Hello Creative Friend,

These last few weeks have been very full of scheduled events, classes, workshops, clients, time with family and friends. In the meantime the rains have stopped, the soil is drier, and the ground cover is turning brown. Trees are no longer sporting their brightest green dress, but are showing signs of fall in their subtle Florida way. It takes a lot of water and energy to sustain the vibrancy of a green summer just like it does to sustain a full schedule and creative life. I (Tamara) have been reflecting on how I revive my own energy stores. 

During a recent course, one of our students very generously gifted each person a Rose of Jericho (thank you!). She handed each one of us a palm sized, dry brown sphere of vegetation. It was so mysterious and exciting. I remember her saying that it would turn bright green, unfold, open up and be completely revived if we put it in a shallow bowl of water and then, how it would simply curl back up into a ball, turn brown and dry again when we removed it from the water for a time. She invited us to use this beautiful miraculous plant when we needed to remember to rejuvenate ourselves. I decided to try it. I felt like I needed that. I placed it in a shallow yellow bowl with water and witnessed how it came back to life over the course of a few short hours. It is just like the resurrection ferns that live on the bark of our neighborhood oak trees- usually dried up and brown, they are vibrant and green after a refreshing rain shower. 

After such an intensive teaching schedule for the last couple of weeks I continued to have many scheduled events, long work hours, meetings, and clients. This little plant helped me remember what revives me. In this week I also spent time creating and taking in the art made by others in gallery and museum visits with Kathleen.  Seeing all the colors, lines, shapes and experiencing the environments created by these artists helped me feel a sense of creative rejuvenation.  The bright yellow of the blooming hibiscus, the light coming through the colorful acrylic panels, and the multitude of artistic expressions at the galleries all noursihed my creative spirit. The sensory pleasures get soaked up and will surely result in something coming alive and being expressed through me.

I wonder what feeds your creative soul. How do you draw in the nourishment through your senses? Is it color or form you notice? Do you like to play with shadows? Are you looking through spaces and noticing the way that light plays between the forms? I invite you to take some time to notice what feeds you, what brings you joy in the moment and revives you. Take it in, whatever that is. Let it resurrect your own creative spirit and see what happens. If you would like to share with us, you can do that in our private Facebook group here. 

In case you missed our social media post last week, we are excited to announce we are participating in Art Bundles for Good again this fall and there are a few more days in the giveaway! 🌟
 

Art Bundles for Good is an organization that bundles together digital art courses and donates 25% of the profits to The Uganda Partnership, a bootstrapped charity helping single mothers in Uganda. They’ve already raised US$149,571 for charity so far. 

Click the link below to enter to Win over $5000 worth of art resources. (There is no purchase necessary to enter).

Three lucky winners will be selected to win the entire bundle of over 100 digital art courses and resources from over 80 top art instructors with a combined value of over $5000! 🎨

The Art Bundles for Good bundle #10 will go on sale Thursday, November 6th!

Our next in-person expressive arts intensive - Expressive Arts as a Wisdom Path: A Journey of Creative Transformation will be in April. Details will be available soon. Our next online intensive - Expressive Arts for Body Mind Spirit - is in January. Let us know if you would like to learn more. 

Honoring your path and grateful for your presence, 

Tamara, Kathleen,  and the Expressive Arts Florida Institute Team

Colorful installation image taken at Sarasota Art Museum exhibit "Through the Veil" by Lillian Blades

In case you missed it, we have a brand new Expressive Writing series starting in just 1 week on November 10th! REGISTER NOW for this 5-week series following the Amherst Writers and Artists method taught by Anne Hofland. Join us and discover the art of writing as a timeless path to self-expression, healing and creative transformation.

We also have just a few spots left for our Sand, Soul and Metaphor online training happening next weekend on November 15th. This training integrates Expressive Arts Therapy, Play Therapy, and Sand Therapy into an immersive experience, offering innovative and creative ways to support your clients’ growth and healing.

This Friday we have In Person Open Studio from 10am to 1pm. Join us and make some art in creative community. 

On Monday the 17th we have our favorite guided workshop, Expressive Arts Discovery! Through guided meditation, artmaking, writing and more you'll discover what's waiting just below the surface to be discovered. 

On the 18th we have our next Online Open Studio with Kathleen. This event is donation based and a wonderful way to create in community from the comfort of wherever you are!

On the 24th we have our next live Mindful Art Play workshop with Tamara. This is a time for MAP members to come together and practice what they've learned in the membership.

Scroll down to see our upcoming events, trainings, workshops and more! Or visit our calendar of events here.

Therapy Services

Tamara is accepting new clients in Florida seeking therapy services and support using expressive arts to heal and grow. Using her years of creative practice and a compassionate approach, she is able to help clients access their inner strengths and create the change they most want in their lives. To inquire about services, you can go HERE, call/text 941-444-9585 

or email tknappcounseling@gmail.com

Tamara Teeter Knapp

MA, NCC, LMHC, REACE®

Kathleen Horne

MA, LMHC(S), REACE®, REAT®

www.expressiveartsflorida.com