I break for art.

Creating art can heal, bring deep joy and get you unstuck.

There is an artist inside all of us...

Last week, I was working on one too many different projects at a time.

I was juggling, or more accurately, jumbling my attention and my energy.  My mind was swirling and started to feel a bit stressed and overwhelmed.

That's when I decided to take a break for art. 

I love making art of almost any kind. It is one of those activities that always brings me deep, deep joy. But, like many of us with added stresses and responsibilities amid the changes and uncertainty from the pandemic, I have been stuck and have done nothing artistic over these past few months.

Art-making would be the perfect way to find peace amidst the pain and uncertainty swirling around, yet, I had not made time for it. Have you felt this way too?

As a friend, art therapist Lauren Zeltzer shared with me, creating art or just simply playing with art materials can help us deal with stress and anxiety... it can heal.  "Beyond the more typical ways we process, by talking or writing, making art with even the most basic materials can help us connect with our inner calm and discover new ways of seeing, feeling and thinking."

So, I immersed myself in exploring art demos on Youtube and Instagram and visited the websites of some friends who are gifted artists. I was so inspired. I spent a glorious Saturday painting with my daughter....such joy!  (see one of her creations above. We experimented with "Pour Art".. a process virtually anyone can do!)

And, I decided to share the inspiring art of some of my amazing friends -- hoping that it would inspire you too!

There is a artist inside everyone.  We all need to stop saying "I can't draw", "I'm not artistic" Making art is more about listening, being, letting go of judgement and expressing yourself by creating something. Just create.

A VIRTUAL ART TOUR OF SOME OF MY FRIENDS' AMAZING WORK

Heidi Larson Hurley

Heidi's Corona Art Challenge Director of Art, Braintree Public Schools, K-12 and, Art/Design Educator at Braintree Public Schools

 I started my "corona art challenge" on March 14, 2020, the day after all schools were closed. Since then, each morning I take a little snippet from my life and share some sort of joy, happiness or frustration with the world. I felt that everyone needed a little light humor or happiness and I needed to share in some way. I draw with a black pen in a black sketch book, no color and in my quirky drawing style. Each drawing takes about 15 to 20 minutes.

In every post I say: "Here's my challenge to all my friends, teachers, artists, students and anyone else who cares to join in. A drawing, sketch, painting scribble a day until we are back in the classroom. Yes, that's right,... UNTIL WE ARE BACK IN THE CLASSROOM.... Once completed post your image to share!! Day150 #coronaartchallenge #doart 

 View Heidi's series:https://padlet.com/heidihurl/5xzngdfyf4k8", @heidihurl on Instagram.,@HeidiLHurley on Twitter

Martie Mackay

Juniper Studio Photography

Juniper Studio is my home for my photographic art; my #ninethings project was inspired by the novel coronavirus pandemic. I tried to express some wit, levity or beauty to mark 81 days of the lockdown; my goal was to share and record a very strange time. Martie creates fine art for home and commercial interiors. Her stylized interpretations of her photographs, presented on acrylic, premium canvas wrapped frames, archival papers or on metal, create stunning accents for your space.

Link to her website to see her fabulous photographs

Click to see here amazing "Nine Things" pandemic series on Instagram

Sarah Coldwell

Painter, Abstract artist

Self taught, Sarah's paintings are raw and pop with color and emotion. Her abstract style is intuitive...with no formal plan in place, the paints lead the way.. A Richmond, Virginia native, Sarah still says "y'all" and hankers for a pimento cheese and fried green tomato sandwich. She lives on Boston's South Shore where she paints near the call of the ocean.

 Click to see Sarah's work on her website.

Sarah Coldwell Paintings on Instagram  @sarahc_painting

Elizabeth Knowles

Old Bag Designs

Elizabeth Knowles is the genius behind Old Bag Design's bespoke furniture creations. After more than 20 years in Graphic Design it was time to rearrange those creative jeans...and have some fun doing it.

Each of her projects is completely individual, using the customers own materials and "upcycling" them into a unique and deeply personal, bespoke finished piece! 

See more of Elizabeth's creations on the Old Bag Designs website

Bryan Hamilton Chadwick

Artist

B. 1963, MONTREAL  University of Western Ontario, BA. Live and work in Soho, New York. Work spans painting, sculpture, constructions, film, video, photography, literature, and music. Largely self-taught

Kept work hidden or unattributed for the most part until today, July 1st, 2020

Explore Bryan's Geodes series - Website link

Watch a quick video to see them come to life

Sunny Stack Goode

Artist. Painter. Textiles.

"A painting should make you feel something"

Sunny is a full time Richmond Virginia contemporary artist. In her own words, "Color is how I communicate. Even in my earliest memories, color was the primary voice – it is no wonder I became an artist and love to paint. I believe, “A painting should make you feel something”. "Painting brings me joy and also helps me through more difficult times in my life. I often think of it as my mental yoga. I hope my paintings reflect an emotion and create a feeling that gets deeper each time you look at them."  Check out her LOVEVOVLE project below -- operating out of love, not fear.

See Sunny's work on her website or on Instagram

Learn about her LOVEVOLVE project

Pamela Bates

Artist, Explorer + Creative Catalyst

I am recreating my life one painting at a time. I don't want anyone, least of all myself, pulling back on the reigns. I want to live with my eyes wide open distinguishing the one hundred different hues of green in a single leaf, ... taste the salt air and the seaweed like an elixir from the sea as they are, I want to find the small traces of beauty and light in even the darkest of moments... I want to drink it all in and paint it all out, over and over and over again making no apologies, until I have spent every ounce of my soul. .

I want everyone to experience the radical joy and transformative power of art, creating and choosing your dream. Whether I am painting, teaching, or coaching there is one thread that runs through it all. The magic of stepping into your creative power.

Click to see her work on her website

Follow her on Instagram

Thomas Vieth

Artist. Painter.

 Tom’s paintings are in collections throughout the US, in France and in England.  Over a professional career that spans three decades, Tom’s art has been represented by many galleries & agents across the US. Currently living and painting in a small village in France.

Tom’s  vision in painting is to connect with people through shared experiences.  The way he uses light and color evokes the emotional core of the places and things he paints.  This allows the viewer to be reminded of a similar place he or she has seen or experienced. ...This is the key to making connections through shared experiences.

View his work his website:

Instagram: @artsy.french.life

Lauren Zeltzer

Licensed Creative Art Therapist

“I believe that if you are human, you are an artist. And an artist’s greatest sense of creativity is their humanness.” 

Playing with art materials can be a welcome break in our day, especially in this stressful and uncertain time. 

Beyond the more typical ways we process, by talking or writing, making art with even the most basic materials can help us connect with our inner calm and discover new ways of seeing, feeling and thinking. Exploration through art-making can lead to heightened insight, innovation and empowerment. 

Learn more about Lauren's work

How Art Therapy Works

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JOIN ME FOR - A NEW ONLINE COURSE FOR WOMEN 50+: "LIVING FORWARD" (click for info)

Design a life that your 80 year old self would be proud of... & that your 18 year old self would be excited by!

It's time to rise from this challenging time, get unstuck, and embrace change to envision your life moving forward.

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Click here for more information or to Register. 

I would love to have you join me for my Living Forward online course, and I hope that you'll try and enjoy this free AHA Moments Journal.

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Be well,