Imagine that you are sat in front of a blank canvas. Before you are tubes of oil paint, a palette knife, a cloth and a brush.

How would you feel?

Excited?
Intimidated?
Inspired?
Fearful?

It’s amazing the effect a blank canvas has on people, let alone one with paint on it!

Here is the effect it has had on some of the highest quality companies and people in the world:

Using art to “Polish The Diamond, and Peel The Onion” Of A High Performing Team

The Bank Of America – CEO and Heads Of Department

Venue: Pen Y Dyffrn Hotel - Shropshire
No of Participants: 8

“You helped us get to a place of understanding a lot more quickly that we could not have got to on our own. We have been talking about that day for the past three months. Thank you.”
Huw Chater CEO of MBNA

Eight high level executives of one of the most profitable companies in the world. All experts in their field, all extremely accomplished, successful individuals. They are on an offsite team building event in a hotel in Shropshire.

They walk into a room with an open fire, eight canvasses on eight easels, paints, palette knives…

Two faces erupt into a broad grin and quickly sit down pulling on the gloves and the aprons in anticipation. Four enter the room gingerly, suddenly very self aware and pensive. One folds his arms across his chest and out loud says… “Well, I’m not creative, you wont be getting a picture out of me!” The CEO watches the reactions of his team intently, but then gives me a look a if to say, “I’m paying for this. This better be relevant.”

I feel nervous, but try not to show it, and begin to frame the afternoon. People start to relax until, as I’m referring to four paintings of my own that represent four types of personality, the CEO pipes up with “I’m sorry, but I just don’t connect with this at all.”

I’ve had better introductions to sessions!

With a little more coaxing and encouragement, the team begin to feel relaxed again. They reflect on a happy moment, a time in there lives when they felt most energised and alive. They write it down and talk to each other about it. The energy level in the room rises. I introduce three simple yet professional painting techniques and remind them of the one rule of creativity that we are never told:

“Right now, it is impossible for you to make a mistake.”

Within moments the paint is on the canvas, as they still reflect on the inner image of their “Alive moment”.

In an astonishingly short period of time, there are eight very different, very colourful, very alive, very professional looking works of art around the room. Each participant looks at each others piece, and we invite insightful, positive and profund observations about each work of art, and what it may say about the artists.

One or two jaws drop around the room as they realise their artwork reveals a lot more than they bargained for. The choice of content, colours, textures, all say something entirely unique about that person’s personality, feelings, soul. That unique spark of life that makes them, them.

The objective set for this offsite event was to help an already excellent team understand each other even more fully. To “polish the diamond.”

The CEO had a powerful opportunity to deliver feedback and encouragement to his team in way that he had been wanting to for a long time. Feedback outside the normal workplace interactions, at a deeper, more meaningful level

All this was good. But I think my favourite moment was when the CEO asked his associate with the folded arms:

“How much would you like for your painting. I would love to buy it.”

His associate replied with a smile “It’s not for sale.”

(In partnership with The Wizards Network)

Using Art To Develop Leadership Ability

Ashridge International Leadership Conference – A Variety of Leaders

Venue: Ashridge Leadership Centre
No of Participants: 20

The aim of this session was for participants to create an oil on canvas work of art that says something profound and positive about their own leadership style.
As well as being a fun and playful session, the idea is that participants find that they connect to the most important part of themselves through an act of intense creativity. Art is a powerful, relaxing, therapeutic tool, but it can also provide powerful insights into the unique configuration of the unconscious mind, and the soul.

Key themes:

1. Accessing the source of your creativity, connecting with the emotions and with the unconscious mind, and ultimately with Soul.
2. In doing so, one comes to know oneself better and to discover one’s unique vision and purpose.
3. We are all artists and the creators of our own lives and thoughts.

There is no such thing as a mistake.

The barrier between creativity and spirituality is paper-thin.

I think there is a new art movement; one in which we are all the artists and creators of our own lives.

This was a highly experiential session in which participants were guided by Louis to connect with the deepest part of themselves – the unconscious mind.
Each person was asked to think of a moment in time when they felt the most happy and energised. They were then given the opportunity to paint this on canvas using oil paints and a few simple tools. The paintings were to be abstract and non-representational, thus removing any anxiety about whether the painting would be ‘good’ or not.

Louis made the link with the keynote speech given by Charles Handy, in which he quoted Aristotle: ‘Know Thy Self’. Through discovering and working with their innate creativity, the participants were able to see a different aspect of themselves revealed in the oil paintings that they each created. After the paintings were complete, participants were asked to give each other feedback on what they thought the painting revealed about the painter. Time and again participants had the sense of a mirror of their inner souls as the viewer described with accuracy the character traits of the painter.

Louis had also displayed four paintings, each in a predominant colour – red, yellow, green and blue. Each participant chose their favourite and Louis explained how the choice reflected their Myers-Briggs personality type, providing further insight into Self.

Louis’s approach emphasised how personal creativity and spirituality are so closely linked and that tapping into creative approaches can connect people with their higher purpose and vision. This was a soulful experience, which uplifted as well as bringing about reflection. It taught participants to honour their creativity, even when faced with the daunting prospect of a blank canvas.
Participants were deeply absorbed in their painting and yet completely relaxed. The wonderment brought about by the experience illustrated how being creative can bring insight, renewal and inspiration for leaders.

Key Learning points:

1. Don’t be afraid to make your mark on the blank canvas.
2. Being creative is in itself energising and inspiring, even if it seems daunting at first.
3. Painting can tell you things about yourself that you didn’t know, and can express your powerful unconscious mind.

(In partnership with The Wizards Network)

Overcoming Cultural Change - A Conference With a Creative Difference

Glaxo Smith Kline – Heads Of Department

No of Participants: 40

40 participants from three different sites in GSK were invited to come together for the first time. To overcome cultural differences between the three sites, they were invited to capture the essence of who they were in oil on canvas. It was a great way to break the ice, and a fantastic networking opportunity.

(In partnership with The Wizards Network)

Transforming a sales environment to connect with elemental personality types

Mexx International – Store Mangers

Venue: Mexx Headquarters, Amsterdam
No of Participants: 88

I’ve always been a big fan of Mexx. They’ve experienced a lot of change over the past few years, and The David Pearl Group have a long term partnership with them in helping develop their store managers.

I’d never been to Amsterdam before, let alone had my workshops translated into French, German and Italian. It was a fantastic experience!

Part of this week long development programme included transforming their traditional sales environment with the inspiring artwork that they had created under my facilitation. This artwork was designed to draw people into the shop front who are drawn to water, and the water element.

(In partnership with The David Pearl Group)