Guess what my friends, this is what I have learned during my years spent teaching art to young and old……..that the path of Art really is available for everyone, and really does not require this mysterious and elusive “ talent” ingredient. The gift of creativity is right here within us all, it always has been. We tapped into it when we were very young and it hasn’t gone anywhere, its just waiting to unfold. What is usually required is that we take some bold steps towards seeking out our inner artyness and often a guide or mentor or experience can help to guide us towards a return journey. The results and the pathway of your journey is not comparable to anyone else’s.

Last weekend at the Tao Fong Shan Retreat Centre, all the perfect elements aligned and combined  to enable a little creative magic to happen !  Claire and I were lucky enough to work with the most wonderful group of excited and trustng people, some of whom had travelled in from overseas! To seek out their very own personal creative pathway!

In a stunning location filled with mystical clouds and glorious sunlight, on our very first Wild at Art “Awakenings” 2 1/2 day Art retreat. We wrote poetry, we drank tea, we made art, we chattered, we danced, walked the labyrinth, sketched and drank more tea! and we made exquisite handmade art journals.

Whats that you say.. well…..

The great thing about this Art Journaling thing is that you do not have to be an expert in anything! And you do not need an art studio. Art Journaling can be Art-on-the-Go, Art in-Small-Spaces and Art for absolutely anyone at all who fancies a dabble and a play and of course it can be as shareable as you like……you might not wish to share your journal pages with anyone at all !!!

But this is what I observe and come across all the time, there is a visible growing hunger for people to want to use their hands, in all sorts of ways BUT people think that they don’t know how to….that ART is the province of experts. However I meet people, who want to engage in the artmaking process for themselves, and crave situations in which they can do that…….here’s a place to do it !

During the retreat we each made a gorgeous handmade book which we coloured and sewed. Then with  guided activities that facilitated gentle contemplation, to make sure we all had something that we wished to express, the journal pages were created using mixed media methods. People made intriguing secret pockets in all sorts of designs and hidden windows brought light to revelations and celebrations! In fact come Sunday afternoon, no one wanted to finish up and go home! Including me! It was the best weekend ever!

“Set in a near perfect environment Katie and Claire led us effortlessly and creatively through two delightfully ‘arty’ days. It was one of the most fulfilling weekends of focused art (and great company!) and I would do it again in a heartbeat. We learned a lot, we ‘created’ totally original journals and came away from the workshop feeling very good about our artistic ability and our individual creations.”

Check the Gallery’s page for images!

Only 5 months to go and we can do it all again!!!! Do check the Retreat pages for sign up details.

Artfully yours my friends

from

Katie