(SOZO) Healing through Art

Hoping to find time for myself after teaching others art I took an expressive art workshop in Santa Barbara. I was surprised how this workshop unlocked some very painful lies I had been feeding my mind, while going through a very traumatic divorce. One encounters a lot of shame, depression, and fear going through abandonment issues.

Unaware, I did not expect the workshop to be a time of deep healing, but it was. Beginning in a small group we each shared what we were processing as we went through various painting exercises to help those who have never painted before or to help those who felt intimidated with painting. It was the process and not the final outcome that was so releasing of buried emotions that each participant had stored up. Sharing in a small group, we were there to support one another, as well as to feel safe.

After taking two of these workshops in Santa Barbara, I wanted others to experience the freedom I received and am offering these healing workshop to others. Come join me and my co-leader Andrea for our first Art SOZO (healing) workshop on Sunday, April 28th 4:30-7:30pm at the Snapdragon Gallery, 778 Greenwich Dr. , Suite #3, in Thousand Oaks. Registration is $20 before 4/22 and $25 at the door. All supplies are incuded in this workshop. Feel free to bring some snacks to munch on and share with others as we know this is during dinner time. Please arrive 10 minutes before class as doors close promply at 4:30pm, please no late arrivals to disruptive the healing enviroment.

Learning Masterfully!

This summer these students took their art to the Next Level!  And they fell in love with their paintings!  They already knew how to draw, so they went on to tackle the beast of mixing colors.  We first began the course by creating a color wheel so they could see how colors were made.  Then, really observing their animal, they had to decide where to place the shades first.  By understanding your darkest darks on your object you can gauge the lights and mediums.  Once that is in place, the artist looks at the highlight areas: areas where the sun is hitting their object.  We first started with a still life so by using simple shapes we could understand darks do not have to be black!  After that exercise,  we moved on to animals of their choices.  Here are their results. . . they were pleasantly surprised even if they felt it might be too hard.  SECRET: To tackle the fur and the palm tree fronds we used a special brush so you don't have to paint every hair or leaf.

Enriching Students at Cam Heights!

I just finished an art enrichment program at Cam Heights Elementary School bringing a variety of projects to help these 4th and 5th graders learn about art history, various artists like Klimt, Georgia O' Keeffe, and create great pieces of art.  It has been a delight to see students accomplish goals in art, express their creativity, as well as learn about real artists.  I still have to help students learn art terms as most teachers refer to a landscape direction of paper as "hotdog" and "portrait" as "hamburger", UGGH.  It reminds me when I heard kids talking about Michaelangelo and Donatello, just to find out it was regarding ninja turtles and not the real artists!!! 

I also am able to help students from a professional eye, adust a picture to make it more appealing with the use of either complementary colors or how to fine tune a picture with a stroke or two of a line.    And many students do not know how to use brushes, as they don't get to paint much in schools.  So these students learn the difference between watercolor and tempera/ or acrylic brushes, how to properly clean and store them,  and how proper tools are used.  

Many of the pieces of art you see now will be on display at the school's art show held yearly at Studio Channel Islands Art Gallery this coming February.