FAQs

ALL abilities and experience levels are welcome. No prior art making or meditation experience is necessary to participate in these classes. What is most important is to arrive with an open mind, letting go of expectations and ideas around how something is “supposed to” look so we can be with our experiences and our images just as they are.

Every day—in large and small ways— we all experience times of change and uncertainty. Mindful art making is a way to find clarity and spaciousness in the midst of any challenging situation in your life. A regular creative practice increases emotional balance, stability, calm, focus, and leads to a greater connection and trust in your intuition and body.

I invite you to work with drawing, painting, collage and 3-D materials that you enjoy. Feel free to use art materials you have on hand. Products can be found online at Amazon and Michaels, or your local art store. Go to the Materials section under “About” for more suggestions.

Things to take into consideration when setting up an art space include lighting, privacy, a work surface and storage space. You can make art at a table or desk, on walls, the floor, or at an easel. You may want to protect surfaces with Kraft paper to allow more freedom with your art making. Take a little time ahead of class to set out your supplies and a journal.

Process art making is about the experience of making art rather than the end product. Working with simple, inexpensive and abundant materials, we create images through play and experimentation while being open to however the image is unfolding. Meaning comes from personal exploration and self-expression. Because there are no expectations for how an image should turn out, it allows participants to relax, to let go of judgement, and to focus and connect with their feelings. Through intuitive art making we develop the capacity to trust and connect with our built-in wisdom of how best to take care of ourselves and the world around us. At Color Wheel Mindfulness we use the Open Studio Process. This process was created by the art therapists Dayna Block, Dr. Pat Allen and Deborah Gadiel and lives at Open Studio Project in Evanston, IL.

Classes are currently offered online. Please get in touch if you’re interested in an in-person workshops.

It’s helpful to have spaces where we refrain from commenting on each others art and writing (even in a positive way). This allows participants to experiment more freely, to focus on their own process, and to fully take in each others words and images.