This body/ mind has always loved creating - through sculpture, photography, dance, and theater. Painting and drawing seemed more intimidating due to a cascade of thoughts - "I can't draw." "That doesn't look like I wanted it to." "What a mess!" "No one will want to look at this." etc. In 2005 I was brought into the circle of Chris Zydel's "Painting from the Wild Heart" retreat at Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu, New Mexico, and that all changed. An abundance of paper and tempera paints - the same materials we used when we were four - were spread out along with permission to create anything. Anything at all. I tore a piece of paper in half because one sheet seemed too large - I didn't know what to put on it. Through the course of that first week, "I" got out of the way and let whatever wanted to be created end up on the paper. By the end of the week the paintings had grown to cover most of a wall - the dam had broken open and a flood of creative juice poured out. I am forever grateful to Chris for providing the sanctuary and the push to allow this freedom of expression to come forth. Her website is:

https://creativejuicesarts.com/