Mandala Magic

Mandala Magic at Lively Mind Art Studio

I’m happy to announce a new offering at Lively Mind Art Studio this Saturday, September 17th – Mandala Magic. Create and explore the magical art of mandalas in a fun and nurturing environment.

In this workshop, you will create beautiful layered backgrounds with acrylic paint on canvas and add your own expressive mandala art. We will explore how to draw a freestyle mandala and create a collaborative design on paper before taking it to the canvas.

Even if you do not have a creative bone in your body, you can do this!

What is a mandala?

A mandala is a circular form with all kinds of shapes and symbols emerging from the center. Mandala art has been used throughout the world for self-expression, spiritual transformation, and personal growth. Mandalas are one of my favorite ways to get lost in process of creating.

Circles are very powerful symbols throughout nature, art and the world around us. They symbolize “wholeness, continuity, connection, unity, harmony and the cycle of life.”

Mandala Magic Class Details:

DATE CHANGE/RESCHEDULED

October 15, 2016
Lively Mind Art Studio
3232 N 16th St.
Phoenix, Arizona
6:30 pm – 9 pm
$45/person

Click Here to Register

Please register in advance.

No experience needed.
All supplies included.
Bring your favorite beverage (BYOB).
Light snacks provided.
Wear clothes you don’t mind getting paint on.

*** Limited to 10 creative souls.***

Below are a few mandala paintings from past classes.

Want to attend a painting workshop and be notified of future dates? Click here sign up for email. If you would like to host a private painting party, email me at kristenjfagan@gmail.com to discuss your event. I look forward to painting with you!

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Painting Workshops / 0 comments

Studio Tour

Artists that inspire me at my desk: Clohn Art, April Howland, Kirk O’Hara, Tara Dawn. Affirmation banner, lotus and mandala paintings by me.

This summer my boys got their own bedrooms and I moved my home studio to a new spot in our house. It was a slow process. We downsized toys from the loft/playroom to make room for my studio and office. Lots of furniture re-arranging and space planning. We had to reorganize a bunch of closets too. I am officially setup in the loft instead of the spare bedroom and my sons are loving the extra spaces that are all their own. I’m excited to be in a much bigger space to spread out and create in! Two weeks ago, I popped in live on my Kristen Fagan Art and Design facebook page to give a quick studio tour.

Here is the Studio Tour video if you missed it:

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Soul Musings / 0 comments

Finding Light within Darkness

Light within Darkness. 20×16. Acrylic on Canvas. 2016

July was rough. Intense and hard. Filled with stress and feelings of lack. It was the toughest month I’ve had in awhile.

When I’m out of sorts, I contract and withdraw. I have confronted this kind of lack and stress before and made it through the darkness back to the light countless times. So I know this dark time it’s fleeting, but then, that may be why I was so frustrated. Because I’ve been here before and I didn’t want to be here ever again. But I will be here again. We all will. It’s how life rolls. Control is an illusion (Thank you, Mr Robot for that tidbit, I found comfort in repeating it when I felt out of control.)

There were valid reasons for being so angry, upset and frustrated. However, I was often angry when compassion was what was really needed. I had to ask myself is this anger helping? and if not, let it go.

Thankfully, after many cries and allowing myself the space to process my feelings, I was ready to live in the truth instead of fighting it. I was ready to accept that we are human. I was ready to open my heart again. I did the deep feeling. I didn’t brush past it or stuff it down (well I tried to stuff it down with food, but that back fired leaving me feeling worse). I ate a bunch of chocolate. I wrote. I meditated. I collaged. I spent time in my yard, enjoying the hammock, tending to my succulent garden and planting seeds. I once heard to plant a garden is to believe in or have hope for tomorrow. I felt that saying come to me as I planted flower seeds and allowed it to uplift me.

Most importantly for me, I painted. I gave the canvas all of my feels as I shared in this blog post. I love re-learning how to heal through creative practices, With creativity, I reclaim ownership of my life. Abundance comes from within. I remember that I can create something from nothing and that is empowering. Love and support and inspiration is always available. In this remembering, I find the light within the the darkness, just as the moon shines in the night sky and the lotus rises from the dark, muddy waters.

Free spirit MASHUP

July’s “Free Spirit MASHUP” soul painting workshop at Lively Mind Art Studio.

The creative joy that filled the Lively Mind Art Studio last month in the Free Spirit MASHUP was epic! It went from bustling chatter to so silent you could hear a pin drop. Holding space and giving permission for you to tap into your creative spirit inspires pure magic. ✨

I was nervous about how the collaboration aspect would go over and it turns out that everyone loved it – it was super fun! My intention to shake things up, help you let go even further and practice non-attachment made for some really interesting paintings and experiences during this class. It felt like the best one yet and I think the mashup is a keeper for future Free Spirit workshops.

Creative adventure in process:

In my Free Spirit workshops I talk a about how the art we make together is less about how it looks, and more about how the soul painting process allows you to express your feelings, connect with your intuition, and experience creative flow. I see the process as providing a sacred space to allow your authentic self to show up. Art nurtures our need to express.

My intention in my soul painting workshops isn’t to teach how to make a technically perfect painting. There are other workshops that do that beautifully. I want people to discover for themselves how the process can empower, uplift, and heal themselves. I use simple supplies and prompts to break down the “I’m not creative” barrier and instill confidence that we each have a unique voice and creative muse inside. When I receive a phone call while someone ho took my class is shopping for their own art supplies, that they have always held a block on the fact that they can be creative or paint and that they are no longer stuck in that mindset or they’ve share a photo of artwork they created with their kids using the simple techniques in my classes, that’s why I share my process. That’s where the magic is.

