Giving Flight... Giving Back




It's August ! And that beautiful time of year in the Northern Hemisphere when the fields are gold with stalks of grain and lush fruit is ripe on the branch... Time for bringing in the harvest, looking back on what has been achieved in the past year, appreciating our good fortune and sharing. Nature doesn't hold back on the abundance!

It feels such an appropriate season to be celebrating, and that is exactly what a group of artists I know are doing this 20th August! It is one year ago that a group of us met online, while taking part in an art business course run by Kelly Rae Roberts called "Flying Lessons" and it seriously clued us in on what it takes to develop a creative art business.

There really was a lot that I didn't know, I didn't know!

I've since taken the courage to try things I never imagined - from technical things (that would have been unheard of for me a year ago) like blogging, and learning the ins and outs of how to use an Apple Mac computer, to wrestling the 'virtual Anaconda' I call Photoshop (Oh the thrill and accomplishment I feel when I succeed even with the smallest project!)

I've grown in confidence as an artist, and begun to write my own rules as I've realised when it comes to mixed media art, it truly is a case of absolutely anything goes!

I've come to realise that my art is an extension of me, who I am, what I am about, my emotions, mySelf...it all comes through in what I draw and paint...

Art is deeply autobiographical, there are also never any mistakes, just deeper insights and explorations, and of course new materials to try!

One year on, there has been a wealth of information shared, blogs started, marketplace stores opened to sell creative wares, many, many photographs taken, and even more online classes enjoyed, as we've networked and honed our craft.

It's been an incredible year for me. For us all. And in gratitude for the connection and community we've built, we are celebrating with a Giving Flight Blog Hop and paying it forward too, giving others who dream of working the creative life a chance for a place on this next course starting 17 September 2012.

The 2011 Alumni class has gotten together and donated 8 places and Kelly Rae has matched us...so there are 16 places waiting for the right students on this potentially life-changing course.

If you would like to be considered for a place on this class, please visit http://fly-tribe.blogspot.com/2012/08/givingflight.html from the 20th August 2012 for details of how to enter the giveaway.
And now please join in the fun with our Blog hop... These artists generously contributed to the giveaway... come visit our pages and read their stories ::



Catherine Athena Louise http://www.catherineathenalouise.com -if you are reading this you are here already! :)

Stacey Bockness Curry http://www.starhitchedwagon.com







Cindy Jones Lantier http://www.lantier.org




















Live Laugh Love Retreats http://livelaughloveretreats.com

















• • •My journey through the senses• • •

smell:: The scent of newly mown hay blowing on the breeze as I ride my bike along lanes beside golden fields.
touch:: stencils and stamps hitting the surface of a canvas
see:: Seraphine ~This biographical depiction of Seraphine Louis (1864–1942) the self-taught French painter whose naïve style works were inspired by nature and her spiritual life.

Watch and be prepared to feel thoroughly spoilt (and truly grateful) by the ease of which we can easily obtain and use art supplies in these modern times. This remarkable woman had an undeniable urge to paint, she HAD to answer the call she felt, and in rural France she had to make her own paint mixtures from whatever she could get hold of; fresh mud from the river bed, crushed flower heads she gathered from the fields, animal blood (from the meat purchase at the Butchers store), candle wax carefully (and covertly) gathered into a stoppered bottle from the altar in her local church... Wait till you see her enormous canvases coming to life through the night by candlelight.

hear:: Alanis Morissette - Jagged Little Pill Acoustic So perfect to paint to in the evenings and totally loving the 'hidden track' at the end.
think:: It must be time for a nice cup of Camomile tea!
feel:: Truly blessed to be alive - following a Lightning Strike that hit me via the telephone line during a big electrical storm on the weekend of 12 August. Not every one who experiences that lives to tell the tale!
taste:: The perfection of grilled salmon with a green leaf salad.
read:: Brett Bevell - Reiki for Spiritual Healing This is how Reiki was meant to be!
intuit:: The powerful vibes surging in this past week with the New Moon in Leo.

Comments

  1. Lovely being in the "Tribe" with you, Cat! Lovely post!

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  2. Hi Cat, its wonderful to read about how this year has been so incredible for you. Lol re the virtual Anaconda and good on you for tackling it!! Thanks for the FB chats. Wishing you all the best for the year ahead! :)

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  3. Great post cat! It has been a very awe-inspiring year hasnt it!? Best of luck with all future endeavours:) Julie

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  4. Cat - I totally can relate to wrestling with Photoshop! I am glad my flysisters have been here to help with tips and tricks along the way!

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  5. What a wonderful year! So happy to be on this journey with you, Cat. Thank you for all you bring to the tribe. ((hugs))

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  6. It has been an incredible journey, I am so thrilled to have you girls in my life! XO

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  7. Hey there Cat! Love your "journey through the senses"! Am so happy to be flying with you and these wonderful women!!! Here's to an amazing year ahead. :-)

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  8. Wow - you really have spread your wings this year! I am so happy to be a part of your journey!

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  9. Happy Anniversary Fly Sister! Great year indeed. It has been wonderful to be in such great company! oxoxo

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  10. Cat - So it was you who got struck by lightning and lived to tell the tale. Wow! Thank you for sharing your year of growth and your inspiration points. It has been a wonderful year!

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  11. Photoshop is next on my "to-do" list! Glad to see someone else has conquered it :)Love your journey through the senses also!

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  12. Thank you for being a supportive and inspirational member ofour wonderful tribe and ANZ group too.

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  13. Congrats on your winning of Anaconda battles. Love that. I'm halfway down it's gullet most of the time, I'm afraid. It's been great getting to know you better, Cat. I know when I see your pretty face on a post that you'll have something positive and uplifting to share. Thanks for that!! xoxo L

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  14. So glad we're all on this journey together. Love your writings on the senses!

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  15. Love this post-throught the senses! TFS!

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  16. Yay for you and having such a great year of growth!!! Keep it up! Been a pleasure sharing these past few months with you! :)

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  17. Cat, I enjoyed reading your blog post and especially your journey through the senses! So thankful you survived your journey with "feel" that must have been a shocker (no pun intended! sorry! it happened naturally!). Very happy to be your flysister! Cheers to an amazing year ahead!
    Kris

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  18. Hi Cat, it's been wonderful getting to know you and enjoy your work!
    xo Lenore

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  19. Bless you ALL for stopping by...it's been such a delight to have so many visitors coming to visit! Thanks for the sisterhood, the art and the inspiration! Cat xx

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  20. Hi Cat! Happy Anniversary!! One of the best things about hops is seeing some of the other posts as well as the hop post. I luv the mixed media work down below!! Gorgeous!! So happy to have shared this year with you!

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  21. Loved your "journey through the senses" -- it was great to get a peek into your life! Happy Anniversary!

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  22. So happy we're on this journey together, Cat. Can't wait to see what another year brings for all of us. Loved your post

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  23. Happy Anniversary, Cat! What a lovely and inspiring post! I was in pretty much the same place as you, with so much to learn tech-wise. I am so thankful for our wonderful sisterhood, I am so much more than I was, I think we all are...

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  24. Cat - Happy Anniversary! Your post was so wonderful and I loved your journey through the senses = so fun! Here's to continuing the journey.

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