Coming Up at Eyes Aflame

Portland Area Classes:  New classes start late September 2010 - to be the first to learn about new class offerings, sign up for the e-newsletter here.

I'm also offering one-on-one instruction in encaustic painting - go here for more information. 

Shows & Sales: I've got a lovely show of over a dozen encaustic and collage work up at Guardino Gallery through August 22nd - go to the Events page for more information.  I'm also participating in Portland Open Studios again this year - along with 99 other Portland-area artists.  Visit the Portland Open Studios website to pick up a tour guide with information and directions to each of the participating artists' studios. 

ArtMaking as Playful Prayer Book Update:  ArtMaking as Playful Prayer, the book, is back from the editor!  Now, it's down to making final edits and doing photography and layout.  Be sure to sign up for the E-Newsletter to be the first to know when e-Book and Print versions are available!

Classes Beyond Portland:  I'll be teaching at a private event down in Charleston, Oregon in September. If there's another location near you where you'd like to see classes offered, or, if you're looking for a custom class, craft party, or corporate retreat, let me know!  Just visit the Contact page, and drop me a line.

Eyes Aflame is all about Creativity.

And creativity is a skill. 

For those of you who've ever said "I wish I were creative" or "I just don't get creative people" or "My creativity is totally blocked," here's the deal: creativity is like riding a bike. 

Just about anyone can learn to do it, and the earlier you start, the easier it is.  Not everyone is going to be Lance Armstrong or win the Tour de France, but almost anyone can learn to use a bike to get from Point A to Point B and most likely have a good time doing it.

With riding a bike, half the battle is learning the mechanics: how to balance, how to shift gears, how to brake.  The rest is faith - trusting in those two skinny wheels and your own momentum, and knowing that if you fall, you can get back on and try again.  Learning creativity is the same way - it's a mix of building concrete skills and developing the attitudes that make it possible for you to use those skills effectively.

And I'm here to help you hop on that ten-speed and fly.