I love to paint with complete openness to what will come, never knowing who or what will step forward to be honored and experienced. This process of creating a favorable environment for emergence has developed for me in the last ten years as I sought to forget everything I learned in art school, in favor of the knowing which exists in me already, and in each of us.
There is a lot of talk about art, and what makes good art-all worthwhile discussions for artists when they’ve put in the time and know where the work came from within them. Art to me is not about pretty, feel-good pictures, nor painted replicas of photographs. An artist’s style comes simply from repeated practice, just as one’s prayers have their own signature when they’re said over and over again in reverence.
My painting course, Visual Quest, is in it’s third and final season, and this is the time to jump in if you’ve always wanted to paint with me this way. Our weekly live paint sessions keep us current and in dialogue about the process and in touch with our commitment to knowing ourselves in this sacred way.
I’m giving away a coveted spot in this Animyst-produced session and winners will be drawn tomorrow. Class begins in a week!
To enter, share in your social spaces and let me know how many times and where.
For fun, tell me about a piece of artwork you were proud of as a child.
Here’s my first pastel from second grade:
**CONGRATULATIONS to JOHANNA who won the spot in Visual Quest!!**
Thank you for entering, everyone! I hope to see the rest of you painting next Monday! I’m looking so forward to putting texture on surface with you and seeing what emerges!
**Comments have been closed**
Shared on Facebook, Twitter, G+ and LinkedIn!
Honestly, I can’t remember much of my artwork from childhood, though I do remember how amazing it felt when my sixth grade teacher, an artist first, taught me how to paint trees.
Most of the early work I remember well was writing, poetry, fiction.
Also shared on Pintrest and my personal FB feed (first FB share was on my page).
shared on Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter 🙂
My favorite childhood artwork was a clam puppet I made from paper plates, inspired by an octopus’ garden skit on Sesame Street. It was awesome.
I would love the chance to take this course again.
I won a blue ribbon in grade school for a landscape I made out of some sort of clay that I painted. Haven’t thought of that memory in years.
I shared on Facebook and Twitter.
I loved Visual Quest when I participated last November. I was pregnant then and had my son during that fertile time. I couldn’t paint with everyone and missed those last few weeks, so I’d love to do this session with everyone. My favorite artwork I created as a child was a mask I created in art school in 2nd grade. It was who I felt to be inside which had vibrant color and amazing images of nature. When I grew older and went through a hard adolescence I rember feeling like life was black and white. I always thought about that mask and how vibrant I was as a child.
I shared this post on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest, and would love to win a spot. Thanks, Pixie!!
Oh my… you know that your first Visual Quest was such a blessing for me and for my creativity and my spirituality.
I shared twice for now and might share again later.
Thank you for this opportunity <3
Hi Pixie, I’ve shared on Instagram just now.
I remember a memorable piece of art I made (as a seven year old).. it was an ENORMOUS birthday card for my mother on a folded piece of card I found that was seriously about 4 foot tall. I did a huge painted Flower the Skunk (from Disney’s Bambi) and wrote ‘Happy Birthday 34 year old’ (like the little kids cards you often see saying ‘Happy Birthday 6 year old’ and so on. It still makes me laugh when I think about her face when she saw it.
Blessings,
Cat xo
Dear Pixie,
I have just joined MeWe today – thank you for posting about it and thus bringing it into my field of awareness! I have shared on MeWe – as my very first post!
I did a drawing of a mouse holding a strawberry when I was perhaps 9 years old – I still have it and love how whimsical it is.
Thank you so very much Pixie. I am keeping my fingers crossed!
I am proud of a painting I did when I was in 6th grade of a tree. The art teacher told me “never change your style.” Very encouraging words for my young artist self.
Hi Pixie!I would so love to take this course as I have been waiting for it since the last one! However, I am saving to particpate in your earth medicine course 🙂 Your essence speaks to me so deeply in so many ways. I am so grateful for all that you do for our community! Thank you for this opportunity to learn with you! I shared on twitter, pinterest, personal and business facebook pages. I will also share on my blog later today.
With Gratitude,
Corinna
I shared on facebook, pinterest and twitter – the first thing I thought of when i read your prompt about the artwork was a boat on a stormy sea that I painted in grade school. I can barely remember it now – the waves yes, the boat no – I think there was something exciting about painting the chaos and calling it art.
