Join us Sunday November 13 for our first painting workshop in the new studio!
Thank you to everyone who joined us! It was so much fun that we're looking to host another one before February 2017. Sign up to the mailing list to be notified as soon as we open registration.
I kid you not. A lot has happened in exactly 2 weeks.
On the wish list; a studio big enough to paint much larger paintings. So just a couple of months ago, I started talking to a few friends about the possibility of sharing a space?
Fast forward to 2 weeks ago, a space came up {that another friend was leaving} that hadn't even occurred to me to take it as a painting studio because it has a retail storefront in a great central LA location?! What, what? you mean we can have a studio space that also acts as a gallery/shop? And what? I could finally have a space to host those events I've been thinking about for years? And I will now have the perfect place to teach, shoot video, and host all of my talented {even out of town} creative friends who want a place to teach workshops in L.A.? Yes, yes, yes, and yes!!
Done and done. 3 friends, me, Outi Harma {who I met in 2004 and used to share space with in the 10 women gallery} and Jenean Morrison who I met designing fabric in 2011. Also a former Groundlings Theater Member, Holly Mandel will be teaching Improv classes starting this month. A creative collective, filled with favorite people and creative pursuits all under one roof. You know, we have big plans, BIG PLANS! The photo above was taken minutes after Outi and I signed the lease this past Sunday :) You can also a quick time lapse video of us starting our first paintings in the new space on Instagram.
Still in a little bit of shock with how fast this all came together, there's a lot more to share! Stay tuned! but first save the date October 22nd: our first art show opening in our new space!
Learning and broadcasting daily for the past month has been an incredible eye opener for me personally and professionally. My mind is blown and I'm sure it will be even more this week, because I'm headed to Periscope Summit in NYC. Of course! I'll be Scoping from the Summit. You can find all of my latest broadcasts here periscope.tv/creativethursday
I'm realizing, while I've had so much support from our amazing creative community through all of these years, I've never truly had a Mentor, someone out ahead who I could trust to help me take the next steps, specifically in the Creative Industry.
Being a Creative Business is not like every other Business. It's an incredibly unique and personal offering. And the stereotypes that still surround both artists and women in business need to END.
My intention in leading this class is to be the Creative Business Mentor I wish I had. I want to help you grow and refine your business: to empower you to THRIVE in this industry.
So I’m back on Facebook, podcasting again and blogging more….Another plan I have with Creative Thursday is to introduce you to and/or update you on projects by creatives/entrepreneurs I personally know, more often. Now, just for the record, I know there are a lot of affiliate recommendations happening these days and this is not one of them. Should I ever be an affiliate to a project I support, I will let you know.
As I’ve mentioned recently, for me: the internet is becoming saturated with voices, products, classes...While I believe the cream will always rise to the top, why not do what I can to get it there a little faster? One of the ways I would like to help cut through the saturation is by recommending people I am inspired by, know and trust.
Christine aka SwirlyGirl is one of those people. You might already know her, or remember her? as I’ve mentioned her here many times throughout the years. My first commenter, the first person I reached out to online, who became an in person friend, and one of the first to support my work, not only by buying some of my very first daily paintings, but also by sharing my blog and my podcast with her online circle of friends way back in 2006, remember those early internet days…!
We also did a podcast when she self-published her first book. You can still listen to it here.
Relentlessly supportive, honestly she is one of the few people I know who will think of helping others, often before herself. She started and ran a successful creative company long before the internet. An eloquent, thoughtful writer, she has since had another book published. And organized, did I mention how organized she is? This awesome lady knows her stuff.
Christine is not only a friend but we’ve worked together as well. We’ve taught classes and joined forces on a few projects including a couple of art shows. One thing you learn is that not all friendships can become working relationships, but Christine can bridge that gap. She is a great collaborator.
What I’m saying here; If I were looking for guidance with my book, Christine is the one I would want to help me.
That’s why I have to share her newest project with you “The Conscious Booksmith” - even following my earlier post addressing too many 'online classes' - this should tell you just how much I recommend Christine as a teacher. And seriously, just watch the video above. Knowing Christine this is one of the best, most sincere videos out there in promotion of a course. There are a few, just a few offerings that I do recommend and this is one of them. I know, Christine will go above and beyond to help you develop and share your voice.
