Embrace Your Inner artist
Thur 21 - Sun 24 April 2016
BOOK HERE
BOOK HERE
"Creativity is intelligence having fun" Albert Einstein
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This is a workshop for you if you would like to embrace, learn to love and play with your creative side through mixed media collage and painting.
What is the purpose of the retreat? The more we allow ourselves to stay unattached to the outcome, the more willing we can become to take big risks and be fearless on the canvas. The purpose is to awaken your longing to be creative and explore how this can be done with different techniques using mixed media. Do I need any artistic skills to come on the retreat? We will work on canvases and combine acrylic paint, spray ink, stenciled patterns and collage. You don’t need to “know” anything about painting. If you think you can’t paint, this is an opportunity to prove your thoughts wrong. We will guide you through the creative process supported by a compassionate holding. Let your curiosity lead you to “happy accidents”, forward motion and playful discovery! |
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Why together in a retreat?
Having compassion for the harsh stories we tell our self about our creativity is part of the path for healing and change...and yet it is not enough.
Making a decision to act from the new longing for creativity is the next step - but still not enough!
We need to take action to create new pathways in the brain - and to do this it is easiest with support and companionship.
- come and join us in taking that step together.
Having compassion for the harsh stories we tell our self about our creativity is part of the path for healing and change...and yet it is not enough.
Making a decision to act from the new longing for creativity is the next step - but still not enough!
We need to take action to create new pathways in the brain - and to do this it is easiest with support and companionship.
- come and join us in taking that step together.
Do I need to have had any exposure to the principles of NVC (Nonviolent Communication) to join the retreat?
Ideally, we would like everyone who joins the retreat to have some prior knowledge and understanding of NVC. If you are new to NVC and want to join us, please contact us to discuss further.
Ideally, we would like everyone who joins the retreat to have some prior knowledge and understanding of NVC. If you are new to NVC and want to join us, please contact us to discuss further.
How much will it cost?
To make it as affordable as possible, we offer a sliding scale (to include accommodation, food and workshop fees) of £195- £300 plus the cost of materials (£20 per person). We ask you to pay the highest you can afford within that scale so that we can continue to offer the lower end of the scale for people unable to pay more.
To make it as affordable as possible, we offer a sliding scale (to include accommodation, food and workshop fees) of £195- £300 plus the cost of materials (£20 per person). We ask you to pay the highest you can afford within that scale so that we can continue to offer the lower end of the scale for people unable to pay more.
Do I need to bring my own art materials?
We will provide all the paints and canvases you will need.
We will ask you to bring some pictures and textured papers - we will provide you a list of where to find these - from the internet, magazines or recycled materials - when you book.
We will provide all the paints and canvases you will need.
We will ask you to bring some pictures and textured papers - we will provide you a list of where to find these - from the internet, magazines or recycled materials - when you book.
How do I book?
Please book here (only 6 places available so book early! - a few gone already) - contact penny by email or phone 01559 362510 or (mob) 07901 783673
Please book here (only 6 places available so book early! - a few gone already) - contact penny by email or phone 01559 362510 or (mob) 07901 783673
Where is the workshop happening?
We will gather at Penny's place in Pentrecwrt near Llandysul in Carmarthenshire: a lovely old mill owner's house overlooking the river Teifi and next to the bridge that the poet T Llew Jones' made famous with his poem about Cwm Alltcafan.
We will gather at Penny's place in Pentrecwrt near Llandysul in Carmarthenshire: a lovely old mill owner's house overlooking the river Teifi and next to the bridge that the poet T Llew Jones' made famous with his poem about Cwm Alltcafan.
When does it start and finish?
We will gather from 5pm on Thursday 21st April for an evening meal together and finish by 4pm on Sunday 24th April
We will gather from 5pm on Thursday 21st April for an evening meal together and finish by 4pm on Sunday 24th April
Where will I stay?
Accommodation will be in simple twin rooms (1 double available). If you could only come if you had a room to yourself, please contact us to discuss your needs and what could be possible.
Accommodation will be in simple twin rooms (1 double available). If you could only come if you had a room to yourself, please contact us to discuss your needs and what could be possible.
What type of food is provided?
We will provide simple, wholesome, vegetarian food. Some dietary needs can be catered for (e.g. vegan, gluten free)
We will provide simple, wholesome, vegetarian food. Some dietary needs can be catered for (e.g. vegan, gluten free)
Above are some of Aurora's mixed media paintings
Aurora's background
I grew up in Sweden with a little sister who had an outstanding talent for painting. At home many of her paintings were posted on our walls. In early days we sat together and painted but she was the one that got colours and brushes for birthdays and Christmas gifts. Even if no one ever said I couldn’t paint or draw I started to believe I wasn’t good enough since my paintings never made it to our walls.
I told myself: It wasn’t anything I should waste my time doing. And so I stopped painting for a long time. A few years ago I started to question my beliefs. What if it isn’t true that I can’t paint? Supported by ongoing self-compassion processes and some online art programs I now paint and it’s bringing me so much joy and meaning. I want to share this approach to a long lost longing for being creative and show how relatively small the step is to change a belief compared to how big the reward is in this new experience. And at the same time embrace with loving kindness the vulnerable place where we meet our creative inner child. My connection to NVC. Ten years ago I went to a workshop in Sweden with Marshall Rosenberg and since then I have participated in and offered numerous NVC trainings in Sweden and Norway. In 2011 I became a certified trainer. |
Penny's background
My ‘collapse’ around art was when I was about 14. Our art teacher had asked us to draw and paint something from nature. I found an encyclopedia with an amazing page full of different toadstools and mushrooms in a forest setting. I loved it and copied it diligently. I showed my teacher and she was delighted with it…. until she realised that I had copied it! What she actually said to me I don’t remember, but I do remember concluding that I must be no good at art because I couldn’t draw without copying. My decision to do art O level (equivalent to a GSCE) was changed and I stopped doing art from then on.
I have spent many years working on my own self-compassion and thought it was time to address this in relation to being creative. I met Aurora on a 2 year Living Compassionately retreat with Robert Gonzales and she told me her story and I saw her beautiful art and she inspired us all to play with paint in the breaks. I knew then that I wanted to invite her to Wales to come and play! Together we will work with you to explore and release your self-condemning stories around ‘being creative’ and Aurora will lead us in using paints and creating collages. I have been a certified trainer since 2011 and started running Living NVC retreats from our retreat cottage in 2014. |