I remember painting a very simple turkey with red paint on big easel paper in nursery school. I must have been 4 years old. My mom loved it and took my picture with it and kept it for me. It was so satisfying to use that big paintbrush loaded up with paint and to have a larger format than usual.
I shared your post on Facebook Pixie!
Hi Pixie. I tweeted and shared this on Facebook. One of my favorite pieces I did when I was little was a large papier mache elephant. I guess my draw to sculpture and elephants has always been present.
I shared 3 times – on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. Hmm… I don’t remember much artwork I did as a child. I did like to design clothes, and enjoyed drawing headless women with my designs on them (faces always baffled me.) Thank you so much for the chance to win a spot in this!!!
Shared on Facebook and Twitter! And, I still remember a painting I did in elementary school of a wintery, wood scene with a little bunny sitting in the snow. It had its back to the viewer and all you could see was its bright white tuft of a tail.
Shared 3x facebook, pinterest, and twitter … already subscribed to email 🙂 xx
Hello Pixie, would love a chance to attend the online visual quest! Shared 2 images on Pinterest under profile/name. Thanks for all the great work you offer and share. The art I’m proud of from my childhood is a photo of Devils tower. Though don’t have it scanned in to share.
I can’t recall any art that I created and felt proud of when I was a child! I know I did, but cannot remember….
P.S.: For entry to the Animyst-produced session free spot giveaway, I shared this today on my facebook page (Art-by Temperance).
Shared 3 times, pinterest,twitter, facebook. When my Dad died a few years ago his wife sent to me a little clay duck I made in kindergarten. My dad kept it on his dresser all of these years. I never really knew my dad. This is special to me that he cherished this little handmade duck.
Somehow my name was spelled screwy. Oops.
I’m not so much a social media person–in fact the dratted FB is pretty much the only place that I go–because so many online classes have groups there. But I shared twice on FB. Or I will as soon as I send you this. I’d so love to have a place in your class. I’ve done Flora Bowley’s online class twice and Tracey Verdugo’s animalitos. I’ve mostly drawn and painted flora of one kind and another but animals are drawing me lately and I keep finding them popping up in my paintings and drawings and doodles. I’ve also taken Boundaries with Mountain Lion from you and that has changed my life. I respect your work deeply. So, I’d love to be part of your painting class. Thanks so much.
I would be so honored. I am trying to take the leap into my creative side. I posted to FB and Pinterst. My first memories of painting are wild swirls of color!!! I believed I could never really be an artist. Now is the time to change that. Aho.
I have found myself unexpectedly free the time around. I have started twice already only to be called back into daily life. Now ethnic my son travelling at the same time alone with his father I see an opportunity to really delve in!
Visual Quest was the fulfillment of my promise to myself to paint on a canvas—even though I had never painted before. That canvas is still talking to me.
The only art I remember as a child is coloring in coloring books—and I still love a good box of crayolas. But since Visual Quest I have sketchbooks, acrylic paint and the all kinds of supplies which give the the joy of making my own art.
Shared on FB and twitter x 1 each. Drawing my brothers and sisters watching tv.
And Pinterest x 1. I always forget I have an acct. ☺
One of the first art pieces I can remember was made from vinyl like adhesive backed material on paper. I did a donkey sitting down, with broken pottery fallen from his pack. There were mountains in the background. It was because I was listening to Ferde Grofe’s Grand Canyon Suite. I was quite young, and I absorbed everything my mother taught her piano and music students. I’m sharing on my personal and biz page on fb, and I’ll share on MeWe, when I get hooked up! I am so glad you are offering this, Pixie, as all my funds have gone into my mouth and broken teeth and bone graft. I thoroughly enjoyed the very first Vision Quest, and would love to do another.
Oops! Visual Quest – not Vision – just got back from dental surgery.
I grew up painting and drawing all day. Hours were spent at the dinner room table creating and doodling. In the second grade we made plates for Christmas gifts to give to our parents. I drew an angel in a green dress with a bright sun over her head. I remember thinking it was one of my best most special drawings. That was 43 years ago….I still have the plate.
