art retreat

Sometimes artsy activities give me anxiety. The old voices in my head telling me I'm not talented enough or good enough--I'm looking at YOU Mrs. Little (my kindergarten teacher who ruined my artistic impulses).

Today started with an art therapist guest speaker extolling the virtues of self-care. The RED group moved on to the Alcohol-ink Tile painting activity. It was so cool! Alcohol-based ink that you set on fire!!!

Hard to capture the vivid colors...

Next up was Altered Journals. We altered the run-of-the-mill Composition notebooks. I haven't decided what I will use mine for.

And after a delicious lunch of soup & salad, it was time for Guided Watercolor Painting with a local artist. She was incredible--so patient and encouraging! I get what she was explaining to us. But having never held those types of brushes before, I couldn't physically follow in a way that satisfied me. But I'm pleased with my first watercolor journey.

We started with a small card-sized iris