Want to attend a painting workshop and be notified of future dates? Click here sign up for email. If you would like to host a private painting party, email me at kristenjfagan@gmail.com to discuss your event. I look forward to painting with you!

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Give the Canvas All Your Feels

Today I woke up sad. Really sad. Like couldn’t stop crying sad. Huge tears flowed from my eyes that I couldn’t control. I meditated before bed and that’s actually when the tears started. I let go of expectations, disappointments and pain (or so I thought) and I fell asleep peacefully. Obviously, I must not have been done processing it all because within a few minutes of waking up I was crying again. I tried to stuff it down with a cinnamon bun for breakfast which, delicious as it was, didn’t stop the tears from falling. How many times do I need to learn that lesson? But I digress, my art work is vibrant and joyful and I haven’t been feeling that so, my paints and brushes and stacks of canvas have been waiting patiently for me to return. No need to explain why I’m sad. That’s not the point. We all get sad. Sometimes it’s fleeting and sometimes it lingers. Today, I said enough and took my sadness to the canvas. I put on a “sad songs” playlist, really listened to the lyrics and painted. I used my fingers, I scrapped, I sprayed, I stenciled, I moved blue and black paint around and I felt lighter. I gave the canvas all my feels.

There is beauty in expressing it all. Letting the creative process heal all the things that are welled up inside and spilling over. After a few minutes I felt a shift, the tears stopped, and by the time I was ready to stop, I felt peaceful and at ease. The power of expression. It gets me every time.

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Soul Musings / Work in Process / 1 comments

iKat Inspired Painting

Embrace your wild side with a funky ikat inspired painting. This bold pattern really makes a statement when added to your gallery wall. The ancient iKat dying and weaving process was my muse resulting in a cool tribal-inspired painting.

Shop original paintings in my Etsy shop.

Shop for prints and printed products in my RedBubble shop.

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Art / 0 comments

Index Card a Day – Week 6

Arrows turned into feathers! I have been seeing a couple feathers recently too so, I looked up the symbolic meaning. Feathers deal with ascension and spiritual evolution to a higher plane. Feathers were worn by Native American Chiefs to symbolize their communication with Spirit, and to express their celestial wisdom. I have specifically been seeing gray and white feathers which symbolize hope.

“It’s not enough to have the feathers. You must dare to fly!” ~ Cass van Krah

Index-Card-a-Day is an annual creative challenge facilitated by Daisy Yellow Art, you can read all the details on her website here.

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Creative Challenges / 0 comments

Soul Painting Workshop: Free Spirit Mashup

Soulful painters at the June “Free Spirit” soul painting workshop. The creative joy that filled the Lively Mind Art Studio last month was electric. Holding space and giving permission for you to tap into your creative soul inspires pure magic.

Let go. Explore. Play.

Create a multi-layered work of art

Wanna feel like you’re filled with creative FREEDOM and have an unforgettable experience? Then now is the time to tap into your inner artist and inspiration!

Join me for the “Free Spirit Mashup” Soul Painting workshop at Lively Mind Art Studio. This “Mashup” will have an extra element of surprise and collaboration.

Soul Painting is accessible to anyone!
What I love most about soul painting is that it highlights your intuitive, artistic spirit. All you need is an open mind, a willingness to enjoy the process as your creativity simply unfolds. Experience an inspiring and judgement-free space where creativity flows.

Soul Painting Workshop “Free Spirit Mashup”

Saturday, July 16th 6:30pm to 9pm
Lively Mind Art Studio & Gallery Boutique
3232 N 16th St, Phoenix, AZ
$45

Yes! Sign me up for a soul painting experience.

***Seats are limited to 8 free spirits.***

No experience needed.
All supplies included.
Bring your favorite beverage (BYOB).
Light snacks provided.
Wear clothes you don’t mind getting paint on.

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Index Card a Day – Week 5

I started this week with a few more desert botanical paintings, but then I switched to arrows. I’m currently working on a freelance design project using arrows which has lead me to drawing and painting lots of arrows! It’s been interesting to how my focus shifts and what pops up on a daily project like this.

“A work of art is above all an adventure of the mind.” ~ Eugène Ionesco

Index-Card-a-Day is an annual creative challenge facilitated by Daisy Yellow Art, you can read all the details on her website here.

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Creative Challenges / 0 comments

Index Card a Day – Week 4

The first half of the week I got a little fancier with my golden patterns and I totally dig that vibe. Then I switched courses due to some takeout food. Alisa Burke shared that she creates stamps from Styrofoam and a wood burning tool so, I gave it a try.

I had fun creating some simple stamps. I’m not sure how many uses will print well yet but, it was nice to have a quick, easy way to make my own stamps.

“Every day holds infinite opportunities. Explore!” ― Lailah Gifty Akita

Index-Card-a-Day is an annual creative challenge facilitated by Daisy Yellow Art, you can read all the details on her website here.

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Creative Challenges / 0 comments

Blog

Mandala Magic

Mandala Magic at Lively Mind Art Studio

Studio Tour

Finding Light within Darkness

Free spirit MASHUP

Give the Canvas All Your Feels

iKat Inspired Painting

Index Card a Day – Week 6

Soul Painting Workshop: Free Spirit Mashup

Let go. Explore. Play.

Create a multi-layered work of art

Join me for the “Free Spirit Mashup” Soul Painting workshop at Lively Mind Art Studio. This “Mashup” will have an extra element of surprise and collaboration.

Soul Painting Workshop “Free Spirit Mashup”

Index Card a Day – Week 5

Index Card a Day – Week 4

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