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When I (Tamara) was about fourteen and just beginning to learn about visual art, my grandparents were visiting us and we went on a hike in the wilderness. I remember my grandfather asking me to see things, to look closer at what I saw. He asked me, "can you see the yellow
in the strawberry?" I remember feeling "Yes!" and answering the same, I think. What I am aware of now is that he saw the world through an artist's eyes and he was helping me do the same. I think that is what I enjoy about expressive arts and Mindful Art Play - the invitation to focus on what I see, feel, notice and express it through different art elements and modalities. This week, when we met for the live session, I played with clay and form. The story it told me was deep, meaningful, and
helped me to see something in my inner world better. Part of its story was: ...I am your seed of inspiration. I hold your purpose. You are thriving because of your rootedness in your center - the perfect place to grow from as you grow into what's next.... Tomorrow we begin the next lesson which has helped me see the world both outside of me and inside of me through the lens of another art
element - texture. I am aware that our inner "felt sense" is made up of textures. When I think about the experience of something, the qualities of the experience, I think of how it feels. Sometimes describing the qualities in words is challenging. That's why expressive arts and expressive arts therapy are so effective. They give us different ways to express our experience, to describe the texture of it. Expressing through visual art, movement, and sound may be much more accurate or full in
description and they allow others to witness in such a way that they will have their own felt sense of our experience. What I realize, too, is that texture in visual art (music too) and in life experience is made up of light and dark. Changes in values, variations of tone, contrast in volume or fullness of pigment are what texture consists of. To draw texture, you need to use different
values. When I consider my lived experience, I am aware of nuances of dark and light too. A single moment can be filled with a variety of shades. Life is not monotone. For instance, in my deep gratitude there is acceptance of loss and suffering, an awareness of what is present and what is missing. This is what deepens my experience of gratitude. As we grow, we release. In
the face of adversity, we cultivate hope. The contrasts highlight the complexities. Our experiences are textured. To play with the metaphors, you can explore the textures in the world around you. What are the real textures - the ones you can touch and feel- and what do they look like? Can you look closely? What do you notice? Can you see the "yellow in the
strawberry"? Use a pencil and see what kinds of marks you can make. Draw something in your environment. Make some dark marks, light marks, play with the different shades and length of marks you make. ✨ Mind Body Spirit: The Holistic Practice of Expressive Arts — January 13–16 (Live Online)
If you’ve been feeling the nudge to explore expressive arts more deeply, this is a wonderful place to
begin. Our next live online training is now open for registration, and it offers a grounding introduction to our intermodal approach. Registration deadline is December 13. ✨ SoulCollage® & the Labyrinth: Celebrating the Winter Solstice — December 12 (In-Person, Sarasota)
Our newest in-person SoulCollage® workshop is coming up soon. Join us on Friday after Open
Studio as we honor the Winter Solstice with stillness, reflection, creative inquiry, and renewal. ✨Expressive Arts Discovery — December 15 (Live Online)
This is our final Expressive Arts Discovery of the year! Join us for 90 minutes of creative connection and intermodal expressive
arts. ✨
Annual Intention-Setting Workshop — December 19 (In-Person, Sarasota)
Gather with us to close the year with intention, clarity, and community. This beloved workshop invites you to align with what you’re calling in for the year ahead. ✨Mindful Art Play LIVE session - December 29 (Live Online)
If you'd like to join us, we are going to play with the "texture of our experience" this month. We will explore the world around us and the world within us through mindful
practice using art materials. And last but not least, Creative
Presence: Expressive Arts for Individuals is happening Feb. 6 and 20 and will be live online. Expressive Arts as a Wisdom Path: A Journey of Creative Transformation is April 14-17, 2026 and will be in person in Sarasota. Registration is not yet open for these but let us know if you would like to learn more. Scroll down to see our regularly scheduled events or visit our calendar of events here. With gratitude for your presence, Tamara, Kathleen, and the Expressive Arts Florida Institute Team |
Give yourself or someone else the gift of expressive arts this season and take 30% off all self-study programs. Use code EXAGIFT25 at checkout. Our Black Friday sale has begun and will continue until midnight on Friday, December 5th! (excluding Art as a Healing Practice, Mindful Art Play, and the Self-Study Bundle.) See all our upcoming offerings here! |
Gather together with Kathleen online and work on a creative project. Learn more here!
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Join us for In Person Open Studio and work on a creative project! We have basic art supplies, tea and light snacks. 1031 S. Euclid Ave, Sarasota, FL 34237 Room 9 Learn more here!
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Join us in celebrating the Winter Solstice, a time of deep stillness, reflection, and renewal through the engaging practice of SoulCollage®. Learn more here!
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Follow your creative thread through guided meditation, artmaking, writing, moving and witnessing in this 90 minute workshop. Learn more here!
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These live sessions are part of the Art as a Healing Practice self-study experience. Learn more here!
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Join us for the 18th annual event - this time in the morning - to discover your personal intention moving into the new year. Learn more here!
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This month's theme is "Treasured Textures". We will explore visual texture and the "texture of our experience". Join us for the mindful art play date! For members of the Mindful Art Play Members Club. Learn more here!
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All Self-Study Courses are on sale until Friday! Each course contains detailed, yet approachable instructions, videos, and meditations facilitated by
Kathleen & Tamara. The imagery and guidance from this work can assist you, whether dipping your toes into expressive arts or seeking a deeper connection. *All courses come with lifetime access so you can refer back to them at any time! *No previous art experience is necessary! |
Featured Self-Study Course |
Expressive Arts Discovery Self-Study Course Experience the power of this Expressive Arts Workshop without having to go anywhere or be live online. You can watch the video, see the demos, and listen to the meditation, all on your own, in your own time. We have adapted this live workshop for you, so that you can do it whenever you want, wherever you are. Upon
purchase, you will receive all the materials immediately and, you can do it as many times as you like! Every time you do it, you will have a brand new experience. *No previous art experience
necessary |
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 |
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