How many of us are looking for ways to deal with the stress of of modern life? We are bombarded by stressors: traffic, social media, the news, our busy schedules, our jobs, and, generally, our lives. Striving to maintain a sense of calm in the midst of it all can become more and more difficult. All of this stress puts a strain on our brains. Stress can hinder our  cognitive abilities particularly in the prefrontal cortex, that part of the brain responsible for decision making, and self-control. 

So what do we do about this? Sleep is extremely important. Moving our bodies to increase blood flow is also. I have heard a doctor prescribe visits with friends. All of this helps but many new studies are finding that creativity is an especially restorative way to rest our brains. Test subjects in one study were found to have lower levels of cortisol after just 40 minutes of creative time. 

Think about that thing that you enjoy where you can 'turn your brain off' for a little while. Do you love to write? Read poetry or write it? Take photos? Scribble in a journal? Knit or crochet? How about planting a garden, or even strolling through one? Do you need words? Does color work for you? Take some time to consider what creative thing you love to do. Give yourself permission to take the creative break you need. 

If you are looking for a way to add creativity to your life, Art&Soul's workshops will give you 2.5 hours to spend in color and self-expression. If you bring a friend, you will have added two methods of stress control! (Go to the contact page to send a question about discounts for bringing a friend.)

Give yourself the break you need while learning to express yourself freely with the language of color. 
​
As Georgia O'Keeffe said, "I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way - things I had no words for."

Click on this link for information on upcoming Art&Soul workshops.

Art&Soul Workshops will be starting up again soon.

This summer we held a 4 week series. Early this fall there was a corporate workshop, but it has been a few months since the general "Expressing Feelings with Color" workshop has been held. 

Details will be announced soon, so watch here, or on the Facebook page. (But keep December 11 open if you want to attend the "Expressing Feelings" Workshop.) Respond to this blog post with a comment if you have an interest or would like to be added to an email list. 

​

A day of focused work and some playfulness produced strong paintings.  There was quite a variety of styles from soft washes to heavy impasto with some paintings incorporating both.  As always, I enjoyed this group of painters. I often come away from a workshop feeling that I have learned from the participants.  This was not an exception. But this workshop also gave me a new quote to hang on to.

Impasto is not a bad word.

One of the participants asked part way through, "Did she just use a curse word? What's that impasto?" (Yes, she's really a very funny person.)

So to clear up a few things. No, impasto is not a bad word. It is a painting technique where the paint is applied thickly. Often a palette knife is used to apply the paint, and the colors may be mixed directly on the canvas. The paint is opaque and brush or palette knife marks become part of the work. Another technique is to use a wash. This is where water, or a painting medium of some sort is added to the paint. The pigment goes on thinly and can be translucent. If this is done over previous paint marks the underpainting will show through. (For impasto paintings look at Van Gogh's work, for examples of washes look at JMW Turner's work.)

And to add one more word, also not a curse word, how about tonking? This is what a painter does when he/she realizes more paint has been applied than desired. Using a cloth or paper towel, excess paint is carefully blotted off. I watched one of our participants tonk in this workshop. 

Applying paint heavily, using ultra thin washes, dabbing, splattering or even  fingerpainting: any of these techniques are your choice to express yourself in color.

Here are a few photos from the workshop.

I have taken on the art4healing® challenge of producing 100 abstract paintings in 100 days. Here are a few of the things I am learning/re-learning during this challenge. And a question or two.
​

Like any training is there value simply in participating in the challenge?  

What will I gain from this? What do I want to gain from it?

I am on Day 42 of a 100 day challenge and I am behind, but I have done 42 expressive paintings.

My colors surprise me.

In my haste to express my colors of the day I have made a huge mess.

I am not happy with all the 'finished' pieces. I need to remind myself often that it is the process of creating that is the focus, not the finished products. 

The act of creating in and of itself has value.

I know that art and creativity are important vehicles for expression.

Creativity is good. It has been shown to lessen anxiety, improve immune function, and clear the mind.

I will continue working on this, even with missed days.

It's hard to put paintings out there on social media, especially the quick unfinished ones.

I will see where this goes.

Come join our Expressing Feelings with Colors Workshop. Give yourself the chance to explore process oriented painting, color and expression.

A study by the National Center for Biological Technology concluded that making art "contributes to health and well-being". 

They found that for women living with chronic illness art - 

 "-filled occupational voids,
-distracted thoughts away from illness,
-promoted the experience of flow and spontaneity,
- enabled the expression of grief,
-maintained a positive identity, and
-extended social networks."
      from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12959359


Let's Make More Art!!!!

What's Going On?
A workshop designed to appeal to men will be this Tuesday evening at 7:00 p.m. at the Bracken Court Location in Bowie, MD.
$35 per person
If you connect someone I am not already friends with on Social Media (Facebook, Instagram) I will give you $10 off the workshop fee. 

In order to get the word out as the Art&Soul Workshops begin a new season, I am offering a challenge. If you connect someone on social media that I AM NOT FRIENDS WITH OR IS NOT ALREADY FOLLOWING ART&SOUL OR MY INSTAGRAM I will take $5 off your workshop fee. If the friend you connected takes the workshop they will also get $5 off. This will apply to the workshops listed at the bottom of this blog post.

Go to the Art&Soul facebook page and tag your friend. That friend will have to leave a comment for it to count! 

Here is the information for the next few workshops.
Contact me if you are interested at annieww122@gmail.com.



Workshop Dates/Times:
Expressing Feelings with Color
Tuesday, March 1                   2-4:30         Jireh Place
12218 Torah Lane, Bowie, MD 20715
 
Living with Chronic Illness
Thursday, March 3                  6:30-9:00    Jireh Place, Torah Lane, Bowie
 
Workshop TBD
Tuesday, March 15                7- 9:30        11903 Bracken Ct, Bowie, MD 20720
 
Cost: $35 - includes all art materials. (This is an introductory price.)
Partial support for the workshops has been provided by the City of Bowie Arts Committee. Some spaces in the workshop are designated for City of Bowie residents.