I shared on all social platforms! Thank you! Peace
So much to learn, love, and live in this amazing world! Would be delighted to win this place in your course and I’m so grateful that you are doing this… bringing together the past, present, and future this way. Thank YOU, Pixie! I’ve shared on instagram, facebook (twice – different pages), twitter, flickr, pinterest, tumblr. 🙂 Thanks so much! Julia from Loving Rd (lovingrd@yahoo.com) PS – It seems the right guides keep crossing my path and blessing my life with gifts so I’m trusting this will be if meant to be and I hope so! 😉
Shared on Facebook; I’m afraid the technological revolution has left me behind (would much rather sit under a tree and read a good book than sit on a computer these days). My brother was an incredibly talented painter and drawer when I was growing up, so he got much of the limelight in that category. But I had a vivid imagination and used to greatly embellish my colouring in books and have great adventurous sagas with the drawings and characters I’d created. I’m exploring my creativity more and more these days….
I would love to participate in this final session of visual quest. The piece of art from my childhood that stands out was a poster I did of Sylvester the Cat wrapping a gift for a postal service contest. Thanks for the opportunity to win a seat, Pixie!
Oops…forgot to say I shared twice. Instagram and the dreaded fb. 🙂
Shared on FB and Pinterest. Art has always been one of my passions it’s hard to remember just one but I do have a very special fondness for my melted crayon art I used to create. I loved the way the colors would blend on the heated tinfoil. The smell of the melting wax. The whole experience was bliss because there were no lines, just my creative spark. <3 Thank you for offering this. I wish all the participants an enchanted Quest. Many Blessings to you Sister.
I have shared on facebook, on my feed.
My first memory of drawing that I was especially proud of was when I began to copy the way my older sister drew horses. She had figured out how to shape their heads in a way that I admired, and I copied her for years. I wish I still had some of those drawings!
Your altar is amazing! I’d love to learn more about your altar[s] and how you create them, what they mean to you, etc.
I love that you’re back to blogging, also 🙂
shared on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.
I used to make little drawings and sell them to other kids. Then I started making big birthday banners for my mom’s coworkers. She still talks about those 40 years later.
So want to be here with you all. Shared on fb and pinterest. More crafty than an artist but I love this work you do.
Shared on FB and I was very little and my godmother taught me to draw a tree. Very found memories!
I shared on pinterest twice. i’d love to join as I have all these images pent up in my soul ready to jump onto the canvas.
I remember being so proud my parents hung a picture i drew with markers in the dining room in a cherry red frame. It was a picture of icecream cones and it hung over our dining table for at least 10 years.
Congratulations, Johanna!!!!!
Shared to Facebook. Joining MeWe Soon. My art the early years…daydreaming about the magic of every day life.
Shared three times: Facebook, and two times on Pinterest. One of my strongest memories of a craft was an owl I made when I was about 7-8 years old. It was on construction paper and the owl was designed with macaroni and other types of seeds. I remember feeling so proud about the art as it looked to me to be so real. Owl has been with me through out my life ever since 🙂
Oh and sharing on MeWe to, so sharing 4 times 🙂
I recently came across a number of cat drawings from early elementary school. Also bones and skulls from 6th/7th grade. There is a bones piece floating in a sea of rainbow pastels that still hangs at my aunt and uncles house:)
Shared on FB, personal and business page.
Would love to join you this round!!!
shared here and fbook. I made a black cat on black paper
at primary school that I loved. I kept it for years.
I have my first piece of mixed media art still hanging in my office. It is a big, almost abstract butterfly and what I love about it most is how I felt making it. My art teacher encouraged me follow my feelings and create from my heart and I found out that my heart had SO much to say! I have rarely been in that space, unconstrained and free, but it is a feeling that I so deeply crave and I feel that ancient lullaby begging to be sung.
Oh, and I shared this on my Pinterest.
Shared on FB, Instagram, Pinterest, and MeWe!
I love a picture I did of a girl holding a large ice cream cone! My parents posted it on the wall and I’m feeling quite fond of it as I reflect on it now.
My favorite piece of art from my childhood was a group of small caricature sketches I drew of imaginary characters I loved to think up small stories for. I still have them. 🙂 Shared on FB, pinterest and Twitter! ♡♡♡♡ Thank you!
I shared on Facebook and MeWe. My first drawing that I remember was a jackrabbit with a handlebar mustache.
What would I paint under your spell, Who would visit? What would I find out about myself that I didn’t already know, what messages would be revealed and what little whispers from deep within my soul would become loud. Mmmmmmm the unknowns , Ku Wak the spirit animal within me honors you and your offering. Spreading the word in you soon to be divorced social media outlet of FB and Pinterest.
what will I paint under your spell. as a kid I would draw mountains. still climbing them trying yo reach the peak, don’t know what I will find when I get there. Spreading the word through you soon to be divorced Facebook and Pinterest.
