“There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is translated through you into action. And, because there is ONLY ONE OF YOU in all time, this expression is unique. And, if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is, nor how valuable it is, nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly. To keep the channel open.” ~Martha Graham
In September, I took Flora Bowley’s 5-week e-course, Bloom True, a transformational approach to painting and living that celebrates intuition, allowing expressive paintings to emerge naturally. Every day for 5 weeks, Flora posted a lesson. Each week is a different theme and consists of two painting days and other exercises like journaling, dreaming, sketching, etc. The goal of the course is to discover how to paint like YOU, not like anyone else.
When we listen only to our logical minds, as most of us do, there’s not much room for trusting our intuition. By welcoming various kinds of inspiration and being OPEN to that process of discovery, we can live an inspired life and create inspired paintings.
It’s about listening to your heart and your senses, being playful, and trusting your intuition. Flora led us in adding layer over layer, turning our canvases upside down to try to notice shapes emerging, all while being patient with the process, with ourselves, and with our paintings. She reminded us to let go of “shoulds” in order to accept that absolutely anything could emerge from our paintings at any time. She led us in loosening up in every possible way.
First Flora encouraged us to set our intentions for the course. Mine were:
- grow as an artist
- shut off any left brain pressure or timetable
- learn from Flora
- enjoy the process more than the outcome
- slow down in all ways
- be more creatively playful
- tune in and trust my intuition
I found that I was often covering up something I liked, but I trusted that something else would come up and let it go. Thinking about what makes me come alive, slowing down and really noticing the world around me with all my senses, finding things I’m passionate about… all this was part of my experience.
I also enjoyed watching Flora paint and talk about her thought process. The class is very video-intensive and there were weekly audio interviews to listen to as well, which is usually not my thing. However, since I was painting at the same time as watching, I found that I enjoyed the company!
“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” ~ Howard Thurman
Flora’s next class begins Feb 10 and includes the five-week class, six months’ extended classroom access, and a series of professionally shot videos, audio interviews and creative exercises to transform your approach to the creative process. I highly recommend it.
Flora’s work is amazingly free, and I’ve enjoyed all that I’ve seen about her process. How wonderful that you had a chance to take her class…your work is great! You really seemed to absorb what she has to offer!
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Naomi- I had taken the same class but the session before you and it was terrific. You have truly embraced the theory behind Flora’s intuitive painting. I loved what you have created here. It is such a freeing feeling isn’t it. Acrylic painting was new to me but I have been able to take many of the ideas and apply them to my watercolors as well. Looking forward to seeing more paintings from you
Sue recently posted…Comment on Colormixing vibrant colors in Watercolor by Sue
Thanks, Sue. I definitely needed to take the course just to get away from my rigidity in creating. I was wondering how it would affect watercolor work. 🙂
I can really see huge progression here Naomi in your art work from when you were first blogging about it. How inspiring. I love the colours you have chosen and am particularly drawn towards the fish and hearts delight. So happy and alive with vitality.
Kelly Mckenzie recently posted…Where Were You When
I’m impressed that you think so… I suppose it HAS evolved. Being more playful was the key here, though I have a hugely long way to go.
I wrote a comment and then clicked on your painting to see it up close (the lower middle of the six squares) and my writing disappeared. Yikes. Anyway, I want to kiss that painting : )). I can see the paint flowing freely from your heart down your arm and onto the canvas. Looks like the channel is open.
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YES! That may have been the one time in the process that it was truly open. Does that mean I should have stopped there and then?
Love the directness of you painting, straight from you to the canvas. Be interesting to see how, if at all, this affects your photography.
Linda Watson recently posted…Warp Ends, Balance, and Energy
Good point, Linda. I haven’t picked up the camera nearly as much since I started my love affair with paint. Hmmm.
I have been to this post so many times that I thought I had commented, but now I see that I had not! This post got me off on a HUGE tangent yesterday looking for an art class to do with my daughter. I am tempted to do this class, but Tatia wanted to do a drawing class so I was looking for drawing… This was very inspiring! Your work is beautiful!
Amy Putkonen recently posted…Scattered Life Collective: January 24th
Thanks, Amy! Did you find that drawing class you wanted?
Yes, I did! 🙂 We have to drive a ways, but I found one.
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The most important thing I learned from Flora is if I feel like I’m stuck in a painting then I’ve wandered off the intuitive path. painting with my head, not my heart. And I can fix that by scraping off or painting over. And putting on loud music and painting like no one is watching 🙂
Susan recently posted…Like a Cat
Yes, that’s the fun part for me too. Dancing around to music and letting the ideas flow through me is how time passes so quickly for me.
What a great review of Bloom True. I also enjoy the beautiful visions, photos, and explanations of your experience in the course! I like how you mention covering things you like but learning to trust the process. This post makes me want to take the course and also makes me realize that I should plan for when I have enough time to invest, so that I can get the most out of it. Thank you for sharing!
I’m glad you’re interested, Karrlin. It does take a devoted chunk of time each day, at least 30 minutes. We worked on multiple canvases so we could always be letting one rest.
I took the course also and it has unleashed a new part of me!!
I love what you wrote here and also your paintings!
Thank you very much! The class helped me loosen up for sure!
Absolutely beautiful artwork Naomi. Love how you have shared your process of painting in the Bloom True eCourse with Flora. Especially love the painting with all the circular movements. 🙂
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Thank you, Suzanne. I remember reading your post about your experience in the course and that convinced me that I needed to take it too! So glad I did.
Sounds like you had a great time! Good for you. I need to loosen up a bit myself.
janet forrest recently posted…Who knew?
Don’t we all need to loosen up? :)Thanks for coming by, Janet. I love your comments.
I would like to do a similar thing with music, and improvise. 🙂
Such a great idea, Susanna. So much of the fun in music is in those made-up riffs. 🙂