Power Painting on Small Box Canvas

Power Painting...I am so drawn to this form of expression right now. Maybe it's because it's so contained - I know that it's not difficult to complete a small box canvas. Perhaps it's because I love box canvas - they can be hung immediately on your wall, with a simple nail or two, no frame required. Well, these are good reasons for sure, because they make this kind of art less daunting and harder to find reasons to procrastinate over.

Mostly though, the reason is the awesome time it gives me to meditate on important things in my life. My dreams, my values, and the special gifts I've been given to share and enjoy. It's easy to find those inner voices to criticise the approach, my reasons for loving this and even the art we produce as a result. But for once, creating something straight forward, simple yet meaningful, uplifting and do-able...well, it's something I'm finally giving myself permission to do.

So, if you've been putting off affirming yourself, loving who you are, and being really inwardly proud of that, perhaps this is the time for you to enjoy this too. You know how to reach me... MischalaJ xx

Intuitive Visual Art Journaling

Isn't time to go beyond words? I for one love love love Julia Cameron's work, and was part of a group we called "The Rivonia Circle" several years ago who did the "Artist's Way" course together. Really great stuff. However, years on, I am not seeing anything to take us all further! What's the next step?

Again, plenty online and overseas when we google, but we want something home grown for locals. Introducing Visual Art Journaling and Soul Pages! Classes and workshops will draw on a wealth of rich resources and processes found in university courses, e-course, books and our own experiences. We will develop as we all grow, and the community will inspire itself.

I've taught creativity for writing before, and used different art forms like clay, treasure hunts, drawing and painting to encourage the inner muse to reveal herself. One of those students published their autobiography, "Running to Standstill", and the feedback all around was really positive. The company I was a guest facilitator for even like it so much they took the course on as their own...but that's a whole different story altogether. Point being? I know that words love friends. And not everyone is gifted with an unending supply of imaginary ones. Some of us need prompting. Some of us need lateral paths that seem to lead us away from words only to discover new ones...words and paths...that result in more juicy writing. 

And so, I now offer Visual Art Journalling and Intuitive Soul Art Pages. For people who want to layer, erase, add, delete, ooze, squish, colour, shape and squiggle their way to a full and succulent page. Yes, yes, yes. We are all artists are we...

Creating my first blogger post ever....

How crazy to be creating a blog for the first time now. Ha ha. There's no limit to what we can start....or when. I'm trying my hand, well, hands, at sculpture this coming year, so very excited at the prospect of making 3D forms. I know I'm not alone when it comes to having NO history of art or creativity in my history but feeling moved to the arts anyway. I'm compelled to learn how to create. The last strong message I received was getting chicken pox. As an adult, what better way to get the message that I was being a CHICKEN?!!!! So I left corporate, and a year later, here I am. Through drawing and painting short programmes, plus a year each at university, and wondering how to get to the place of 10 000 hours without going insane or giving up.