I shared on Facebook! (rachel ballard)
I haven’t taken a painting class in about 20 years.
I would be honored to have a person such as yourself as my teacher.
I remember my early art was always of rainbows, hillsides and sunrises.
Repetitive actually. Maybe I’ll see if I saved one. 🙂
Hi Pixie,
I will share on FB…I’m not tapped into the other social formats yet!
I drew a lot of people as a child, some with unusual characteristics. Any material objects were usually quite small in the pictures (except a rainbow bathtub in one of them!)
Shared on FB and MeWe. Wow, besides loving to color with crayons, and sticking things down with that tasty white paste/glue, the only memory of my childhood art is a large tempura portrait I painted in middle school. As I recall,I was pretty happy with it, but my teacher felt the need to put his touch on it to ‘finish it up’…crushed me.
I’d love a chance to do this one more time! I don’t remember being proud of anything in particular, but I was always drawing. The best was probably the series of tiny soft sculpture dolls I made between the ages of about 11-15. They ranged from about 7″ tall down to less than 2″ and I imagined stories about them as I stitched. Then they went straight into the dollhouse, which ended up very densely populated, with I think over 60 inhabitants! I shared 1x on FB. (I’m going to commit to painting even if I don’t win!)
I have shared on Facebook and Twitter.
Art that meant a lot to me as a child was a colouring competition I won for a boxed set of Narnia books and another painting I entered into a regional competition of some kind when I was 10 which was a deer set in the bush. I still remember how proud I was of that piece.
I’ve always wanted to take this class!
I haven’t explored painting or drawing since I was in my early twenties!!
I always worried about “doing it right” & gave up.
Your “method” really excites me! Tapping into something much deeper & primal.
Interestingly, I have been buying paints, brushes, canvases…set up an easel & jars weeks ago. All without a plan.
Like I was being guided to prepare!
I just did it without question.
Trusting in the process.
Thanks for this opportunity Pixie!
I’ve shared on Facebook 3 times, Twitter & Pinterest.
I drew a picture of my family when I was just 5.
I found it at my parent’s house & have it framed. A real treasure!
This course looks fabulous and comes well recommended by a previous student!
I will be sharing on Facebook, twitter and pinterest 🙂
I hope I’m not to late to enter!
xx
When I was a child I made a necklace for my grandmother out of paperclips and shelf liner. After she passed away (many decades later) I inherited her jewelry boxes. Among all gold, precious and semi-precious pieces was that necklace I made sitting on her living room floor. I still have it.
I could sure use a different way to connect with my art that isn’t commercial or weirdly prim and inside the lines! My soul keeps on feeling like my artwork has become too much like work, and my inner critic just loves jumping up and down on that!
Keep on doing the great work, and we’re behind you all the way with the facebook situ! Here’s to the future!
Shared on facebook
https://www.facebook.com/stephanie.ayres1
Shared on twitter
@stephanieayres1
Shared on Pinterest
https://www.pinterest.com/stephayres/art-i-love/
Hi, Pixie. I’ve always wanted to take your class and paininting a spirit or goddess guide seems just the thing to do as I settle into my new house. I wish I had this watercolor I did as a child of a reclining giant who was part of the mountains in a landscape I did in grade school. I also painted an Indian chief’s head in shades of red, orange and yellow and it was pretty striking for an 11 year old. It was almost like: Where did he come from? These may be amongst my mothers things at her house, where my brother lives. Who knows where or what shape they’re in. Shared on Facebook twice, Pinterest and Twitter. Love you!
Dear Pixie… Just joined MeWe too. Happy you have found a great alternative for SouLodge! I shared Visual Quest on Twitter, FB, and Pinterest ????❤️
This is a wonderful opportunity! Thanks Pixie for offering a giveaway spot! I don’t remember my early artworks, but I know I’ve drawn many dogs. We weren’t allowed to have one growing up, so I used to draw my “fantasy” dogs. They were usually German Shepherds. Now I have 4 pups at home!
Hi! I forgot to say that I shared on my facebook and pinterest…..Thanks, again
Shared on Twitter.
