August - A month to REDUCE!

I've been talking and thinking about having a good clear out for ages but just haven't done it. 

I am a hoarder. 

After a very timely conversation the other week I heard about the 100 Things Challenge.  I'm not about to get rid of everything down to only 100 possessions in a month (maybe in a year?!) Instead I am committing to getting rid of one item a day for the whole of August.  

31 items

Item no. 1

A tube of dried up gouache

Time for 20 year old paint to go...

I bought this in 1993 when I had just left 6th form and was about to start a year long Art and Design Foundation course at Swansea Institute before going to Uni. I remember getting the materials list and being really excited about starting the course. 

That's 20 years ago!

Since then it's lived in Swansea, moved to Portsmouth in 1994 where it went to uni, staying and living for 13 years before moving to Bristol in 2007. 

And in all those years since not used or loved. Just sitting waiting. No wonder it had gone hard.   ;-(                                                                             

A Barefoot Adventure

Today marks the end of a six week experiment of barefoot walking!

This idea came about after taking part in Laura Hollick's International Soul Art Day. You can read that post here

I wanted to share some of the photos I took during the time and the words that came up each time I went and walked barefoot. I'll be honest - I didn't do it every single day. Even that has taught me something and I'm becoming much more aware of my 'patterns!' 

My Barefoot Adventure in pictures

When I did do it though - I LOVED it and some others joined in too! There is such a sense of freedom about taking off your shoes and letting your naked feet really feel the ground!! ahh! YES!

One of my favourite barefoot walks was actually running around the field behind my house in the rain!! I felt so free and childlike. It was Invigorating and down right fun and fabulous! That is something I will be doing again!

The words that came up during some of my barefoot walks

I'm going to spend a bit of time reflecting on the other things that I learnt from this experience but for now just wanted to celebrate having done it and to say - TRY IT!! 

What can Soul Art tell you?

My Soul Art Journey - Finished Artwork

I have recently discovered the work of Soul Artist Laura Hollick after two different people suggested I checked her out. WOW! What an amazingly positive and powerful force she is! So when I discovered it was International Soul Art Day on 9 May I signed up to take part. However, I only managed to carve out the time yesterday to create mine! 

This was the first time I'd taken part and so wasn't sure what to expect. I watched the short films by Laura Hollick and downloaded the work sheet. 

Then I started..

and followed the five steps..

1. Intention - this lays the foundation for the 'soul art journey'
2. Bodymapping - this creates a framework for the art 
3. Creative Expression - entering the creative zone and trusting myself
4. Insight - what is my art telling me?
5. Spirit Action - giving energy to the insights I received and making them tangible (Important!)

Bodymapping

I've been experiencing quite a lot of pain and stiffness in my left side recently - mainly my left foot. I have a weaker left side as a result of having a stroke when I was 12 - so decided I wanted to explore my relationship with my left side through art and saw this as the perfect opportunity.

I mapped my legs and feet as I wanted guidance on how to heal my left side and to feel 'whole'. 

That was fun! 

Yes I did get paint on my legs!

Then I started to look at the images I had collected as part of the creative expression exercise - but didn't feel I was connecting with the images - it actually felt more frustrating - so decided to go with paint and a smattering of collage instead.. 

I got to this point - but felt something was missing...

Soul Art - adding paint and collage

Then I found my butterfly stamp..so I used that..and got a bit carried away!

Soul Art butterfly detail

I even butterfly stamped my feet!

Then I stopped. And knew I was done. This was the point where I asked for insight. I lit a candle, took a few deep breaths to clear my mind - then started asking the guided questions in the workbook..

Things just started to pop into my head - so I wrote them ALL down. Without judgement and not stopping to think about them or analyse them. I just wrote.

And these were my insights:

• I need to be lighter about life - but at the same time I need to focus on being grounded
• Look to nature to support you
• Wear yellow
• Focus on maintaining balance
• Keep creating - daily
• I can heal myself - I have the power - I need to believe
• I am strong

Then I asked some deeper questions for more clarity on these insights..

• Focus on grounding exercises that connect me to the earth
• Walk barefoot in the grass, slowly and with purpose daily for 6 weeks - write what comes up and create artwork as a result
• Be WOMEN - express and enjoy my femininity - create a persona to help me to connect with my inner goddess - use COLOUR!
• Dig? (not sure what that one is about yet!)
• Use visualisation - surround myself with Gold butterflies that represent my energy force and optimum health and wellbeing
• It will take 6 years to be 100% 'whole'

Wow! That was a lot of insights! That 'ping' were there - in my mind. And by creating the artwork, and asking those questions I was able to access it. Interesting.

So my key word right now is GROUNDING - so that's what I'm starting to do. I went on my first barefoot walk today.... And I wore a dress and a bright orange wrap!! ( I don't actually own anything yellow - yet!)

I felt foolish to start with - but as I walked I felt better and eventually GOOD! It felt sooo GOOD having bare feet on the grass! oh YES!

I also noticed how the temperature of the grass and earth changed as I walked - from being cold and wet at the beginning to being warm and refreshing at the end...

Barefoot walk - Day 1

A very interesting and valuable experience for me - and worth taking the time to do. 

