The Artist's Way: Discovering a Sense of Integrity

Last night was the third session of my Artist's Way Creative Cluster and our focus was on integrity. For our warm-up exercise, we did movement inspired by Soul Collage cards created by Deborah Koff-Chapin of the Center for Touch Drawing.


For our creative project, we did some touch drawing ourselves. (I had the good fortune to attend one of Deborah's workshops back in February of 2009.) This is such a relaxing and calm activity and the ladies really enjoyed themselves. We moved and swayed to the drum music of Steve Gordon while we let our hands and fingers (and elbows and knuckles) dance across the paper.

Recovering a Sense of Power: The Artist's Way Week Three

I went to the studio early to prepare for the evening session of The Artist's Way. As I was hanging some old, unfinished pieces of art on the studio Art Line, I read a quote from one of the pieces.



My Muse is eager to instruct me in a new gamut, or gambetto,
Up, up my soul, from your lovely cantilation,
put on a timely vigour.

What a great way for me to set my focus and intention on the evening ahead. For the evening's creative project, we did Touch Drawing, a process developed by Deborah Koff-Chapin, founder of The Center for Touch Drawing. It is a simple process, but safe and non-threatening. I had the good fortune to attend a one-day workshop with Deborah at The Grotto in Portland last February, so I was able to share my experience of learning from the master. Here's a peek at our art-making:

Ooooolala! Lucious pieces of airy, artful tissue paper.

Recharging My Batteries

On Sunday, I spent the day at the Grotto in Portland, participating in an all-day Touch-Drawing retreat. Deborah Koff-Chapin is the founder of the Center for Touch Drawing and she led our retreat. It was an amazing day - the workshop was renewing and the setting was peaceful and energizing. First, the Grotto. If you've never been, I recommend visiting. It is located in NE Portland near 82nd and Sandy Blvd. It's full title is The National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother, and it is described as a 62-acre Catholic shrine and botanical garden. It was beautiful, even in winter. Here are some photographs of the grounds:






Okay, now for the Touch Drawing part of my day! Here is the description Susan uses on her website to describe the process:

Touch Drawing is a simple yet profound process where the fingers take the place of pen or brush. Paper is placed over a freshly painted surface. Wherever it is touched, an imprint is made on the back side. Impulses from within take form on paper through the movement of the fingertips on the page. A multitude of drawings can be created in one session, each a stepping stone to the next; guiding progressively deeper into the self.


When I registered for the day, it was with the intention of learning more about the technique involved, yet after I arrived and everyone began sharing what brought them to the retreat, I realized I was there for me - for me to release, explore, and renew. Here are a few pages from the dozens I created.

Ahhhh . . . .