The Seattle Artist's Way Center

Seattle has quite the reputation for rain and a pretty deserving reputation, at that. However, we also get a fair amount of gorgeous sunny days and because of the frequent rainfall, when the sun comes out we are THAT much more appreciative. Here are some ideas for getting outside for a fun Artist's Date:

1) Take a Ferry ride - check out Vashon Island or Bainbridge Island but don't forget there are also some other gems like the small town of Manchester (take the F...

Apron love.

That’s where my creativity is sending me these days. And I am learning to not judge it.

Some days my creative spirit says “go learn that new Maverick's song on the Ukulele” or “go noodle around and try learning a song on your harmonica” or even “Take that Acting class with your FAVORITE instructor. You KNOW you want to!”

But the last few months, it’s all about loving (and m...

Julia Cameron in her book "The Artist's Way" describes an Artist's Date as a key tool in recovering our creativity. Simply put an Artist's Date "is a block of time, perhaps two hours weekly, especially set aside and committed to nurturing your creative consciousness, your inner artist. In its most primary form, the artist date is an excursion, a play date that you preplan and defend again all interlopers." The benefits of Artist's Dates are numerous but one of our favorites is that Artist's D...

We are used to the large leaps. Quit that nasty job. Divorce the annoying spouse. Move across the country to spread your wings because you know “it’s going to be better …. over THERE.” And maybe it will or maybe it won’t.

But the idea of the small steps? Where’s the fun in that? Where the adrenalin rush? The feeling of “I’m DOING it! I’m DOING it! I’m DOING it!” Wait “what am I doing?”

January arrives and I feel the urge for purge.  I know spring has the moniker "spring cleaning" time but for me January is the time when renewal is on my mind.

And I ain’t alone. ...

I was one part in love with Goofy and one part horrified.

Ok maybe two parts horrified.

Come ON, he was a big ‘ol goof ball and darn if he wasn’t even embarrassed by it.  How horrible is that!!

I’ve known Kay for years.

She, like a number of our Artist’s Way students, would never describe herself as an artist. 

Here are just some of her artistic (sorry, Kay, got to say it) talents … made most of her childrens' clothes, could knit complex Irish knit sweaters in the dark while watching television with nary a slipped stitch, an expert bread baker, pottery maker, played piano, painted still life images, a stunning d...

Being funny.

It reminds me of the time when I was a therapist and was trying to embody/channel my brilliant consultant who had the loveliest delivery when talking about how she might talk to kids. 

She’d start out in a high sing song-ing voice and end in a calm, reassuring alto. Her go to feedback always started with ...

“I might say … ‘I’m wondering if may-be …’”

I was prepared....

There are few things that get my blood a boilin’ and my heart a racin’ more than one particular phrase.

“I am not an artist.”

Usually delivered in a wilting voice, shrunken shoulders all while scurrying away. Recently, I saw one person declare it in a group and then another said "me too" and then another one: "I'm the same". They then ran to each other, embraced and formed what looked like an amoeba like pod almost to say “don&...