You are longing to paint. To spend some long, uninterrupted time expressing yourself freely, brush in hand, painting your heart out. Getting lost in the timelessness your own inner creative world and the deliciousness of simply putting color, shapes and images on paper.
It would also be pretty wonderful to have everything already set up for you. So you don't have to think or plan or prepare. You just want to show up in a gorgeous, light filled studio and have all the supplies you need for no holds barred creativity just sitting out there invitingly, waiting for you to begin.
And you'd like to do it with other people. And maybe feel like you're part of something bigger.... like a really cool creative community where you get to hang out with other cool creative, openhearted and accepting folks.
You'd like to start off 2011 with a bang and a commitment to be more creative and more fully alive.
And you'd like to do it in a really beautiful and peaceful place out in nature that is homey, and interesting and funky with good vibes and great food.
And you want some support. And guidance to help you get out of your own way enough so that you can create with joy and freedom.
If this sounds like a little bit of heaven on earth to you, if you are looking for something this wonderful, this fabulous, this nurturing to feed your creative soul, I have got just the thing for you.
It gives me great joy to announce that I am facilitating:
A Wild Heart Expressive Arts Intuitive Painting Weeklong Extravaganza Creativity Retreat
and I would love to have you there!!!
Saturday, January 15- Friday January 21st, 2011
$1250 includes meals, lodging and all ART supplies
(Early- Bird Pricing available)
Mountain Home Ranch Resort
Calistoga, CA
(If you already know you would like to sign up you can do that HERE!)
What This Painting Retreat is NOT....
This painting retreat is not even remotely like your typical art class.
There are no rules and no expectations in this intuitive painting workshop.
All of the usual assumptions about art and creativity just don't apply.
Like you have to know what you are doing in order to paint and create.
Or that you have to be talented.
Or be good at making a painting actually look like something.
Or that you have to do it RIGHT... whatever that means!
Or the idea that creativity is just another chance to judge yourself mercilessly. And that other people will be encouraged to join in.
One thing you need to know. Nothing like that will EVER happen at my Wild Heart Painting retreats!
When you come to this retreat I guarantee that you and your creativity will feel very cherished and valued. And safe. And encouraged.
Which of course will allow your creativity to bloom and blossom and grow like some lovely wild bougainvillea on Miracle Gro!
Who This Workshop Is For:
This week long Expressive Arts self nurturing extravaganza is for you if you have put your creativity on the back burner for too long and you need a jumpstart to get it up and running again.
You've always wanted to paint and were told that you just weren't any good at art and you want to challenge that old belief system.
Or you're a working artist but the excitement and energy has gone out of your work because you've lost touch with the experience of doing what pleases you!
You're going through some sort of transition in your life and you need the time, the space and the support to be with all the changes that transition brings and the opportunity to process those changes creatively in a safe and supportive environment.
You're bogged down with duties and responsibilities and you want a place to play, a place where your inner child can come out again and have some fun.
What Gets In The Way
Fear!! Lots and lots of fear. I know. It's scary. Really, REALLY scary to sign up for an experience like this one. As soon as you even CONSIDER it all those voices come raging to the surface telling you that you have NO BUSINESS attending a WEEKLONG workshop on creativity. And spirituality. And self love. And self acceptance.
They say things like "I mean, who do you think you ARE for crying out loud. You don't have the time. Other people need you at home. You shouldn't be spending the money on yourself. And you don't even have any talent."
The fact that you listen to those voices is exactly why you really need to come to this retreat!
I have many wonderful and sneaky and powerful ways of working with those messages to help you get free of the crippling influence they have over your creativity, your sense of who you are and how you live your life.
What You Can Expect To Get Out Of This Week
You will get to hang out in an honest to goodness painting studio filled to the rafters with more gorgeous eyepopping paint colors and reams of paper and buckets of brushes than you will know what to do with.
I am a firm believer in abundance of art supplies!
You will have TONS of uninterrupted time to just paint. And Play. And Create.
You will get recharged and rejuvenated by diving into the bottomless well of your own creative source. And supported to reclaim your personal courage to take risks, get bigger and be yourself. All the while being inspired by the courageous energy of your fellow creative travelers.
You will develop greater trust in your intuition, your inner guidance and your authenticity.
You will get back in touch with your wildly creative spontaneously expressive self. That place inside of you where you get to feel free. And joyful. And alive .
You will get the opportunity to pay attention to yourself again. To really listen and to hear what your heart needs and wants.
You will get a chance to slow down and step out of the madness of your daily life for a week. You will find that place of deep quiet, delicious inner relaxation and the opportunity to rest, truly rest, your tired bones,your aching heart and your busy mind.
