Art
Journal
Club

I'm the art life coach who can't talk in arty B***S***, it makes me cringe beyond belief.

And I've never exhibited in a posh gallery- they feel too cliquey for the likes of me.

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But I still believe in my art and I still live fully and authentically with art at the centre of my world.

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I stopped feeling like I should be winning awards to prove I'm an artist. I stopped yearning for  'likes' on Instagram to feel validated. I stopped apologising for having an artistic soul.

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Here's how I stopped endlessly chasing my tail, and finally worked out what I wanted my creative life to be.

 

I pressed pause. I decided that time spent pausing and pondering would ultimately help me make better decisions about my life, work and values - and I reframed my definition of success.  

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I took out my Art Journal and started doodling. Over time I saw themes emerge and I realised the place art had in my life that felt truly , instinctively, authentic for me. 

I began to understand that I didn't want to be a famous artist with a zillion followers. I wanted to make art that made me feel good, and I wanted to help others to do the same.

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Two years ago I decided to make art the centre of my life. These are the surprising things that happened along the way.

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• I did lots of paintings, displayed them at themed markets and got a few portrait commissions.

• I set up a Community Art Club in my local village - it's now a CIC where over 25 people drop in once a week to make art and make friends.

• I gave art lessons at a local residential centre for people with long term mental illness, providing an opportunity for self-expression and creativity.

• I journalled my artistic ideas, experiences, and inspirations.

• I failed to be chosen for a lot of exhibitions - and realised I didn't care too much. 

• I gained energy I could give to my family and friends.

• I grew confident enough to offer art classes at some independent art schools and at a nearby Cat Cafe.

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I reflected on what worked and what didn't, and channelled energy in that direction. I realised I loved teaching most; watching others grow in confidence and skills, and making friends at my classes.

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But personal growth can be a lonely path to walk. In spite of the love and support of my (non-artistic but trying very hard) family, I needed a gang; some women like me to share the journey with.

 

A group of -perhaps- ordinary women like me, never properly oppressed but never properly privileged either. Definitely arty women with no time for B***S***.  Maybe talented women who habitually underrepresent themselves and put themselves last. Or intelligent and thoughtful women who need space to breathe after years of childcare, eldercare, and general domestic 'meh'. And women who wished they'd followed a more creative path instead of fitting in.

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Or all of the above. 

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We can hear our instincts calling us to make a change and we feel it more powerfully every day; the kids are independent now, and their father's discovered golf. A new handbag or a spa day just won't cut it. We want to feel connected to something true, authentic and artistic. 

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Six women, six weeks, one club.

Art Journal Club will change your life.

 

Not in a scary way, but you'll feel things shifting. You'll create habits to make you draw more often and think more reflectively, and action prompts to help make those thoughts become reality.  

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First you'll create a beautiful unique Art Journal from sustainable materials, and during each of the following sessions you'll be guided to fill it with inspiration, ideas and ephemera. As a qualified Art Life Coach, inspirational teacher and fellow artist, I'll lead you through discussions and exercises based around the Wallas model of creativity to explore your particular themes and motifs, and help you discover what makes you tick as an artist.  In the final session I'll support you to reflect on your journal so far and write your own Moonshot Plan as a foundation for the next steps in your artistic journey as you go on from this course.

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