WORKSHOP SUMMARY + RESOURCES
Let me begin by saying THANK YOU for arriving at the workshop with such open minds and ready to explore.
I work with these ideas every day, but they truly come alive in a new way when people like you come and experience what they can mean for you.
Here is a summary of what we explored in the workshop —- as well as some resources for those inspired to keep exploring beyond the workshop experience.
IDEAS WE EXPLORED
SLOW DOWN, PAUSE, CONNECT TO YOURSELF AND…
Make a breath drawing, a blind contour, draw to music, make a meal, write some calming words, snap a photo etc…
Use the creating as a way to connect inwards or outwards.
It is the feeling you get when you’re in the process of the creating that you’re aiming to hang out in.
HEIGHTENING/PRIMING THE SENSES
Through deliberately slowing down and bringing attention to taste, smell, touch, sight or hearing, (especially with something pleasurable or beautiful), we drop into a more perceptive, open state - This allows us to more easily connect to our physical body and a sense & gratitude and sets the stage for a creative mindfulness practice.
FLUIDITY
Remember the feeling of delight and calm in your chest as your brush first touched the wet paper, how the ink slowly bloomed across the surface?
How can you bring in a sense of expansive FLUIDITY into your day?
ANCHORS
Our minds will always wander and get busy, we need something to return to.
Examples of anchors can be:
focusing on your breath.
the point of contact of the tip
of pencil, pen or brush on paper.
BLIND CONTOUR
A practice of embracing imperfection as well as sharpening our noticing skills…
Find something interesting in your line of vision.
Maintain focus, without looking at paper.
SLOWLY trace its contours, notice, and record as much detail as possible).
IT WILL LOOK strange and wonky — find the WABI SABI (the beauty of the imperfection) in it.
See how it does capture the energy of the thing in an interesting way.
Perhaps fill in some of the interesting shapes afterward with another colour.
MARK- MAKING
This is a beautiful way to connect internally/externally and when slowed down, it can regulate your nervous system and bring it to a state of calm.
Use a pencil, pen or brush to express your inner state (like an internal body scan expressed visually)
Use sounds or different kinds of music to guide you in mark-making.
WABI SABI:
Embracing imperfection (the Japanese aesthetic and concept) as an alternate way of seeing and appreciating the world - giving permission to yourself to be messy, to show up as is.
Strengthening the muscle of looking for the beauty in the worn surfaces, the broken things, in scars, the wonky drawings…
NOTICE and COLLECT the “ELEVATED” MOMENTS in life.
Here are some of my favourites from previous workshop participants:
Sliding into bed with fresh sheets (esp. if they’ve just been hung outside)
Quiet at night after kids have gone to bed
First sip of wine/coffee
Watching sleeping Children
Sweetness of bedtime cuddles
Morning drop-offs & pickups
Emotional contrast in a piece of music
Warmth of sun on your face
The first sound of the cardinals early in the morning
The quiet after or during a heavy snowfall
Stepping out of an airport in a new city
The smell and feeling of coming home
Bird Murmuration
What would life be like if you really honed the skill of noticing MORE of these kinds of moments in your life?
Notice how it feels to really savor a moment like this,
and how it can immediately change your state.
BOOK SUGGESTIONS
Stop Look Breathe Create by Wendy Ann Greenhalgh
The Art of Mindfulness by Wendy Ann Greenhalgh
The Zen of Creativity by John Daido Loori
BASIC SUPPLIES
Any black fine-tipped pen - I’m a fan of ‘Le Pen’ brand, Muji fine line pens, or Pilot V5 Hi-Tecpoint 0.5 pens
Pencils (Blackwing brand is fancy and fun but a regular pencil is fine too)
Dry-erase markers/board
White Pens - Uni-ball Signo Broad
India Ink -ost basic art supply stores will carry, I often use SPEEDBALL
Watercolour paper - I like ‘ARTIST LOFT’ brand from Michaels for experimenting with.
Keep a small sketchbook or notebook in your bag
Larger sketchbook/paper
(play with scale and how it feels in your body to work bigger or smaller)
BONUS ACTIVITY
Try writing a word and placing it around your physical space as a visual cue of mindfulness.
BEAUTY OF IMPERFECTION (or simply WABI SABI)
JUST THIS
SAVOUR
PAUSE
ALLOW
1:1 CREATIVE EXPRESSION SESSIONS
If you loved the workshop, I also offer 1:1 + small group sessions, where I can customize an experience specifically for you, or a small group of friends. These can be a really beautiful way to mark a transition in life, or as a gift to yourself, or a loved one to celebrate a meaningful occasion.
They also make a great date night or small group milestone birthday experience.
In these sessions, I meet you where you are at, weaving in themes that feel relevant to you personally. We can explore watercolour, collage, mindful photography, shadow-drawing, free-writing, and more.
STAY IN TOUCH!
Follow for future offerings, ‘elevated moments’ inspiration, and my behind-the-scenes studio practice.
Be first in line for announcements of new workshops, classes, art exhibitions, and creative inspiration.
Last, if you would like to explore how I incorporate many of these ideas into my own artwork, each of the images below links to a different series of hand-detailed art prints.
Each of the thoughtfully distilled images + symbols in these collections originated as visual meditations in my studio. They are designed to serve as visual cues, offering a beautiful way to be reminded regularly of specific ideas in your living or work spaces.
Pause, connect + create something
Let me know how it goes!
xo, NK