Speak to Me From Everywhere
Study with me anywhere, at your own pace.
“This was my first class with you, and it exceeded my expectations and brought me exactly what I dared to hope for--allowing me to take my practice of art into a more essential, integrated, and nurturing place in my life. 'Inviting' the muse was the first ah ha! and then it continued with each lesson. My sincerest thanks to your commitment to inspiring-coaching-reminding-modeling mindfulness in our creativity.”
— Cynthia from online class
When I first offered this online class at the end of 2020, I was delighted by the response.
After the first class filled up in just two days, I created a second offering. When that class filled up as well, I created a third, and then a fourth.
Since then, my students have not stopped asking when I plan to teach online again.
I’m thrilled to offer Speak to Me from Everywhere: Simple Practices for All Makers once again — updated and presented in a format that allows you to work at your own pace, returning to the materials again and again.
Already registered? Log in here.
The title of this class is a line from a poem by Rainer Maria Rilke.
The poem says that there is a voice within you, within each person, that is not tied to place or circumstance. The voice within you exists everywhere.
This phrase also suggests that the voice exists outside you, that help comes from asking. The reference to something outside oneself illuminates the paradox that each person, alone, has to find her or his own way, and yet no one is able to find their way alone.
Having a daily contemplative practice of making— however short — is a way of finding your muse and rediscovering who you are.
The intention of this class is for you to cultivate your particular work, the gift you have already been given.
Here’s the basic structure of the class:
Five Lessons
The class is comprised of five lessons, each of which explores our “near environment” through writing, using four aspects of landscape: scale, value, movement and pattern.
Lesson Videos
There is a video for each lesson that includes a reflection and a demonstration of that day’s exercises.
Lesson Packets
Each video is accompanied by a packet for you to print out and keep with you in your studio area.
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Lesson One: Scale
Introduction to scale and distance in landscape through writing. This first lesson is focused on what is far, and what is near. Here is also the introduction to the writing practice.
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Lesson Two: Value
Introduction to value to indicate distance, using a shell and a pointed brush with indigo watercolor. Notice the shift in value in light and shade, near and far.
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Lesson Three: Movement
Introduction to movement and mixing color. What is moving in your landscape? What is the shape of movement in water, hills, wind? Demos in pencil, fine point pen and pointed brush.
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Lesson Four: Pattern
Introduction to pattern using stencils, repetition of a mark, and a big brush demo. Introduction of a third color. What patterns do you see in your landscape?
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Lesson Five: Bookmaking
Demonstration for making a woven book from the work you have done, and some blank pages.
What My Students Are Saying
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I got so much soul filling from the whole experience. Thank you, thank you for your gracious heart and generously of sharing your knowledge and who you are.
— Elicia | Speak to Me From Everywhere, online class
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I am thrilled, so thrilled with the poetry and the people and the pace, the stillness, the movement, the white crayon, the wholeblueblackblessed thing!
— Minna | Speak to Me From Everywhere, online class
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I really needed to be reminded that I have a gift and to keep working at it to find my way. I had been struggling to find my thread again and this class was very encouraging.
— Kathie | Speak to Me From Everywhere, online class