The Creative by Nature Art Method

*Upcoming courses- Summer 2017- 1-Day Art Retreats in July
Ever wonder what it would be like to have the confidence to paint with natural ease anywhere, anytime without fear or failure?

The Creative by Nature Art Method is an unique contemplative art practice that helps even the most reluctant painter paint with ease. Learn how to paint with a quiet mind for joy and connection. Many people make the mistake of beginning a painting like they would any other planned task: with a good dose of thinking and direction following, when really, the trick is to shift your awareness to a deeper level of engagement. The rest follows naturally.  Learn how to make this shift into sensation, feeling and intuition through simple-to-try art encounters that slowly build from “new born” painting (as one student recently described it) to free flight. What separates the Creative by Nature Art Method from the other painting programs out there is that it is simple, portable, “do anywhere at anytime” art, that supports a more harmonious relationship with your heart and nature as you build painting skills that last a lifetime. 

What will I learn?

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Paint anywhere anytime.

During our time together you will give colour, shape and attention to sound, texture, pattern, intuition, feeling and spontaneous expression. You will practice the Create Cycle: setting an intention, following what attracts, empathic attunement, drawing & painting with both hands and eyes closed, no plan creating, image dialogue, reflection, synergy of group sharing, and expressing gratitude. You will draw and paint in fresh ways, with no brushes, tracking your experience in the moment and experiencing the joy that accompanies art merged with nature, heart and contemplation.

This method focuses on process. You will come away with a new appreciation of how art is a natural and universal language. You will embrace drawing and painting as a personal practice that brings insight and connection, and that is available to you anywhere at anytime. You will feel energized and inspired to jump into your paintings with new tricks up your sleeve. You will be able to apply these principles to your chosen medium as you move forward. Finally you will feel a big boost in your drawing and painting confidence.

Paint in the comfort of your own home.

Paint in the comfort of your own home.

    Though the Creative by Nature Art Method focuses on drawing, painting and mark making in the broadest sense, the practice taught here can be applied to any creative endeavour and applied to most every medium. This is because it is process based, a way to approach creating. You will learn how to navigate around the usual habit of planning things out, or trying to control what’s happening, and instead shift into a place of intuitive free flow art-making characterized by co-creation, presence, ease and joy.

   The combination of time on your own and time sharing with others can boost you into a being a full fledged painter in 6 short weeks. Remember fledged means free to confidently fly on your own. That is my goal for you. 

Here is what one student had to say about the Creative by Nature Art Method.    

I will continue exploring this wonderful world of expression you taught me. I am very grateful.

 

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What will I do each week? (this is compacted for Day-long and weekend programs)

*Week 1 – Introduction to the Create Cycle and the Key Elements of the Creative by Nature Art Method

                        –Touching into nature then drawing and painting- Hand Touch Draw, Nature Touch Draw, Nature Touch Paint

*Week 2- Tuning in to listen deeply- Listen Draw, Listen Paint

                      – How to extend images- Adding Colour, Adding Line

*Week 3- Looking beneath the surface- Look Draw, Look Paint

*Week 4- Finding flow- Mindful Flow and Playing with Movement

*Week 5- A new vision- Artful Engagement Drawing, Artful Engagement Painting

*Week 6- Strengthening your practice

                       – Reflection and intention setting to keep your practice going.

Paint with a beautiful tree.

Paint with the shadows and light of a  beautiful tree.

 

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“There! The stream again, tinkling through the forest, tripping downhill to Fulford harbour and the breath eases and the non-seeing hands burble pale green swirly shapes onto the page. I ask the stream, stay, please stay. I am the stream and I say, stay, please stay”. -Maggie Z., 2012

 

Paint with your hands.

Is a Creative by Nature Art Method course for me?

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Feel the flow of a painting practice to call your own.

   If you yearn for more heartful self expression and love nature this method is for you. This method is not just for wanna-be painters (though it is how I started and is the way I continue to paint so you can develop this method into a full-fledged painting life if that is your heart’s desire!), it is also for anyone who loves nature, yearns for more creative expression and senses there could be so much more beauty, joy and creativity in their daily lives.

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Paint with both hands!

   In particular, this method is  for those who have always wanted to try their hand at drawing and painting. People who find themselves buying beautiful art supplies but watching as they gather dust. The self described art shy who would love to feel confident to paint naturally. Also educators looking for simple, do-able, material-light activities that deepen nature connection and boost creative confidence while expanding ways to know. This method is for green professionals looking for supportive self-care and fresh ways to know self and the living world and also for contemplative practitioners with creative curiosity, who intuit that the contemplative state is a creative one and that drawing and painting can provide much richness.  It is also for those seeking personal transformation through expressive art. 

Play with your personal imagery.

Do you still have questions about taking a painting course?  Don’t hesitate to pop me an email. 

I am looking forward to being your creative mentor.

   I love facilitating the Creative by Nature Art Method because I love watching people’s creativity blossom.

    My work as an artist, author and teacher focuses on sharing the transformative power of painting with anyone who will listen. I nurture joyful creative connection and authentic personal expression through art. I do this via in person and online art courses, experiential nature art encounters, and thoughtfully crafted self study resources because I believe art-making is our birthright. Everyone has the ability to create with natural ease. My world turned upside down the day I painted the way a tulip feels instead of the way it looks.  For so long I had craved a deeper connection to my inner world and to the world around me. That pivotal day painting pointed the way and I can confidently say after 20 years painting still brings the same joy, insight and soul nourishment to my life. I hold a Doctorate in Transformative Learning (with a focus on creativity and nature) from the University of Toronto. I paint, live, work and play on Salt Spring Island, BC.

Invest in your creative well being, register for a course today. Just click on “register here” and send me your contact info. I will reply lickety-split with info about upcoming opportunities.

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Lisa LipsettThe Creative by Nature Art Method