Will I be joining it again next year? YES! and I'd like to do it with a group of friends next time. ;-)

Do you use a grounding exercise? I'd love to hear what you do, if you'd be happy to share. x

To see the artworks and insights shared by others who also took part click here: International Soul Art Day - Gallery 2013

Get out there!

Over the bank holiday weekend I took part in two nature walks as part of the Bristol Walking Festival. I loved it. 

The sun shone and I met some fantastic people. We talked about and explored creativity.

I took some photos. And then did a walk on my own and made a short film...

A beautiful tree at Ashton Court

Glorious bluebells

And a short film...

Wild Walks - Nature walk to Blagdon Lake from Morwhenna Woolcock on Vimeo.

When was the last time you spent a day in nature? Tell me all about your most recent adventure!

Finding My Value - Your help needed...

Following on from my post yesterday about finding my core message and the creation of a vision board, I have been thinking about where my 'value' is within the projects I am doing now and have completed since May last year - when things really started for me. 

Within the play 2 win community that I am part of (which is a follow on group from the 30 Day Challenges that I have done) we have a weekly 'buzz' which is aimed at getting us to think about different aspects of the play process.

This particular buzz really stood out for me as it suddenly dawned on me that I haven't actually been reviewing my projects and seeing what went well, what wasn't so good, how I could develop them further, what the value in the project really was - for others, you. I'd been jumping straight onto the next project! 

So to address this I have put together a very short survey. And this is where you come in! 

I would really appreciate it if you would complete my survey - only ten questions. I want to better understand if what I have been doing is of real value to others. 

The survey is anonymous (unless you want me to know you have completed it) so please be honest. ;-)

Please complete the survey by clicking on this link..Finding My Value

And of course if you would like me to help you with something similar - just ask. 

We don't always see what is right in front of us - or inside of us for that matter! 

So see this as a very valuable step forward!

Thank you in advance!

Creating a Core Message Vision Board

I've been working on this on and off for the past few weeks and am now happy to say I think it's finished!

After completing my most recent 30 Day Challenge and working with Health Empowerment Coach - Ann Hobbs, I've been wondering really what I'm all about and what my 'core' message that really underpins what I do is (and I did wonder if I did actually have one!)

So here it is..this is me!

Taking the time to create this board has really helped me to 'see' what's inside and what I want to share with the world. After the initial feelings of guilt about 'playing' I TOTALLY enjoyed the whole process and was fully engaged in it. I didn't start out with a picture in my mind of how this would look. It has just evolved. 

I have also realised that my 'inside' vision isn't quite matching my 'outside' at the moment - so there is work to do. I am starting to feel more comfortable with actually 'stepping into' who I am supposed to be. This also scares me silly though - so after sharing this I may well retreat back into my shell...(anyone else do this?) until I feel comfortable to come out again!

I feel like I'm going through quite a shift at the moment and wanted to share some of this journey to connect with others also going through this transition as well as those out there who want to do this too but feel 'stuck', to say really - that its OK.

I'd love to hear if you have created your own core message board and how it has helped you? Or if you haven't created one - maybe now is a good time to do so..?

Four Elements Art - my recent 30 Day Challenge

For the past 30 days, along with 200 other folk from around the world, I've taken part in my second 30 Day Challenge - run by the fabulous John Williams (Author of Screw work lets play) and coach extraordinaire Selina Barker. Yeah! 

Once again it has been a fantastic experience, and very different to last years - my first ever 30DC - which resulted in my '30 days - 30 bags' project.

This time I wanted to try something different.

Inspired by the recent 'Ice art' that mother nature had herself created (well with the help of cars!) see below:

The wonder of nature

I decided to create my own artworks using the four elements - Air, Water, Fire and Earth. 

I had no real plan and let each idea for how to 'use' each element unfold... which was all part of the enjoyment and the playfulness about it really.

I also had a go at making some short films - a first for me and something I really enjoyed - from the filming to editing and then seeing it all come together. Something I will certainly be doing more of..

So here's a snapshot of what I have created. I took way more photos of each 'element artwork', but have limited the images to three of each here...

Air
Materials: Polystyrene cup, paint, water (to thin the paint down) and paper...

Water

Materials: Water (!) food colouring & ink

Inspired by the work of photographer Mark Mawson who photographs paint in water, I wanted to have a go at creating my own moving water images.  I love the way the picture changes every second creating ever changing patterns, creatures and even numbers that appeared in the images I managed to capture. What can you see?

Fire

Materials: Matches, glue gun, wood

There is something about these images that says to me about 'burn-out' of the human soul when working endlessly in a job that you hate and also about deforestation. What do you think?

And finally..

Earth

Materials: Clay powder - Kaolin, Fullers earth, Arrowroot, Milk powder and coco powder (so I got the benefits of a spa mud bath treatment at the same time!!

This one took me a while (to pluck up the courage) but I'm really pleased with the results (and it was so much fun!)

The film: I ran out of time to finish this one as I would have liked - so I will return to it at some point - but in the spirit of the 30DC and not being over 'perfectionist' here it is!

I've learnt a lot about myself from this years challenge - including asking for help! and have found it an incredibly enriching experience. So I'll be back again for the next one...!