Still impressive and I am still interested.

Yes...but I am not a journaling hater.

Well...duh.

I am still interested.

I think it is nice to be introduced to a variety of options - including art and music- that way when I get sick of journaling, like I sometimes do, there is something else there constructive to do.

Ooopps! She looks lovely, her poems were great and she obviously comes highly recommended.
Sounds great, as long as she doesn't make us find a word that rhymes with Oklahoma if she wants us to write poems!!!!!!!!(tee hee!)

It does sound great.

In my teens and on into my early 20's, I wrote reams of poetry. Probably most of it was horrible, but there were some poems I really liked in amongst all the drivel. I wrote short stories too, and was forever starting novels that fizzled out around the 2nd or 3rd chapter. But it was the poetry that I poured myself into...sometimes I would describe some of my poems as bleeding on paper.

Unfortunately, in my mid-20's, I tried to leave a lot of my painful past behind. Actually that wasn't so unfortunate, it was the way I went about it, especially what I referred to as The Great Purge. I threw out my journals and almost everything else I'd written, with very few exceptions. It wasn't until this past year that I started regretting that. I can remember lines from some of my poems. I wish I still had them; I wish I hadn't silenced my own voice.

Along the way, my pen dried up. I've written only a handful of poems since The Purge. I miss that part of me.

I would also like a "workshop" hosted by ...hmmmm, I dunno, maybe an artist that we all know and love...who could show us some little art projects we could do...gee, where WOULD we find that kind of a guy?

Know anyone like THAT Matt?

Words and art...I like both of those ideas.

I'd love this workshop :) And the suggested art one too

I love the idea and think it will benefit even those who journal

We're looking into it. There's a fee for her to come, plus her travel, so it depend on the number of registrations we get to be able to afford it (we already cut things close as it is). And then we'd want to decide when to schedule this during the retreat...it could be a Thursday or Friday event, when things tend to be slower-paced, but that might exclude anyone who only plans to attend from Friday to Sunday.

An art workshop would be cool too, especially if it would be encouraging to those of us (meaning me) who are totally lacking in artistic ability, yet who find messing around with things like chalk pastels kinda soothing. The results of said messing around are hidden away. In fact, I do my lame attempts at art in secret, as if I was engaging in some shameful, clandestine activity. I've always felt like I wanted to express myself through art, but something (that my art skills are that of a kindergartner? that I'm emotionally blocked?) gets in the way.

I like workshops and guess I am used to that format since most of my continuing education is like that. Plus the church activities I have done in the past, like Women's Conferences...they have 'breakout' sessions where....a volunteer works with anyone who wants to do a specific thing being offered. So, if one thing doesn't suit your fancy...another thing might, and of course, you aren't obliged to any of them. I learned the coolest thing at one conference for youth. It was the song "Glorify Thy Name"...in sign language. But, the twist was, we did it all in blacklight wearing all black except white gloves. I came home and taught it to two community youth choirs...and we performed it at a communitywide youth conference....there was like 90 kids...so, 180 hands moving in unison to some really beautiful music. It was breathtaking, if I do say so myself. I do not know sign language...just that one song. That was several years ago, and I still remember it. It made an impression I guess.

I just had to keep reminding the kids not to smile while we performed....teeth in blacklight look green, hehehe.

I love messing around with pastels and paint. I think being an artist is about what your art means to you. Colors and shapes are important ways to express yourself. I supervise a student graphic design office with VERY talented designers that can draw the most amazing things. Once they challenged me to show them my art and so, in the spirit of learning and being a good boss I did. They were amazing. They pointed out my use of color and shading and didnt mock me at all. They insisted that I was an artist - and that I should appreciate my own point of view. Then then gave me some tips - and enouraged my learning! HAHAHA.

Art is powerful, it is subjective and objective. But most importantly, to me anyway, it touches part of my inner self. I can't compare myself to other artists, but I have learned to accept my skill level and, "make it work." There some good little books out there that can teach stuff too - that might make it easier to learn how to draw objects - with practice.

On a side note, ocasionally if I really mess up a piece, I will make it really tacky and give it to a friend as a 'gift.' HAHAHAHA. I will be all serious for awhile about how hard I worked on it and what it represents, blah blah, just to add to the..."ohhh that is really nice of you" sting. HAHAHA.

Well, our friend M___ is very talented. It wouldn't take much for him to impart some of his....oh darn, does gender give this away? Ah well, I just know a workshop in collages....or any form of art he should choose, would have lots of interest. Art isn't about perfection, it is about expression. Anyone can express.