You will get to be part of a fabulous circle of creative folks who are all there for the same purpose, which is to become more conscious and self loving and compassionate through engaging with their creative process.
Most people come away from this retreat feeling like they have found their tribe, their people, a long lost community of wild hearted supporters and encouragers of their most cherished dreams and their most amazing true selves.
You are likely to laugh more than you have in years!
And you will be completely looked after. You will be fed fabulous, healthy gourmet meals that you don't have to cook and you won't have to clean up or even make your bed if you don't want to. And you certainly won't have to take care of anyone else.
This week is all about YOU focusing on YOU!
What Happens At A Wild Heart Expressive Arts Painting Retreat?
We spend time every morning getting out of our heads and into our bodies using music and movement, dancing and breath, presence and meditation.
We meet once a day in a circle of support where we get to be witnessed with compassion, share our wisdom, tell our stories, laugh, cry, whine and celebrate with a fabulous creative community.
We paint. A lot.There are 5 hours each day of facilitated painting time in the studio.
And if that's still not enough for you, the studio is open 24 hours a day so you can paint your wild heart artists heart out whenever your muse calls.
The opportunity to be in a smaller group once during the week where you can experience deeper sharing and greater support.
Daily mini-inspirational talks where you will learn about the wisdom of no mistakes, how to discover the secret language of painting, following the energy, painting as a spiritual practice, the myth of inspiration, finding your juicy creative essence, and ways of effectively dealing with the pesky inner critic.
Break times during the day where you can hike or nap or read or swim in the heated swimming pool.
Two free afternoons during the week where you explore the charming northern California wine country towns. Or do more napping, reading, etc.
The Place
The Mountain Home Ranch Resort (www.mtnhomeranch.com) is located in the heart of Northern California's world renowned Sonoma County and Napa Valley.
Mountain Home Ranch Resort is a beautiful haven nestled in a canyon on 340 acres of unincorporated land, at the end of Mountain Home Ranch Drive.
It feels so remote that it's hard to imagine that it's just a ten minute drive from Calistoga, and an hour and a half drive from the East Bay.
At Mountain Home there are a wide variety of comfortable accommodations, a beautiful painting studio with plenty of natural light, hiking trails, and a heated outdoor swimming pool!
The ranch is renowned for its gourmet, organic, healthy yet delicious food (lots of protein and veggies, but no skimping on desserts), and meals are a definite high point of the retreat. The cooks at Mountain Home really aim to please, and are very flexible regarding any special dietary needs.
Extensive trails for hiking, a vast array of native flora and fauna, swimming pool, lakes and the award winning cuisine makes this painting retreat a truly nourishing experience on all levels.
Details, Details...
The cost of the workshop is $1250 for the week which includes all meals and double occupancy lodging. Private rooms are available for an increased fee.
We begin on January 15th at 6 PM for dinner and an opening ritual at 7:15 PM.
We end the workshop on Friday, January 21st at 4 PM.
The workshop is limited to 14 very lucky painters.
You absolutely don't need to have ANY art experience at all to participate in and to benefit GREATLY from this retreat.
EARLY BIRD OPPORTUNITY
Register and pay your $200 deposit BY October 15, you save $50.
Register and pay in full BY October 15, and save $100.
The remainder of your payment is due on or before January 1st. (Payment plans available.)
WHAT IF I NEED TO CANCEL?
If you cancel before December 1st, 2010, I will refund $100 of your deposit.
If you cancel before December 1st AND after paying the balance in full, I will refund everything minus $150.
However, if you need to cancel after December 1st I can offer no cash refunds unless I can fill your spot in the workshop.
If you are ready to jump in and say YES to getting your creative juices flowing again please click here for more information about how to sign up!
Further Questions? Niggling Concerns?
Signing up for something like this is a big commitment and of course you want to make sure that the workshop itself and working with me is going to be a good fit for you.
Sometimes having a conversation with the person running the event can really help you to gain some clarity about your decision to attend.
I am always available to try and help you figure that out if I can. So please feel free to email me at: chriszydelATcreativejuicesartsDOTcom with any and all questions, requests, fears and concerns.
I’m happy to talk about whatever you need to be sure this is the right retreat for you.
And I am confident that if you do decide to come you, and your muse, will be so happy that you did!
Warmly,
Chris
RAVE REVIEWS FROM HAPPY PAINTERS
My experience at this retreat was life altering.
It was a gift to myself at a time when I was reconnecting to my creative life which had long been neglected and was fighting for space. The voice inside just kept getting louder and louder.
So I answered it by dedicating time to paint -- paint my emotions, be present for my yearnings and desires and respond to them, and be quiet and reflective through the painting process. I planned to do this on my own yet the magic of life brought me to the Painting from the Wild Heart retreat at Mountain Home Ranch and the supportive environment was a perfect [new] beginning.
