Calling All Mermaids--Come to the Artful Awakenings Beach Retreat!

Awaken your mind, body, spirit & creativity this Spring with artist Jackie Tury and her amazing Retreat Team!  Join us on the beautiful Outer Banks April 24-26 to dance in the surf, dream on the beach, create magical mixed media mermaids and mandalas, dine on delicious meals prepared by our personal chef, and stretch and pose to the sounds and sites of the ocean!  This Retreat is a perfect blend of art, yoga, ocean, gourmet meals and more that truly nurtures and nourishes your entire being and leaves you refreshed, relaxed, and inspired!  You will truly treasure this experience—don’t miss it!  Only a few spaces left—register NOW!  Go to "Retreats" tab and follow to "buy now" button.  “Listen to your Whispers!”  Feel free to share with friends, family, co-workers.

"Let Yourself GROW"--Art Party Registration now OPEN!

Join us on Sunday, April 12th from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. to create mixed media pieces celebrating new growth and everything spring!  Think flowers, buds, blossoms, blooms...endless possibilities!  Cost is $45 and includes all instruction and supplies.  No previous art experience necessary.  Please bring a drink or snack to share.  Classes fill quickly, so register soon!  Click on "Art Parties" tab and follow to the "buy now" button.

"Take time to nurture yourself..."

March is a month nestled between winter and spring.  It invites us to take a little time to slow down, get cozy and go within to prepare for the new growth and activity of spring.  It’s a time to clear the clutter mentally, physically, spiritually and prepare a warm, safe, nurturing environment for ourselves and our families.  These sacred spaces can nourish our souls and promote growth, healing, and wellbeing.  As women, we are often so busy nurturing others, we forget to nurture ourselves.  This month, take some time to nurture yourself.  

Thank you so much to all the wonderful women who came to my March Art Party "Nest & Nurture!"  I am so happy you took the time to nurture your creativity with me!  It was so nice to connect with old friends and meet new ones!  You were all such fun to paint with!  I LOVE the beautiful and inspiring nests you created!  I hope they remind you of the fun we had and to take time to nurture yourselves.

If you would like to “nest and nurture” your mind, body, spirit and creativity for a long weekend, join us for our Artful Awakenings Retreat on the beautiful Outer Banks of North Carolina April 24-26th!  Only a few spots left!  Click the “Retreats” tab for more information.

If you would like to join us for the next Art Party, click on the “Art Parties” tab.  Our theme for April is “Let yourself GROW!”

"Manifestation Map mini-series!"

Thanks to the continued snow days and the Cloth, Paper, Scissors mixed media map challenge, I was inspired to create a new mini-series!  The challenge was to create an 8"x8" mixed media map.   Most of the mixed media pieces I create are outward expressions of my inward journey.  I consider them maps of my dreams and desires or "manifestation maps."  I sometimes call them "power wish paintings" or "mixed media manifestations" as so many of them have come true.  I love creating mixed media pieces with layers of "paint, paper, and possibility!"

This challenge inspired me to think outside the box.  I decided to used 8" x 8" pieces of recycled cardboard from a box I found in the garage as I did not have an 8" x 8" canvas available and was NOT going out in the snowstorm to get one.  Painting on cardboard isn't new to me, but it has been a while since I've done it.  I had forgotten what great textures and rich colors are naturally present when using cardboard as a base.  I had fun layering tissue papers, patterned papers, newspaper, magazine clippings, old maps, and acrylic paints and adding outlines and borders with graphite pencil and oil pastel!  I enjoyed watching images emerge on the cardboard as I watched the snow fall outside my window!

The piece I chose to submit to the Cloth, Paper, Scissors challenge is "Follow your heART... it knows the way!"  This is the map I try to follow everyday as I work to create an artful life for myself and to share the joy and healing of art with others.  I hope you like it!

Here are the other maps in my mini-series ("Siren's Song," "Balance and Bloom," "Life Energy").

Enjoy!

Look Who's In Natural Awakenings Magazine!

Thank you Robin for publishing a News Brief about our Artful Awakenings Retreat in your wonderful publication "Natural Awakenings" magazine!  You can find the online version of the March issue at www.naturalawakeningsdc.com.  We are on page 11!  Hard copies can be found all around the metro area in grocery stores, yoga studios, art galleries, health and wellness centers.
Hope you get a chance to pick up your copy!   Don't forget to register for our amazing Retreat--only 4 spots left!

Sand & Sea

Thanks to all the snow we've been getting lately, I've had some time to work on these paintings I started back in November!  I began by painting several layers while actually ON the beach!  I love how some of the paintings still have sand in them!  So fun to watch these paintings transform and to know that there is a piece of the beach in each of them!  Now as I am surrounded by beautiful white snow, I can dream of the Sand & Sea and my favorite place to be!  Stay warm!

Nest & Nurture--March Art Party Registration now OPEN!

Registration is now OPEN for my March Art Party “Nest & Nurture!”

Come nurture yourself by joining us on Sunday, March 8th from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. to create mixed media pieces celebrating the art of nesting and nurturing!  Cost is $45 and includes all instruction and supplies.  No previous art experience necessary.  Please bring a drink or snack to share.  Classes fill quickly, so register soon!  To register click on the “Art Parties” tab and follow to the “buy now” button.

If you are interested in nurturing your mind, body, spirit and creativity for an entire weekend, check out my Artful Awakenings Women’s Art & Yoga Retreat in the beautiful Outer Banks of North Carolina April 24th-26th!  For full details and registration information click on the “Retreats” tab.  Register soon, only a few spots left for this amazing artful event!