From the Studio - The First Mini Art Retreat

It happened y'all!!! 
It really happened. 
We held our FIRST mini art retreat at the new studio and it was a blast. The five women who trusted us with their creative journey came from as far as Sarasota, Florida and as close as five minutes from the studio!! Some of the ladies had taken online classes with me, but I had never met any of them in person (except my mother -- standing to the right of Tiare). It was spectacular. I learned a lot from this first experience and I'm gearing up to create space for the next group of special women creatives. Stay tuned for details. But for now, let's recap our Creative Freedom Retreat with Tiare Smith. 

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Friday Night Artist Talk

One of the things I always said I would do if I ever got my own studio was to invite other artists to share their journey and their art with the community. My version of that is called the Artist Talks. These are one hour talks where the guest teacher gets to share their story and their journey to creative empowerment. It ends with time for Q&A from the audience and gives the workshop participants a chance to see the artist in a different setting before the teaching begins. 

Tiare Smith is an amazing artist and she's one funny lady. She shared her creative path with us and told us all about what inspires her art, what stifles her, what helps her feel more confident, and how she created her unique style. She even talked a little about the business side of being an artist. I loved seeing all of her art hanging on our walls! And I especially loved seeing people buying her art and enjoying the work and love she puts into each creation. It was a real treat to listen to her art story and how it continues to unfold. 

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The Art Workshop

We had two days of art making. It was glorious!!! 
Tiare is an amazing teacher with detailed instructions. She shows you how she does it, then sends you off to explore, play, and create in your own way. She encourages you to pick your own color palette, to find your creative style and voice using techniques she has mastered over the years. This is the kind of teaching I love because that means we all end up with something similar in some ways, yet different in others. 

The Playfulness and the Art

What I Learned From This Retreat

Something special happens when women gather to make art -- it's magical, it's therapeutic, it's transformational. 

I LOVE LOVE LOVE teaching and being a part of online classes and events, AND I am finding that every now and then I need to sit with women side-by-side, in real time, in the same space, so that we can hug, look each other in the eye, pass each other a tissue, double over with deep belly laughter together, and break bread over transparent discussions about art, life, fear, and triumphs. We need these moments. The kind of moments where we share our truths. The kind of moments where we aren't being called on by others to do for them, but instead we are able to nourish our own desires and dreams. 

This is, in part, why Healing Arts Creativity & Empowerment Studio exists. It's a place for me to create with abandon and to invite other women to do the same. It's a place where we can gather and show up for ourselves and our creative practice. It's a place where I get to see my years of hard work come together to create a soft place to land for other women who are creative (or those who aren't but know they need to heal). 

The other thing that I realized from this Creative Freedom Retreat is that I prefer the small, intimate gathering of 6 to 12 souls. The studio can definitely hold about 20 women if I open both sides, but I think I will be opting for the intimate experiences over the "pack-em-in-like-sardines" experience. I'd rather sit in circle with a few women who really want to use the time to share, heal, and transform together. I am, after all, attempting to create immersive art experiences, NOT trying to recreate what we do, get, and give online. The number one reason to come make art with me at the studio is so that you get MORE than what I can give you online. More time with me, more experiential learning, more hugs, and more attention. 

So I hope you'll continue to follow the events at the studio and that you'll eventually come over for a sip of sweet tea, homemade red velvet cake, and a bit of southern hospitality done my way. 

I'm in conversation with several of my favorite online artists about coming to the studio to offer an immersive creative experience and YES, we hope to bring Tiare back for another beautiful session. And OF COURSE -- I have solo workshops in the plans too. Stay tuned. 

Let's gather. 
With love,