My Creative Process .

I am always amazed when the Creative Process takes hold.

There are days, sometimes weeks, nothing seems to come,

and there are days when in the studio,

it just overflows and time passes quickly.

The process of play and intuition go hand in hand for me.

The hardest thing for me is blocking out time in the studio,

I mean NON INTERRUPTED time,

it is rare these days.

I have been so blessed to take workshops
with some amazing Artists,
attend soul inspiring retreats,

work on some wonderful e-courses

and with each workshop and each book read,

I learn something new ... I take a creative nugget

and apply it to my own artwork.

We are all in this Creative Process together!

I am grateful for the knowledge and experience

I have gained over the past few years.

Now I am creating my own works,

with my own style and techniques,

choosing a color palette 

and designs that speak 

 I have been creating my own canvas work 

to fill my home,

I felt it was time to hang my own work,

not just the work of artists I have admired over the years.

I have created large canvas works as gifts for others,

each one carrying their own unique style,

feeling proud of my own accomplishments

as an Artist.
It has taken quite sometime for me to
call myself An Artist,
and mean it with confidence!

Creativity is a gift,

time alone to create is a gift,

having my own room to create in is definitely a gift.

How I feel a sense of wonder

whenever I enter the studio,

filled with white lights, art supplies,

and inspiration from others!

I am at home with my brushes,
I have learned to just let them move on the canvas,
letting them dance all by themselves.
I love just letting Creativity flow,
there were so many years I tried to follow
others style perfectly, being afraid
to step out on my own,
Believe me, I don't think that way anymore!

The Process is about letting go,
no judgement and certainly no rules,
that is where my best work happens!

Now I am teaching others through An Artful Spirit,
I am thrilled beyond any measure
to share what I know,
every quarter my Artful Spirit partner Suzan Thompson and I
lead others in day long mini art retreats,
the days are filled with magic and creativity!
You can check out our latest offering here
Our next will be held on February 28, 2015
at the beautiful
Virginia Beach Resort Hotel
I would love to see you there
and you too can learn this
beautiful and meditative painting process!

Sending you blessings, love
and all the creative moments you can find in your life.

Donna Lee

Cerulean Blue

I recently took a Poetry Workshop 

with the Poetry Society of Virginia

with the amazing Daniel Pravda

a Professor from Norfolk State University

on a beautiful Saturday afternoon!

We shared poems and lunch together, 

analyzed and broke down poetry,

shared our interpretations and insights

along the way.

He then gave us a poetry prompt

to write about an object that we can relate to

that will bring the reader in about the object

for me it was a tube of watercolor paint

Cerulean Blue

it just seemed right.

So this artist (slash poet) would like to 

share her words with you today . . . 

Cerulean Blue

This dried up tube of paint

still sits upon her art table

covered in dried up smudges

no more life to squeeze from within

Every ounce of color poured out

from it's crumpled little body

Now only showing the letters

U and E and C

Beautiful paintings of skies and clouds

found it's way from this tube

to the painter's palette

to the empty canvas

Cerulean Blue  . . .

bright and magical

soothing and calming

such a feeling of serene

It's color will exist here

upon the canvas

hanging in beauty for

the eyes to behold

Long after this tube of

Cerulean Blue

has been thrown away into the can

(poem inspired by Daniel Pravda Poetry Workshop)