Create Your Own Abstract Deck to Honor 2020 with Artist Luz Donahue
Date January 16, 2021 via Zoom | 1-4:30pm PST
Skill Level Beginners + | Ages 18+
Cost $58 NUMU Members
NUMU is excited to partner again with Santa Cruz based artist, Luz Donahue. In 2020, Luz held a wonderful in-person workshop at NUMU introducing students to abstract expressionism. Luz’ work is currently featured in our current exhibition, Art in the Time of Corona. We love working with Luz and are excited to share this opportunity exclusively for NUMU members. Registration is taken directly through Luz’s website and NUMU members also receive a special discount and some one-one time! This is more than an art making class, it’s about connecting with your inner artist by transposing some of your unique experiences, emotions, and processes into art. This class can also be great to offer to someone as a gift. Or, if you’re in a partnership with someone, it can be a great activity to do with your partner and take some time to explore your creativity with your partner while gifting yourselves the space to reflect on the year together.
There’s a new year coming up and now is the time to finally let go of the horrible year that was 2020.
But as terrible as it was, the pandemic brought upon us a unique experience we all shared on a global scale. It’s something that will be marked forever in history books.
If you’re like me, you’re probably still processing and trying to understand what hit you. Looking back, my head is still spinning because of all the new challenges and life lessons this year brought into my life.
As an artist, I know these kinds of life changing experiences can be an incredible source of inspiration for my creative process. And that’s exactly what I’d like to help you discover, too.
How incredible would it be to take all these valuable lessons you accumulated during this challenging year and put them at the service of your creativity?
SPEAKING OF CREATIVITY, ALLOW ME TO LET YOU IN ON A LITTLE SECRET.
Great works of art didn’t always start with an incredible idea.
For many people, the creative process is a mystery—an intimidating phenomenon that pushes them to rise the artists they love on a pedestal. So many people are blocking themselves from being creative because an artist’s creative process seems so unaccessible, as if Art making was available only to a selected few.
Would you be surprised if I told you that an artist’s creative process isn’t necessarily defined by an idea? As artists, a lot of the time we are driven forward by an intention rather than an idea. Because of that, sometimes we create without having any idea at all!
That’s why creativity should be all about being playful and having fun. Without fun and play, the mind takes over and tries to control our creative process when in fact, the only thing we need is to focus on a clear intention and allow our instincts to guide our creative process, without judgement.
It’s our intentions that give purpose to what we create.
SPEAKING OF INTENTIONS…
Looking back at everything that happened this year, maybe you are still processing and trying to make sense of it. Why not letting your unconscious speak through shapes and colors? You might be surprised at the things you’ll see! That’s the beauty of focusing on your intentions and your process instead of focusing on ideas and results.
When we explore our creativity this way, we are free to be as playful as we like. The more playful we are, the better!
That’s because when we create focused on our intentions and process, judging the result becomes irrelevant.
Every artist is a vessel. We take in thoughts, emotions, and experiences—coming from ourselves and everyone around us—and we reshape them before sending them back out into the world for others to receive it.
Since all this creative process is hidden, it can be difficult to make sense of how it happens in real life.
That’s why I’m so excited to offer you this new art class, created in exclusive partnership with my friends at NUMU.
I BELIEVE WE ALL HAVE AN ARTIST WITHIN
The creative process is a wonderful experience when you discover how to set your intentions and be playful with your creativity.
I’ve put together a unique art class for anyone who would like to explore their creativity in the way an artist does, by starting with a clear intention and focusing on the process, instead of the result.
You don’t need to have any experience in art making.
You don’t need to feel like “you are an artist”.
You don’t need any special talent.
And you certainly don’t need to have a muse whispering in your ear for inspiration.
All you need is a desire to create.
This is your opportunity to take all the lessons and reflections you had during this year and process it the way an artist does, by creating a meaningful work of art through clear intention, exploration, and play.
HOW IS THIS CLASS DIFFERENT?
Unlike most online classes, Luz will be available to students both in a group setting AND 1:1 using an app called Marco Polo to share your questions, artwork, and ask for help without sharing with the entire group.
This makes this a friendlier environment for questions that may feel vulnerable sharing with the whole class. Classes will not be recorded so that everyone retains privacy and openness to participate.
WHAT WE WILL DO
In this class, you’ll be creating a set of ten abstract cards. Each card will be an abstract representation of something meaningful to you that came up during this year. Think of the final deck as a personal creative record of the lessons you accumulated during this year which you’ll then be able to use in any way you like.
You might use this deck as a tarot deck to make personal readings for yourself, or others, with each card having a meaning inspired by your experiences.
Or you might use it as abstract affirmation cards to help you remind yourself of a specific experience or emotion.
Or you might use them as a series that show the evolution of your inner process throughout the whole year.
What you decide to use this deck for is up to you. The important thing is that, through the process of filtering the information you received this year and choosing what you want to express on each card, you’ll experience the same kind of creative process any artist does while allowing yourself to reflect and integrate the lessons of this year through your own creativity.
Challenges can give us access to a treasure-trove of inspiration for creating. A lot of art making is rooted in transforming adversity. So why not transform the adversity 2020 brought upon us all by creating something that can help us (and others!) reflect, remember, and grow? That sounds like a good intention to me!
Because I want to make sure everyone in the class receives the attention they deserve, I’m limiting availability to 10 people only, so make sure to save your seat quickly if you’re interested in attending.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
How to build an abstract art practice
How to create art in a series
How to take an intention and bring it to life through a clear creative process
For NUMU members: Ongoing coaching through Marco Polo. Ask up to 2 questions free of charge and I’ll respond to you privately after the workshop is over! :)