The experience was nothing short of divine. I felt taken care of emotionally, physically and spiritually and I adored every minute of it. I felt and continue to feel alive and am showing up in my life with a renewed energy and motivation -- I have already spent time painting every day since the retreat. I am inspired ... I cannot thank you enough for providing me the space to breath new life into my body and soul.
-- Ellen Morrison, social worker
Wow-weeeeeeeeeeeee ... YES!!!!!!
Having the dedicated time, space, and guidance away from the daily routine really supported opening my creative channel in a BIG way.
In the wake of the workshop, I continue to express myself creatively on and off the canvas.
Painting in community for the first time since high school, was a wonderful and revelatory experience. Highly recommended!
-- Marc Takaha, Men's Group Facilitator
Amidst the natural setting of oak and redwood trees, I felt free to discover my inner self.
Through painting with Chris, I also felt safe enough to discover and express my deepest and truest creativity. The natural and bucolic yet almost rustic setting is reminiscent of an earlier time, with a slower pace and wonderfully tasty and nutritious home cooked, organic meals provided in a family atmosphere that welcomes and nurtures the soul!
-- Anne Sadler, Nursing Administrator
What a treat to spend a weekend surrounded by the beauty of nature and a community of fellow artists ... to be nourished by wholesome cooking as well as Chris's supportive guidance ... and to have the opportunity to immerse myself in my creative process.
I feel that I've returned from the retreat with fresh eyes for the forms and colors in the world around me ... as well as a deeper insight into my own inner landscapes.
I've experienced the joy and peace that comes from trusting my own intuition ... and learned a few tricks for recognizing and banishing the critic, at least temporarily! I am amazed and humbled by what shows up on the paper when I am willing to trust the process.
What a great metaphor for living, too! Just trust ... be bold ... go with the flow.
Thank you, Chris!
-- Lisa Pemberton, Administrative Assistant
For me the Calistoga retreat was like summer camp for grown ups, but in the middle of winter. The ranch had a kind of old style charm. Big fireplace in the main room, friendly owners and beautiful country all around. Of course the food was anything but summer camp style! I ate so much!
I find that when I am intensively creative, as was the case during the retreat, I am famished by the time each meal rolls around and having wonderfully prepared food certainly encourages my eyes to believe that I need huge servings of everything!
Being surrounded by such a lovely place was an added extra plus to the excitement and loving energy that everyone brought. It wasn't planned or expected, it just happened. We all got together the first night and relaxed, got to know each other a bit and shared our hopes for the next few days.
Something about having the intention to create consistently with little or no distractions produces so much energy!
I wanted to get painting right away. Even though fear mixed in with the excitement, I couldn't wait.
Often when I paint with Chris I work through difficult emotions, and of course that's okay. It's all part of it. During this retreat however, I was able to stay in a place of humor and lightness. I don't know if the group energy, the beautiful country side, or Chris's way of encouraging and listening to what I needed and wanted, helped me reach this playful place. Perhaps it was all three and then some. Whatever it was, I felt so much joy and freeness.
At one point while painting I looked around and saw that everyone was completely present with their own process. It was inspiring and encouraging. I felt so much love for everyone along with a kind of collective pride.
I thought, yeah, look at us! Look at what we're creating! This is amazing! We're creating so much healing energy!
I feel transformed!
One day during a painting break I went for a walk down the French Toast Gulch. It was very cold that weekend but the sun was out and the colors of nature were crisp and clean. Ice had formed along the path and tiny crystals attached themselves to the thin blades of grass. It was quite something. I felt alone and not alone all at once.
Yes, I loved this retreat. The collective energy, the conversation, the quiet, the beauty, the painting into the unknown, Chris's unending support, the food, the rustic cabins. All of it.
-- Kat Davis, Child Therapist
The workshop was marvelous beyond words! I too was blown away by the level of immediate trust and safety we all felt with each other. All of you will be in my heart forever!
Actually, the intuitive process for painting was easier to follow than I expected. Of course, that doesn't mean it was easy to keep open to what came up. Sometimes the things that wanted to show up on my paper really ticked me off!
But as I went with it I found such freedom and release that now I think I am addicted to this process. Thank you for leading us in it, Chris. Your responses were affirming, challenging and always right on!
And I am so glad my daughter and I could do it together. We keep the work in our relationship up to date so we didn't have any big dark issues to wrestle through but I think we both learned something new, fresh and beautiful in each other.
She is a wonderful painter as well as song writer! I am SO proud! And it was a special gift to see all of you respond to her with the same level of respect and joyful delight that I feel for her!
Lorelei Verlee--
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