I don’t remember how old I was, under 10, probably 8. I had this how to draw baby animals book that I loved to look at. Eventually I received the courage to try to draw the fawn. To my surprise it turned out very well, looking like the one in the book and I didn’t even trace it! I gave it to my grandma who lived in the neighbouring town. She tucked it into the boards on her cupboard. I looked at it and wanted it back, but didn’t take it back. Now, I kind of wish I had not given it away, but at the same time know that my artist grandma got a deep sense of pride that her granddaughter was following in her footsteps.
Not sure if i’m too late, but happy to share on Facebook. Joining Me We. My parents used to have crazy cocktail parties in the ’70s and during one when I was about 9, I “locked” myself in my room and designed and made a purse from felt — All hand-stitched and appliqued with embroidery — bright orange, yellow and green, of course, in real ’70s style!
I shared on twitter, Pinterest and G+.
My most memorable piece of childhood artwork was the huge sharpie nature mural I drew on the kitchen walls my mother had just refinished. 🙂
I just joined weme today-thanks to you- so my first post on weme and my last post on facebook will be about this. I’m so excited to have a chance to join you for visual quest. I have been wanting to take this class for years but have been unable to afford it. The childhood art project I most remember was when we had to have a partner in class and draw portraits of each other. This is when I first learned how to draw an accurate eye. I was pretty proud. 🙂
I’ve shared on Facebook. As a child, I always loved drawing animals especially rabbits. One of my childhood pictures was a gift to my mom of three brown bunnies facing away – little tails showing. She still has it framed.
Awsome thank u
I am sending again!
Is not showing up.
Sent August 4, 2012 6:28am
DEB KABIN – I’ve always wanted to take this class!
I haven’t explored painting or drawing since I was in my early twenties!!
I always worried about “doing it right” & gave up.
Your “method” really excites me! Tapping into something much deeper & primal.
Interestingly, I have been buying paints, brushes, canvases…set up an easel & jars weeks ago. All without a plan.
Like I was being guided to prepare!
I just did it without question.
Trusting in the process.
Thanks for this opportunity Pixie!
I’ve shared on Facebook 3 times, Twitter & Pinterest.
I drew a picture of my family when I was just 5.
I found it at my parent’s house & have it framed. A real treasure!(Your comment is awaiting moderation)Reply
Hi Pixie, I was hesitating for a while to enlist for the visual quest, going through a rough time with a lot of transformations, I was not sure wether a course like this would be too much or just really at the right time.
Your use of the words ‘third and final’ made me enlist today. I’m not gonna miss this opportunity!
Flora Bowley’s e-course Bloom True was lifechanging for the way I’m experiencing the process of making art, from the heart instead from the mind. I’m curious to deepen that experience, seeking for a connection with the source I know is within me, but still found so hard to connect with.
The first paintings that I remember showed my desire for a ‘normal’ life with the family life I missed.
I’ve shared at FB and Instagram; I’m not a Twitter-girl.
I’m so looking forward to the course, thank you for offering this opportunity!
The timing of this synchronicity is perfect!! I just purchased a canvas to start painting again!!!! THis course is exactly what is needed.
I shared this post 3 times~ on Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook.
I have so many memories having fun with ART~ One memorable piece of artwork was more about the meaning than the actual piece of art work. A few students joined together to paint a mural of our high school but gave up and quit the project when people started to make fun of it. It sat there unfinished all year ~ I knew that a painting goes through many stages~ an evolution of sorts before it is pleasing to the eye. I DOVE in head first ~ volunteering to complete the wall-sized mural as an independent art project, working every day after school, during class, every moment I had. Soon everyone started to notice the mural and excitement emerged in our school. People became excited and a few others offered to join me in finishing the mural. At the end of the year ~ the teacher thanked me for taking on a project that others gave up on. I learned so much about life during this process ~ NEVER GIVE UP ~ Sometimes you must go through a little “mess” before the true beauty can be seen.
(I tried posting last night, but it still doesn’t show, so trying again…shared 1x last night on FB) I’d love another chance to paint with you! As for a youthful art project, I never remember feeling proud of any particular one. I drew all the time, but probably the best was the series of small soft sculpture dolls I made. I’d imagine their stories as I stitched, then they’d join their predecessors in the dollhouse–nearly 70 by the time I stopped making them! They are from under 2″ to about 7″ tall. (And–I commit to regular painting even if I don’t win a spot!)