More about the “The Conscious Booksmith” from Christine:
The course has been carefully designed to provide a solid foundation and organized structure to support you in the process of creating your book. At the end of the course, you will have a beautiful binder full of downloadable tools, inspiration and resources and will be well on your way to holding your book in your hand.
The intention for the course is two-fold:
1. We will take your book idea – which usually feels huge and overwhelming – and break it down into smaller, more manageable parts.
2. We will explore your values, priorities and ideals so the book creation process unfolds on your terms.
There are plenty of books, courses and encouragement for those wanting to pursue a six-figure book contract and the New York Times bestseller list. While I love big plans and grand visions, I believe any dream – small, medium or large – is best served when pursued with careful thought and intention. When our dreams are brought to life mindfully – and reflect our day-to-day lives – they are imbued with that much more joy, light and truth. Things like families, pets, grocery shopping and laundry are all part of the process and integral elements of our journey.
This is an invaluable opportunity to tap into to the knowledge, wisdom, experience, inspiration and encouragement of an artist, author and creative entrepreneur with 18+ years of experience who loves to support the dreams and visions of others.
Just a quick post to let you know that today is the last day to register and join us "In the Fish Bowl"
I've also been threatening that this may be the last e-course I run for a while, maybe ever.
Since the time I started speaking and teaching online the amount of people who are also teaching has grown exponentially. And while the majority of me loves this and believes that we all need not just one teacher but multiple at any given time, and how great is it that we can learn from so many different individuals willing to share what they've learned? another part of me becomes incredibly frustrated at the amount of what I like to call fakety-fake, fake, fake aka disingenous teaching that is happening. The amount of slick, razzmatazz presentations {for services, products and entertainment for that matter} that are being sold to people these days is disheartening. Related to online teaching specifically, the presentations seem to be selling the importance of getting a slice of this online landscape? quick! before it's all gone? maybe?! That by being online this is what is going to change your life forever. This is the thing that is going to help you fulfill your dream in its entirety. Well, it might, and it might not. The idea that getting online is going to solve everything is not how it works. It's not as simple as that.
So what gives me the right to make these observations? Well having started my career in design literally the same year the internet became commercial, having failed online in a totally different business before this one and having succeeded online as a profitable artist in business for the past 8 years. These experiences gives me the right. That and the fact that I'm no longer questioning my gut. My feeling is you know when you know. You know when someone is smoke and mirrors. If you don't yet know, you'll learn how to recognize it.
What's a bummer in this situation is that when I see this saturation happening this is usually when I want to take myself out of the game. I don't want to be one in a huge crowd. In fact I don't care for crowds at all. It bothers me when I see everyone thinking and feeling the same, in agreement over what feel to me like surperficial ideas, not because they're listening to themselves because they've bought into the ideas of one or a few voices are the loudest over all of the others. And today, it's fair to say that those voices are loud often for very manipulated reasons.
The cream rises to the top, I've heard it said many times. Yes, I believe it does. When you commit to creating excellent work and living with integrity to the best of your ability every day. I like to think this is the kind of cream that will rise to the top. But in this world, particularly now due to the explosion of the internet landscape, it's seeming as if you have to wade through a whole lot of dairy to find the cream. Whoa, a lot of milk analogies there.
I don't have the desire or the energy to shout over all of these voices. I like to give it time, let it shake out and return when the haze has lifted and a more genuine group, with pure intentions remain. I feel this way with art, and the retail world too these days.
Which is why I'm saying this may be the last "e-course" I teach for a while. I share this with you because many times people wait because they assume I will be back soon with another course. At the close of prior sessions, I have also made portions of the course material available as a download. I will not be doing that this time either.
This group of participants is small and perfect for me to, even more than before, personalize my teaching for each individual, something I'm really excited about. So I would only to like to keep this session open for a few more. If you are on the fence or might feel intimidated, or scared at all, for any number of reasons, please don't. I promise you will feel welcome, seen, safe and supported.
