both and her online class is just like having a little bit of Flora right in your studio! For more info click here!

P.S. Thank you all for your help and suggestions regarding my ripped canvas. I am very inspired to do many different things…I believe this is going to become my “practice” canvas. One I can detach, sew, collage, paint…and then re-frame. Very intrigued with disassembling and reframing…