Flora Bowley::Bloom True

Doodles Unleashed

There are so many wonderful new art books coming out these days---it's awesome.  I love that artists are getting a chance to offer the world their unique perspectives and techniques and that so many students are able to learn from these inspiring people---inpiration at our fingertips!  I recently had the pleasure of reading Traci Bautista's newest book, "Doodles Unleashed."  I must say, after page one, I was feeling all sorts of inspired.  As a semi-traditional painter---you know, I use paint and brushes and that's pretty much it, I was really inspired by Traci's use of so many different materials to make marks, stamps and stencils.  I'm thinking, "Geez.  I need to mix it up!" 

I also love Traci's encouraging words and "just go for it" attitude.  This is something I bring into my own workshops, so it was great to see another artist whole-heartedly giving so much permission.  Sometimes I think that's all we need---permission to start, permission to explore and permission to figure it out as we go.  Amen.

I have yet to meet the author of this lovely book, but her good energy oozes off the pages and I hope our creative paths cross one of these days soon.  For now, I will keep picking up her book when I need a bit of inspiration and a reminder to keep exploring in new ways.  Even though I preach that kind of exploration, it is so damn easy to forget!  Thanks ,Traci, for reminding me and for creating such a wonderful book.  I'm sure it will inspire many.

 

 

Two New Workshops: England + Australia!

The blooming continues around the world!  I hope you can join me for one of these brand new workshops in England + Australia.

Call of the Wild Soul (great name, right!?)

The UK Sacred Art Retreat: Sept. 27 - 30, 2012

Somerset, England

I am very honored to be a part of this inaugural sacred art retreat held in the mystical English countryside.  Created by visionary and artist, Erin Faith Allen, this retreat brings together four unique and powerful teachers---Teesha Moore, Madelyn Mulvaney, Orly Avineri and me! 

Over the course of three inspiring days, you will have the opportunity to work with three different teachers, each presenting a unique workshop meant to free and feed your creative spirit.

My one-day workshop, "Brave Intuitive You," is a soulful one-day workshop brimming with creative prompts, inspirational new approaches to the creative process and plenty of one-on-one encouragement.  The intention of this workshop is to bravely swing open the doors that keep us from expressing ourselves fully to welcome in pure unbridled spontaneity and a river of creative flow.  Weaving together a variety of painting, drawing and mixed media techniques along with simple movement, meditation, and writing exercises, I invite you to make friends with your inner artist (she’s in there already!) while offering you a fresh perspective on your creativity and a deeper connection to your brave and intuitive self.  Each exercise in this workshop is specifically designed to help you loosen up, be bold and allow your art to unfold in ways you can’t even imagine before you begin.

This gathering will also include nightly entertainment, amazing vegetarian food, yoga and meditaion classes and a show-and-sell creation boutique.  More information about this lovely gahtering right here: www.callofthewildsoul.com

And this, my friends, is the castle where we get to paint! 

 

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And for all you Aussies out there, I'm so happy to let you know that I will be returning to your fine country once again!  This time around, I will be offering only one workshop in the fine city of...

Melbourne, Australia: June 8 - 10, 2012

This three-day workshop (non-residential) will take place at Gasworks Art Park, a vibrant arts center just south of downtown.  In this intimate (only 15 students) workshop, we will create two large scale paintings as we explore a whole new way of painting from a space of freedom, non-judgment and experimentation. This process is about loosening up, letting go of expectations, having fun and allowing your art to unfold naturally. .

Throughout the workshop, I will demonstrate many of my personal painting techniques such as layering, dripping, stamping, expressive mark making, etching, patterning, drawing with paint and carving out imagery. I will gently guide you with prompts through this fun explorative process, as I share tips about color combining, using translucent paints, finding your own voice, and bringing your paintings to life with variation and contrast. I will also offer ways for becoming “unstuck,” moving through challenging moments and getting back in your creative flow. Our luxurious days of painting will be infused with music, poetry, yoga-inspired stretching, dancing, writing and sharing circles…all to help us open up, let go, get inspired and bring more joy into the process of art making.

For more information and registration, please email: liza@lizazeni.com

Discovering Melbourn's vibrant street art in 2011. Photo by Liza Zeni.

Blooming True Mexican Style

I must admit that trying to convey the magnitude of magic that was present during our week-long workshop in Mexico is a little daunting, but here goes...

Yep, that's San Miguel de Allende, a beautiful gem of a city nestled in the Sierra Madres Mountains and fondly referred to as El Corazon de Mexico (the heart of Mexico).  To be honest, I had surprisingly never heard of this magical land until I received an email from Miss Rebecca Brooks about eight months ago.  Rebecca was keen on taking a Bloom True workshop, but alas, they were all full.  Was I interested in teaching a workshop in Mexico, she wondered?  One sparkly converation later, (we were kindred spirits for sure), it was ON...a workshop born out of TRUST, a desire to follow our soul's longing and no small amount of BRAVERY.

Arriving from four countries, ages 35-83, fourteen brave women gathered together for seven dreamy days in the sunny courtyard of Casa Carmen, the oldest bed and breakfast in San Miguel...can you say charming?  It's no surprise to me that this workshop attracted such a special group of women.  We were all there for the same reasons---to gift ourselves seven days of pure creative time, to meet like minded people, to explore a beautiful city and perhaps the most important reason---to dive into our own personal journeys of letting go, stepping into the unknown and embracing ourselves with MORE LOVE and MORE JOY...yes please!

Our days together were deeply soulful---with the perfect balance of laughter and tears.  Each day started in a circle where we settled in, eyes closed, hearts open and birds singing.  Then we talked.  We talked about art, of course, but the conversations often widened to hold our stories of personal awakenings, tips on letting go, favorite books and ways to move through fear and accept what IS.  As the official teacher, you might imagine that I was doing most of the talking---oh no!  I simply created the container for this amazing group of women to share their unique perspectives and their wise wise words.  I'm sure I learned just as much as everyone else during those circles!

Morning circle...photo by Michael Murnane

Fueled by inspiring quotes, positive affirmations, painting demos, time spent sketching and writing, great playlists and fresh jugo, we painted up a storm for about five hours each day.  We made repeat trips back to the local art supply store to re-stock on our lucious jars of vibrant Mexican paint---the colors were AMAZING!  Our evenings were spent exploring the colorful streets of San Miguel, eating in the hundreds of great restaurants (the rooftops were my fave) and doing some sweet bonding with our fellow bloomers. I think everyone would agree that it was a very BLISSFUL time.

*Check out more gorgeous photos and beautiful words by Miss Andrea Scher right HERE.

Yummy paints...photo by Michael Murnane

For me, the most amazing thing about this workshp was the TIME we had---time to really sink into the process, to explore many ways of approaching FOUR big canvases, to let go into the luxurious hours of creating freely with nobody telling us to stop or to clean up or to...go home.  This was the key!  I know my approach to painting (not knowing what will happen before you start...totally letting go...embracing the unknown) can bring up all sorts of emotions which often opens doors into news ways of being.  And THIS, my friends, takes time...sweet deep time.  You can be sure I will be offering more of these longer format workshops.  I think I'm addicted.

"Papel Picado"  my Mexican demo painting

Now that I'm firmly planted back in THIS reality (not such a bad one, I must say), it's time to put some final shiny touches on my Bloom True E-course...it starts on Monday and I can hardly wait to unveil this exciting new project to you (there are still a few spots open if you want to jump aboard in the final hour!)

Exploring San Miguel...photo by Andrea Scher

 xo, flora