Jean's Samplings

I promised to tease you with a snippet of what my amazing Tandem-teacher, Jean Warren, will be offering up. So here's some teeney lil' postage stamp size images that will give you something to digest and, at least for me, to drool over.

Perhaps you can start to guess some of the words or questions Jean will be asking along these "sketch lines"? Could you see things differently if you attempt to portray your world with these kind of images? How are these different from how you usually work artistically?

One of the many things I have admired about Jean's creative process is that she moves beyond or approaches what she chooses to express often in ways I can't even imagine. This, I hope, will help me perceive the world around me with new eyes. And that is a gift not just for us artists but, it can present a fresh perspective with which to experience our lives. In fact . . . a favorite quote I often apply to an uncomfortable situation in my life is "Above all else, allow me to see this differently."

I'm very excited to be pushing myself right along with you other participants in this expanding retreat by having Jean Warren lead us into experiencing in new ways.

"Cooking" Culmination

Ok, Jean and I have been cooking up the week's agenda for our retreat. I'm telling you it's going to be an interesting and expanding week!

Jean has us doing some things to stretch our memory, imagination and perception. She's always been such an adventurous creative, I've long admired and been frightened of her process. Her ability to problem solve in a painting has fascinated me. So, along with you all, I will be stretching and re-shaping my capabilities as I paint right along with you under Jean's gentle direction.

And me, I'm polishing up some new processes I'm just discovering in my explorings, as well, as trying to whittle down the existing possibilities I already have all written up. I want you to get only the juicy-iest stuff! The more time I spend in my journal, more mistakes I need to resolve and more emotions I want to express, the more I have to share with you. Believe me, it's not always a planned expedition. I like to include a sprinkling of spirit experience. So I'll offer optional morning "Sun Salute" (weather permitting, of course) and a sampling of Buddhist Meditation too. I'm so excited to encourage all of us to be more extravagant in our self-investigation and our risk-taking ~ to discover our limitlessness.

Both Jean and I are "chewing" on the balance of sharing lots of delicious processes, while wanting to give you plenty of private time for your individual development and indulgence. We want you to bring your dictionaries and thesauruses so as to play and augment your ability to express in words too. In addition to pigment play, I'm adding some "stitching" projects and emotion expression, beyond mere words!

And . . . as soon as Jean zips me a photo sampling of her "secret" plans for you, I'll post it here.

We've already got some pretty amazing women (one fabulous lady just finished knee replacement surgery a few weeks ago) signing up for this experiential retreat, I'm "fairly sizzling with delight" (who can tell me from where I got that quote?) waiting to see who else will be joining us. Come along, join in the pleasure of time to yourself, the wonder of nature and the deepening of spirit as we touch others lives.