Manifestation, Visualization and Meditation. Trying to find center

I USED to meditate a lot. And I will accentuate the USED part of that. I would simply listen to a guided meditation a couple of times and light my candles. I felt such a connection to spirit with those little changes to my life. For no reason I just let the practice go away. In that time I have felt the spiritual disconnect. I told myself I will get back to it but I didn't. So. I had to force my own hand. I started a meditation and visualization & manifestation group on facebook. https://www.facebook.com/groups/234865896639865/ I am making myself accountable for getting back to spirit by trying to help others do it. I made the group a week ago. I have been following a lot of the practices I have added and I feel that old spark of connectivity to spirit again. With just a few minutes a day. It makes me very hopeful!

Falling into Creativity, Mini Art Retreat

I am so happy to announce The First Mini Art Retreat at The Artist Within Studio. Falling into Creativity.
Sat Oct. 13th. 2012
This is a Mixed Media Retreat.
We will be working on backrounds, Watercolors, Collage, Portraits, Dreamwork and more.
We will also have a mini-yoga class and have an optional massage therapist. Registration is $100. That includes all supplies except matte medium and massage therapist. It also includes meals for the day.
We are only accepting 10 students and registration must be pre-paid.
Please email me for more info. JamUrbanek@yahoo.com
visit my facebook. TheArtistWithin1
or lastly my website. http://www.Theartistwithin.vpweb.com

Here is Arlene Holtz's fb page. She paints beautiful portraits and many other art classes. She is also Gumbacher certified!
https://www.facebook.com/SpiritEssenceArt

Here is the Breakdown of the day!
7:30-8 Welcome: tea coffee, slip into comfy socks or slippers
8-8:30 two quick watercolor backrounds. Set aside to dry
8:30-9 2 Atc affirmations,& tags to trade and add to projects
9-10 Zentangle: yoga for the brain, mid morning snack: coffee/tea juice/fruit salad
10-11 Make a collage backround
11-12 Basic Front facing portrait (Arlene)
12-12:30 lunch
1-2 Paint portrait (Arlene)
2-3 Giving tree in prepared watercolor backround
3-3:30 mini yoga & meditation
3:30-4:30 dreamwork with Amy
4:30-5:30 Intuitive journaling , finding your passion
5:30-6 Dinner
6-7:30 Finish up projects, get some extra help, or go a little more advanced
7:30-8 wine!! pack up goodbye
the schedule could still be tweeked a little but nothing drastic.

Imperfect and Honest

Since I have done 29 Faces in May I have really gone out of my comfort zone. Not that I tried to. I like my fairy tale, sparkly paintings. But these guys just kept coming. It was very intuitive. I drew it just the way my hand went. Completely automatic, I didn't erase or try to perfect. I just went with it. At first I thought they were sort of creepy but as I painted them and looked into their eyes I realized that they are completely raw and honest. And now I am in love. With each and every one of them. They are for sale. If you're interested please visit my fb page. The Artist Within Online Giftshop Here are a couple. Please visit them and let me know what you think. Better yet give them a new home. Please email me JamUrbanek@yahoo.com

29 Faces in May!!!! Done!

Wow!! I can't believe it. I signed up for 29 faces in May. I ended up with 33! I"m so proud of myself. It really opened me up to just being creative and letting my muse flow through me. Everytime I am sitting down to paint, I always have an end product in mind. Either for a painting to sell or a class to teach. I never just paint for paints sake. Not this time. I just needed to finish it. So I just kept going. Last week while I was away I sat down (while watching The Woman in Black) and did 16!!! It took me a couple of days to paint them in but they were all drawn in a 2 hour period! I didn't worry about the end result. These characters just kept coming out. People that were absolutely not my style at all. Some of them are quite androgenous some a little creepy and a couple I'm not to fond of but I just kept going until the well ran dry. I am so happy with the result. Some I really really love. Some are so so and I may jush up. Some I may just paint over. But I did it!!! Yay me!

Faces faces faces. Loving making faces

Well I'm trudging on with these faces. I had some good progress today. I did my first ever pencil portrait. I have never shaded with pencil before and left it just as a drawing. I'm pretty happy with her too! I then did a face from Fab. Faces from Tam. I love her. She may be my favorite thing I've ever painted. Then it was An Angel from Angels in my studio. Then I thought, Well I'm on a high note why don't I do another face from fab faces. I'm was crushed. I had just gained some confidence just to have it crushed. I guess I pulled her through ok but I was not happy with her. So I sulked and did a Frankenstein Face for a kids class. I'm up to 11 faces now and i'm going to keep on going. I need to grow as an artist and this will help me to do it.

