ART day coming to Phoenix!

  Next Saturday, August 3rd, an  ARTful   day of shopping and   viewing art pieces is coming to Paradise Valley, Phoenix.  Every year I take classes at this wonderful art show called ART UNRAVELED.  Classes go on all week long and ends in a vendor fair of shopping.  You'll find pieces to buy,  along with items to make your own art with.   Mixed media, paper arts, journaling, paints, steampunk pieces and more will be there along with various magazine companies represented like Stampendous, Somerset and more. Find out more at http://www.artunraveled.com

Art with Youth

I have been privileged to teach 12-14 year olds this summer in addition to my children ages 3-5 yrs. old.  What a difference!   Both classes have shown a great love of art and have  enjoyed the process.  The youth are harder on themselves and think of perfection, while the younger tots just love the mess.   I hope that the one thing I passed on to the youth was that ART can be anything, and your interpretation of it.  It is in the process that one gains a love of ART and the end result is in the eye of the beholder.  There is no right or wrong.  They came up with amazing  pieces of art throughout the week: drawing, painting, creating patterns and I saw their creative spirit start to bloom.  

A great group of kids.

   Need to relax?  Try fingerpainting.  It's amazing that these children played for 50 minutes with this activity before losing interest.  Their comments were "its slippery, its mixing colors, and it's cold on my hands!   Art can be a very sensory experience! I have been having some artful experiences of my own this summer as well.
There is a new place in town called "Party with Paint", go with a friend to paint an acrylic painting of your choice.  Have a glass of wine and share the evening relaxing!   I know I could have painted at home and probably could have come up with something of my own, but doing something artful with others expands your artsy karma!  Sometimes I think the art just oozes out!  Check out Caroles' studio!

Carole Cobbold

Party With Paint

(480)309-0007

partywithpaint.com

  My good friend, Tammy and I took a break from the busyness of our lives to share an evening.

A great Feeling...

Nothing is better for a teacher than a parent coming to congratulate you for teaching their child.  Today as I was getting ready to teach the children about Monet, a dad came to me and said," while on vacation at Legoland in CA., John pulled us aside and showed us the 'dots' on the Legos.  He kept telling us that George Seurat painted with dots!"

I was so pleased that a 4 year old could remember the lesson of Impressionism and grasp the concept.  What a rush of excitement that gives me and those short moments compel me to keep opening young minds to new things.  Often teacher friends of older students caution me on teaching such advanced things like science experiments and art masterpieces.  I say why not!  These children are ready for anything and their minds are craving new information.  It may have to be brought down to their level, but it can be done!  As always, I want to encourage others to learn something new.  Try a new hobby, read a different genre in books, travel somewhere--take in new experiences!  New information can inspire you, calm you, excite you and give you a new way to see life.  John saw it in legos.

Sharing Art Experiences

What is Art?  According to the dictionary, it is "the quality, production, expression, or realm, according to aesthetic principles, of what  is beautiful, appealing, or of more than ordinary significance."  It is also up to the eye of the beholder.   To me, art is a way of living, of seeing things in the everyday sights of our world;  a feeling that comes when you least expect it, a way of looking at the world through the "little things "; and yes, experiencing art as a spiritual path to creativity.   

I met Julia Cameron once, author of The Artist's Way.  As she writes in her book, these are the basic Principles of Art:

"* Creativity is the natural order of life.  Life is energy; pure creative energy.

*There is an underlying, in-dwelling creative force infusing all of life-including ourselves.

*When we open ourselves to our creativity, we open ourselves to the creator's creativity within  us and our lives.

*We are, ourselves, creations.  And we, in turn, are meant to continue creativity by being creative ourselves.

*Creativity is God's gift to us.  Using our creativity is our gift back to God.

*The refusal to be creative is self-will and is counter to our true nature.

*When we open ourselves to exploring our creativity, we open ourselves to God; good orderly direction.

*As we open our creative channel to the creator, many gentle but powerful changes are to be expected.

*It is safe to open ourselves up to greater and greater creativity.

* Our creative dreams and yearnings come from a divine source.  As we move toward our dreams, we  move toward our divinity."

Some may not agree with Julia Cameron's interpretation of our creativity, but I find it inspiring and true.

I often hear people say "I'm not creative at all. I can't do that".  I am quick to tell them "yes you are, and you can!"  Many are creative in ways we don't usually see as a creative art-like cooking, being skilled to put electronics back together, or designing furniture or billboards.    I am blessed to see art everyday working with children.  The way they see the world is amazing.  To see their tiny fingers discover a soft caterpillar or catch a raindrop.

These are the artful times that make my heart happy.    I am starting this blog to share what I see as art everyday.  It may be something just for you to think about or an artful experience you can try.  You are never to old to try play dough, or the coolness of shaving cream,  or holding a caterpillar and really looking closely.  Look for art in the unusual place.  It is there that someone has given their creativity for all to see.

Upon traveling in March'13 to the Hearst Castle in California, I saw this beautiful doorway to the castle.  See the artful roman pool that took over ten years to perfect.