Floyd artist Pat Woodruff (pictured at left with her watercolor “Summer Storm”), who has provided cover art for three New River Voice issues, says that spring is a time of awakening. It’s a time to clean out our closets, both physical and mental, she says. Creative people are particularly prone to pushing down their dreams in order to deal with the “reality” of day to day living. This can create a tension in daily life, as the creative process struggles to be free, only to be forced back down again for practicality’s sake.
Voice Managing Editor Taryn Chase is a big proponent of “The Artist’s Way” and highly recommends it as a means to keep creativity flowing. A six-week workshop will run on Wednesdays, “The Artist’s Way” (Part 1) based on the book by Julia Cameron, will be facilitated by Patricia Robin Woodruff, a writer and artist who’s creativity is rooted in the Appalacian mountains. She travels from her solar powered homestead in the mountains of Pennsylvania, to her art studio in the artistic mecca of Floyd. Her work can be seen at www.InnerArtSpirit.com. Pat credits her expanding creativity to the methods outlined in the workshop.
“The Artist’s Way” is designed to help creative souls, whether they work with paint or poems, music or theater, programming or pottery (or always wanted to be creative, but never thought they could.) Each student will receive a copy of the book, The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. The exercises outlined in the book form the basis of the workshop. The workshop focuses on connecting human creativity with the creative energies all around us. It uses fun mental exercises to identify negative and positive thought patterns, it exercises your creativity, nurtures your spirit and helps you break through creative blocks.
The Artist’s Way (Part 1) covers half of the exercises in Julia Cameron’s book. This workshop will be held 7 PM to 8:30 PM, starting on Wednesday, March 19, continuing on April 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30, 2008 at the Art Under The Sun Gallery (under the Winter Sun) at 302 S. Locust Street, Floyd, Va. It’s only $60 for the six week course (and a $20 materials fee.) More information is available at www.ArtUnderTheSun.org or call 540-745-7433 or register with patwoodruff@mac.com. Class size is limited, so register today!
1 response so far ↓
1 Kanta Bosniak // Mar 10, 2008 at 7:35 pm
I highly recommend this class to anyone who wants to get the creative juices flowing. Visual artists, writers, sculptors, composers, gardeners…whatever your medium, this class is sure to delight, inspire,, to provoke (in a good way!), and shake you loose from any “stuck places.”
Julia Cameron’s book “The Artist’s Way” is now a classic. And so are classes based on her work. My first experience of an “Arist’s Way ” class was in Blacksburg, VA, almost 20 years ago. I appreciate Cameron’s approach to linking creativity and spiritual process. It works! I have enjoyed Pat’s version, which she taught in my old holistic education center in Floyd, VA Alpha Learning Institute. Actaully, I enjoyed the class so much, I took it twice.
I found her teaching style very creative and juicy. She has a way of fostering deep safety, which promotes closeness and trust…and she’s just plain fun! My art, writing, even my creativity as a hypnotherapist benefitted. And this is the bottom line: fostering productivity and joy.
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