I want to close by saying, I'm thankful to the voices out there who are not like me, who help me to discern and focus with more clarity how I want to express myself. I also want to address that I'm aware that pulling myself out of the game may not be the best answer for someone {like me} who feels equally as passionate about sharing her voice as her art. I fully own that this can be a form of protection, a plan to keep myself safe by preventing possible rejection? I've given this a lot of thought and what I've decided is this: the possibility of rejection hurts me as much as the next person, but I'm braver than that. If I choose to make this my last e-course in this format it's because I believe that I may be discovering a way to share my voice in an entirely new format that speaks to me and inspires me the most at this point in my life, and creative journey. And this evolution, while scary and intimidating is a something I'm very excited about. I am also hopeful that it will be something you will benefit from and enjoy equally.
{painting featured above: "happy in my hood" 7" x 5"}
If you're in L.A. - join me tomorrow for a Valentine's Party for Creative Thursday @ Sew L.A.. We'll be celebrating the book {I'll be signing them too} and making Valentines from my fabric. There might even be some samples of 'Locally Grown' the newest collection to create with...I also hear there will be treats like fancy cocktails and pink cookies! Hope to see you there!!
Sunday, February 10
3 - 6 pm
Sew L.A. - 3153 Glendale Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90039
323-665-7097
{reason #1 why you need to come. they love hearts as much as I do ;) outside of Sew L.A. right now. photo by Devon aka Miss Make}
And! Incase you missed my email. I put together some special Valentine Care Packages over at the shop. There are 4 left. If you get them by Monday, and you are shipping here in the states, they can still arrive in time for Valentine's Day.
hope you're having a great weekend
As promised. some posts on the recent trips I've been taking.
The first was a trip to Bouler, my old stomping grounds and still one of my favorite places on the planet.
It was the Makerie that brought me back. My first time teaching there, it was delightful down to every last detail. In fact detail, I'm coming to realize, is an Ali specialty. Detail, organization {like seriously fantastic organization} overall loveliness, authenticity and heart ~ that's what goes into creating the Makerie.
I always talk about the 'top down' theory. Whoever is at the top of an organization, their character and sensibility travel all the way through and down to everything and every person involved. As a teacher I felt completely looked after and cared for.
I've had the privilige of teaching at several retreats now and what I'm realizing is that no matter how prepared, organized and rested you are before you get there, traveling plus teaching 6 hour days for several days in a row takes a lot of energy. To feel genuinely supported, so that you can show up and do your job to the best of your ability, is huge. Being efficient and organized way ahead of time so that there is no extra pressure in the final days and hours, double huge. So thank you Ali - for all of this! And thank you to all of my students who participated in my classes. Could not be a nicer, more creative group as always. And to the Coconuts Sarah, Bel, and Monica so great to see you and finally meet you Anne! And my fellow teachers ~ more new friends to love - Alli, Liesl, Flora, Jenny, Alessandra, Aran
Photos in order of appearance
A chance meeting while both teaching at the Squam Art Workshops, plus 2 separate moments, 1 year apart when Lizzy told Marisa "YOU need to be designing fabric" has become a friendship and now a collaboration called Creative House.
Super excited about and really proud of this newest collaboration with my friend Lizzy. We love what we do. We want to help people find their way on their path to happiness and we believe that a large part of that has to do with finding fulfilling work that you love. We are creating products that we wish we had when we were trying to find our way. If you remember Lizzy wrote this e-book and {lucky for me when I tried to get into the industry I had Lizzy's book and her guidance} Now we've added on to that knowledge and experience with this podcast. So if you're interested in getting into the world of textile design as well as learning from two creative entrepreneurs who are always cheering you on, this new podcast might be for you. You can learn more about it, and watch us chat in a little video at our new site! The first of more collaborations to come for Creative House, so stay tuned.
{thank you again to Jo for the beautiful site design}
8 x 8 in.
I told you I was fired up! {5 new paintings over the weekend}
Oh and! Ali opened up day packages to the Makerie for a limited time. Registration ends April 1. I know I am going to see some of you there, I'm going to be bringing some new fabric...!!! :)
{click here to buy original - also availabe as print in the shop}
