Flora Bowley::Bloom True

Pushing Boundaries + Opening Up

After a year of very little painting (been just a tad busy teaching 14 workshops, writing a book and launching an e-course...yikes!), I spent the last month grooving away in my new studio---such soul food for this hungry soulful painter! 

I decided I needed to take a little bit of my own advice and be more brave with my own work and push the boundaries of what feels comfortable---just to see what might open up.  I decided to challenge myself by not using any recognizable imagery.  Not an easy task for a girl who loves birds, pods, branches and flowers as much as I do!  But, I have to say, giving myself these boundaries brought a spark back to my painting practice.  It felt slightly dangerous (as dangerous as painting can be). I felt like an explorer in a new land, and if you know me at all, you know that I'm kind of addicted to this feeling!

I found myself playing with dry metallic pigments, allowing them to mix with streams of water and drippy fluid acrylics.  I hardly touched a brush. The process became all about dripping, spraying, layering and releasing control. These photos don't exactly do them justice because the pretty metallics just look kinda brown here, but trust me when I say they are quite sparkly in real life!  I'm not sure if these two are finished, but the journey into abstraction has been a powerful one indeed.

"Untitled" 48" x 48"

"Untitled" 36" x 60"

For this next painting, I started to play around with spray paint and stencils on top of the drippy metallic color fields.

"Connect Inside" 30" x 30"

And for these next two, I added more spray paint, kept with the mostly abstact theme and allowed a few pods to sneak back in.

"Honor Intuition 2" 36" x 36"

"Honor Intuition 1" 36" x 36"

This last piece will look a little more familar to you.  It was a commission I did for some friends so I brought back my old friends: birds, branches and pods.  However, some of the new discoveries I made while painting without imagery definitely influenced this piece---such a good reminder to be open to change, embrace new challenges and keep exploring uncharted territory!

"Nest Inside" 36" x 74"

More thoughts on bravery right here in this little ditty I wrote for Catherine Just's blog recently...

Four New Workshops!

Hi ya'll.   First things first...a big THANK YOU for the overwhelming positive response to the announcement of my upcoming Bloom True: E-course.  I am so grateful for all the people who have already signed up and for everyone who has helped to spread the good word.  I've been pouring my little heart into this project with the intention to create a very special and transformational experience for everyone and I can't wait to share it with you soon...I promise it will light your creative fires!  For those of you who haven't heard, it starts on Feb. 6th and you can sign up anytime before that.   

OK, onto the new workshops of the in-person face-to-face variety that I love so much! I am very excited to share four new workshop opportunities with you.  In the chronological order, I will be offering workshops in Monterey, California, southwestern Wisconsin, Moro d'Oro...that would be near Rome in ITALY (yes, Italy) and the Outer Banks in North Carolina.  Yes, the blooming continues all around the world.  Pretty exciting.

Monterey glory.

On Sept. 5 - 9, 2012, I will be joining the lovely Catherine Just, soulful photographer extraordinaire, as we embark on a beautiful heart-felt collaboration in gorgeous Monterey, California.  We're calling it "Brave Soulful Intuitive You". You will get to take pictures, paint and gather as a group to reflect and connect everyday in a totally gorgeous setting...bliss!  Find out more about it right HERE.

BTW, Catherine also just launched her new Soul*full E-course (and her awesome new website) so if you are interested in using photography as a way to deepen your body mind spirit connection, this might be the very thing you've been looking for. Check it.

Wisconsin goodness.

Now for some action in my home state of Wisconsin.  I will be offering a three-day workshop at Valley Ridge Art Studio Sept. 14 - 16, 2012.  This will be my first time teaching in the midwest and I'm so happy it will be at this sweet place---a beautiful retreat cetner in the woods where you get to stay in a big ol' renovated farm house.  Love that.  More info + registration right HERE.

Italy...yes, Italy.

As many of you know, one of my very favorite places to teach is at Squam Art Workshops.  I  have made the jaunt out to New Hampshire for the past two years and I cannot gush enough about the woman who run this event and the magic they create there every year.  I simply dig everything about it.  So, when they asked me to teach at two other Squam retreats next year, I did not hesitate for a moment.  Introducing... SquamItalia! and  Squam by the Sea. 

SquamItalia!  will take place from Oct. 2 - 7, 2012, in Moro d'Oro which is just over an hour from Rome.  This place looks truly awesome and I'm extremely grateful to be a part of the dream team offering up the classes at this retreat. Painting in Italy, I mean really.  Enough said. More info + registration right HERE.

The Outer Banks...oh yes.

Squam by the Sea will take place Oct. 17 - 21, 2012, in the Outer Banks of North Carolina.  From what I hear the accommodations are gorgeous and the vibe is super tranquil and sweet.  Three days painting and connecting with awesome people in a beautiful beachy place?  Sounds good to me.  More info + registration right HERE.

OK, that's all the excitement I can pack into this one blog post so I'll sign off here while daydreaming of all these amazing workshops to come...hope you can join me!

xo flora

Bloom True: the e-course is HERE!

You guessed it...Bloom True: the e-course has officially arrived and I'm super excited to launch this labor of love into the world and watch it's rippling effects run far and wide. Why?  Because I believe making art should be a joyful process---not a struggle. I believe creating should be a time for letting go of fear, embracing the magical unknown, following intuition and existing in a universe where there are no mistakes. Right?  RIGHT!  Because THIS is exactly what this e-course is all about---loosening up, diving in, and having fun (Oh, and creating some really rad paintings too, but that' just a bonus!) 

Based on what I've witnessed in my workshops, I know this approach has a unique power to inspire, transform and ignite creativity, while offering a whole new set of tools and techniques to help you let go and step fearlessly into a world of infinite creative possibilities...sounding good?  Read what other people are sayin' right here.

So, what exactly is an e-course and how does it work?   Good questions.  Basically, this course brings my "Bloom True" workshop to YOU---wherever you are in the world, but it actually give you a lot more too.  The course will run for five weeks starting on Feb 6, 2012.  For six days every week, you will receive a unique post, like a blog.  The posts will include high-definition videos, audio prompts, unique creative  exercises, yoga instruction, great playlists, in-depth interviews, and many opportunities to put it all into action.

This e-course is perfect for first time painters as well as professional artists and everyone in-between. You will also have access to an amazing creative community during and after the course is over... Bloomers Unite! Registration is open now.  I would love for you to join me on this painting journey.  Or how about gifting this groovy opportunity to support someone you love on their creative path? I think that's a lovley idea and there are gift vouchers available for you to do that right here.

I sersioulsy could NOT have created this course alone. In the beautiful spirit of collaboration, this course was co-created with the thoughtful guidance and supreme awesomeness of Miss Beth Nicholls, founder of "Do What You Love." Beth is a living and breathing example of someone who is doing what she loves...for real! All the beautiful videos were shot by Kevin Balmer of Diggable Monkey Productions, the lovely photos were shot by Stephen Funk, and the gorgeous soundtrack was provided by my favorite songbird, Miss Kyrstyn Pixton.  And last but not least, big thanks to Jessica Swift for designing such a pretty new website for us.  I feel so grateful to be working with all these sweet talented people. Go TEAM!

And, thank YOU for reading all the way through and for all your amazing support.  It's such a gift to share this with you.  Hope to see you in class!
xo flora
All photos by Stephen Funk.