Have you ever wondered what true power is?

Immediately we think of authority, of "the powers that be", of people in a position of power. We think of power in terms of what we arent able to do.

The thing is, that really isnt power. Thats just authority. And authority only has as much power as we give it.

Authority is handy, because, at a material level, it gets things done.

Im going to share a moment with you. Im going to make myself a little vulnerable. In doing this, invariably what happens, is that some of you may have your suspicions confirmed that I am a bit of a "fruitloop" (which "great" artist isnt?) but others of you will intuitively enjoy what I am about to share.

Soul Expression - One Day Workshops

This is what people said about the last soul expression workshop:

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"Something about the day just resonated for me and lifted me to a place I've been striving to find for years. Being surrounded by like minded people I found a breath of fresh air. So, your workshop was more then just expressing yourself on canvas, it was a therapy too..." Helen

If ever we are being given a opportunity to redefine ourselves, it seems to be now.

Its amazing how we let ourselves get attached to things. Especially "stuff."

My conversations over the past month have been eye opening. Most people seem to be going through a seismic shift of some kind. Wether in their finances or their relationships, or some structure that isnt working any more...a lot is going on

Let's experience who you really are for a moment.

Find a quiet place. As quiet as possible. Do it now. It doesn't have to be silent, but that is preferable.

Sit comfortably. Consciously relax your muscles. Become aware of any areas of tension, and let them go.

Now become aware of any noises in the room. Observe them, and let them go.

Now. Watch your thoughts. It may help to imagine that you are sitting next to a river, that your thoughts are like debris floating on the surface. Resist the temptation to float with the debris, and just gently return to the experience of you, watching your thoughts.

Many of you have expressed a desire to see my work sooner than June.

I have arranged for an invitation only private view to be held on Friday 13th March at 6.30 - 9pm at a beautifully serene gallery space in the Cotswolds.

It is a stunning and intimate venue, so 30 places are available. Please email me to request an invitation. If you have friends that you know would like to come then they are more than welcome, just let me know in advance.

One day Soul Expression Workshop - 14th March. – 10 places left.

I am holding a one day Soul Expression workshop in a beautiful gallery/studio in The Cotswolds.

It is for people who feel like they have lost themselves, and need to give the deeper part of themselves some fuller creative expression.

The day itself will provide you with time to practise a simple contemplative technique to help you get in touch with your creative stillness, and some even simpler creative techniques in oil on canvas to help you build confidence in your ability to express something new.

There is a story from the Taoist tradition in the “Inner Teachings” of Chuang-tzu.

“Hui-tzu said to Chuang Tzu, “The King of Wei gave me seeds of a giant gourd. I planted them and got a huge gourd. If I had filled it with water, it would not have been strong enough to be lifted, and If I had split it for a dipper it would have been too shallow to should anything. It was certainly enormous, but I considered it useless and smashed it.”

Soul expression is knowing who you really are.
Its knowing its ok to be powerful.
Its knowing creativity is power.

Consider a work of art for a moment:

Colour is light.

It is a universal language.

It is energy, perceived and interpreted by the mind.

The colours we see operate at a specific wavelength. Wavelength could also be termed “vibration”.

There are simple psychological consequences of contemplating certain colours. Largely, these depend on the infinitely varied, unique personality makeup of the individual.

Most public works of art get between 2 and 30 seconds of viewing time.

That’s it. 30 seconds. Wether it’s the Mona Lisa, or aunty Mildreds watercolour hanging in the local Library.

This is the amount of time it takes to create a first impression. The first time you viewed a piece, you decided, “I like it” or “I don’t like it”.

Now, we have been raised with a few funny notions about time. “Time rushes by”. “Time is precious”. “There’s not enough time”.

Its not every day you get asked to help 90 Orphans paint their own SoulScapes.

About six weeks ago, I got a call from a good friend of mine (Richard Garnett), who asked me to do precisely this.

I jumped at the chance. It had been a long time since I had set foot in Africa, and I was really looking forward to the challenges that I would face holding an oil painting workshop out there. I had no idea just how rewarding the experience would be.