The Artist Way - First Creative Workshop

The idea of working with creativity workshops for creatives and people who want to connect with their inner creative selves is not new. It is one that I was introduced to several years ago when I read the book The Artist’s Way, A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron. As a result, when I sat down to begin creating content for a creative community to coincide with my new online creative business, www.https://miflorecitateresawartshop.com, I wanted to work with these same proven concepts in my blog, activities, and plans for my creative workshops in the future. After a lot of thought, I figured it would be best as we begin to not recreate the wheel. I also wanted to reread and rework this book to see how I have evolved through the years and what I can uncover for my future creative projects. Therefore, I would like to begin our community group activity loosely following The Artist’s Way Book. What I mean by loosely following, is I don’t want to pressure or prevent those joining in on our discussions and activities to have done all the required reading, journaling, or suggested activities for the week if they are unable or just want to check out our group. For those who want accountability and want to be fully involved in revitalizing our creative selves, this group will also be a good opportunity for you. We want to create a safe environment to foster our creativity and establish our groups’ “Artists Dates” activities, journaling, and discussions. I plan on beginning this creative workshop on Thursday evenings starting on June 8th from 6 – 7:30 central time. We will begin with Chapter 1 and work through the book one week at a time. Prepare by reading the chapter and doing the suggested tasks and activities and be ready to discuss insights and takeaways.

We will do an art project weekly while we discuss and cover key concepts and insights. The first project is an art journal to coincide with our tasks and capture our artists’ dates, affirmations, and reflections. This journal is yours to explore, experiment, and create. Therefore, you will need to get yourself the following project supplies:

*Multi-media sketchbook (get one with at least 50 pages, spiral bound is a little

more effective to work on a flat surface, but the style and the size of pages are up to you give yourself room to play)

*Scissors

*Ruler

*Stapler

*Glue

*Scrap Paper (this can be anything you find interesting from napkins, old cards,

tissue paper, coffee filters, butcher paper, tags, old books, maps, magazines, ticket stubs, fortune cookie fortunes, etc.

*Photographs you are prepared to cut and paint on

Select a few from this list that you feel drawn to use with your art journal. Do not feel you need to purchase all art journal supplies for this project. But go explore your local Michael’s or Hobby Lobby or favorite art supply store to try something you find yourself drawn to creating with:

*Pens * Stamps and ink pads *Glue guns * Fabric * thread and Needles

*ribbons *Markers *Paint brushes *Washi tapes *Stencils *Modge Podge

*colored pencils *Stickers *Scrap paper *dabbers * gesso paint * inks * glitter

We will begin with the cover of our Art Journals to set the tone of our creative journey so feel free to express yourself. This can also evolve over time, so it can be a foundation for things to come. The important thing is to remain open to the possibilities and refrain from any judgment on your creations or your fellow creatives on this journey. We are all growing and discovering ourselves and what we are capable of when we allow our creative side to play and create.