Divine Guidance.. Maybe I should listen

Well Angels I do hear you. I just need to do what you say!!! I have been using these Fairy cards for the last several years. I have a few different decks but these ones really resonate for me. Sometimes they bring me to tears. I have been keeping track of the readings I have done for the last year. I draw 3 cards a couple times a month for some guidance and insight. In the last year I've drawn the vegetarian card 9 times!! I'm trying I'm trying. Today I was very aprehensive to read the cards. That has never happened to me before so I thought, well, I better find out what they want to tell me. Usually I only pick 3 cards but for some reason I had to pick 2 more. Today as usual was a wonderful reading for me. Basically the gist of it was... Get rid of your old luggage, practice and grow your business and you will be financially successful. I couldn't have asked for more. Now I have to do it. AND drop the meat. So now that they've given me the guidance I wish they would grab me by the hand and nudge me to keep up with it.

Angels in my Studio and 29 faces of May

Well as you can tell, I didn't win a free spot, but it's ok. I love this class and I love my first Angels inspired by Kristen Powers. The whole class is so beautiful and uplifting. I have also joined 29 faces in May so I force myself to practice but I also have been missing my Lifebook class. I need more time. Today I have a pretty gnarly migraine but it was my only day home for the whole week so I wouldn't let myself put off my last two little angels. I'm hoping to get in a realistic face this evening. So here are my little Angels. I haven't named them yet. Any suggestions?

Last attempt to win!!!!!!! Wish me luck!!!!!!!

I am soooo excited for Angels in my studio. It looks like the most Amazing class!!! It starts in a couple of weeks and I just can't wait. I think this might be my last chance at a free class so I'm really hoping they pick me!!
If you think you will love this class too go and check it out..
http://www.glittergypsy.com
After I've taken the course I'm hoping to offer a lot of new and intuitive classes at the studio.

Totally trying to win a spot!!

I can't wait for this class. I am shamelessly trying to win a free spot!!!! Wish me luck!!
You can try to win too
http://olivosartstudio.blogspot.com/2012/02/angels-in-my-studio-giveaway.html

Angels in my Studio Class/ you could win a spot!

I am super excited for the new class starting May 1st. It is called Angels in my studio!!! This is exactly the kind of class I have been craving. There's not another class like it!! Right now I am hoping to win a free class. AND if I am lucky enough to win, anyone who comments on this page has a chance to win also!!! Here is the link
http://urbanekdesign.blogspot.com/2012/02/angels-in-my-studio.html
You have to check it out!!!!

My first artist date (well sort of...)

I know there are many things you are supposed to do on the artist date.
1st. You fill up your well...
2nd. Go where you feel special and inspired
3rd. You must do it alone.

Well... I really didn't follow the rules for my first artist date. AND it wasn't really a date. It was two days in my home where I hardly had to leave (that NEVER happens)I certainly wasn't alone, My kids were all over the place but that's ok

So this is what I did

I cleaned out my email inbox
I volunteered to help at a local art show
I made up the Feb. schedule for my studio including details of the Make A Wish Art Show
I made two new business appointments with potential Nursing homes
Took care of several emails that I had put off
I did 4 loads of laundry.
NOW to add the fun stuff.
I completed my first project in my lifebook class
I worked on the doodles for "The sketchbook challenge"
I read some more of taw
Looked at lots of art and some videos.

I know there was supposed to be a different way to do that BUT I just got to meander through 2 days of art and chores and the art made the chores not so bad.

I may never get two days where I'm not constantly running again but I really took advantage of these ones.
AND I'm a pretty good date.

Thoughts of my first morning pages

I think it is a sign that about a month ago someone sent me the exerpt about morning pages (a few posts below) and a couple weeks after that I was invited to a facebook group that will be discussing "The Artists Way" http://www.facebook.com/groups/305469276165135/308737465838316/?notif_t=like

I had never heard of the book and even though I put the info on my blog I still didn't do the pages. I guess I just waited for my New Years resolutions to kick in and then I would start.

I woke up this morning ready to start my new life. I cleared out my email inbox of tons of stupid and spammy emails. And then it was time to do my pages. Well they didn't end up the way I though. There was no warm and fuzzy just unadulterated anger at myself. I ripped myself apart. This inner voice completely trashed my and all of my past behavior and lack there of. I am really hoping that this was my critics way of purging out all of the old and I really really really hope that it's not this mean to me ever again.

Iwill do them every day but if this meany doesn't let up I don't think I will be able to take the daily bashing.

So if this didn't put you off. come over to the group and get your creativity on.