Welcome! Expressive H'arts Studio and this website is a place for you to explore, learn and and increase your joy! In both the Blog and the Gallery, you will find reflections, writing, photographs, and art to hopefully inspire you or spark your thinking. If you are interested in what the studio offers, check out the workshop tab for upcoming classes and amazing expressive arts experiences.
What are the expressive arts and who would benefit from working in the expressive arts?
We process our lives in many ways. We may find that hearing a story or moving each day or writing in a journal helps us to learn, process or let go of stuff. Watch a child and you will see the expressive arts in action. Children naturally use the imaginal world. They create other worlds in sand or with blocks. They draw and scribble freely and they dance and twirl taking in and learning from their world. These are the expressive arts. This modality draws from art, music, writing, ceremony, storytelling, and more to help us learn and grow.
You may find that you have patterns in your life that seem to keep you limited. You may find that you feel pent up at the end of the day and your usual routines just don't seem to help you relax. You may find that you just want a creative outlet. You may find that you are looking for something but don't know what. In all of these situations, the expressive arts can and will help you.
What are the expressive arts and who would benefit from working in the expressive arts?
We process our lives in many ways. We may find that hearing a story or moving each day or writing in a journal helps us to learn, process or let go of stuff. Watch a child and you will see the expressive arts in action. Children naturally use the imaginal world. They create other worlds in sand or with blocks. They draw and scribble freely and they dance and twirl taking in and learning from their world. These are the expressive arts. This modality draws from art, music, writing, ceremony, storytelling, and more to help us learn and grow.
You may find that you have patterns in your life that seem to keep you limited. You may find that you feel pent up at the end of the day and your usual routines just don't seem to help you relax. You may find that you just want a creative outlet. You may find that you are looking for something but don't know what. In all of these situations, the expressive arts can and will help you.
All that we do at Expressive H'arts Studio reflects the following:
- Creativity and the need for expression is in all of us!
- The goal isn't beautiful art, writing or song. The goal is self-expression, insight and connection.
- Don't think! As soon as you do, you stop your creativity!
- Take risks! If something is emotionally charged, dive into it! Chances are it's going to take you somewhere.
- There are no mistakes...if something comes out that you don't like...turn it into something else or better yet, leave it and see what it has to teach you.
- Leave the critic at the door. An over-expressed and harsh critic can only do you harm during this process. We learn to bring those voices back into balance and if necessary, kick that stinker out the door.
- Assume a stance of curiosity...What could this be? What is this trying to teach me? Hmmmm, this is interesting. I wonder why this showed up now? Where could I go next with this?
It is really important to me that all who choose to visit Expressive H'arts Studio know that there is no way to get it wrong! All that is required is desire and committment. Join me, a great journey awaits!
