Signs of Life: The Five Universal Shapes and How to Use Them by Angeles Arrien.

I have tried unsuccessfully to find the book. Last week one of my students, a psychologist, was commenting on the symbols I’ve used in my work and I shared the story of how I happened to discover them. He suggested that I investigate…that they were more important than I realized.

Yesterday, when I was at The Jung Center to preview the show, I asked in the book store. I didn’t remember the author…and only part of the title, but Elyssa knew the book and immediately got it from its shelf. I purchased it and this morning I read it all the way through. NOW I understand why the block I carved has been so important in my subsequent work…AND in my life since that time. The amazing power of synchronicity has once again opened an important door for me.

This morning I did the exercise from the instructions in the book, before reading the  book. After reading the book, with the explanation of the symbols & how there meaning varies according to the ranking by any particular individual, I was able to understand better some of the feelings and transitions that have been occuring in my life.
There were about 20 people in that workshop with Betsy. I think that every one of them carved a block. All of them were different. I wonder whether anyone has realized what a powerful tool they were handed.

I’m sure you are familiar with the symbols…circle, square, triangle, spiral and equal-armed cross. Angeles Arrien calls the ranking process The Preferential Shapes Test.

If you are intrigued by the idea of this symbology in my paintings, you can see some of these paintings in my Mixed Media Gallery.

Ann Bell

Art is such a broad field that many people get an art degree with only one or two painting classes…or maybe even no painting classes. By the time you take art history, drawing, printmaking or sculpture or pottery…and get interested in one area & perhaps take several classes in that, you may only get one class in watercolor…or oil.

Acrylic painting is much more user friendly than oil. It’s much easier to handle in a school situation. It dries quickly and has no odor, making it easier & more convenient than oil. It is opaque, making it much easier for beginners and students than watercolor. But if you are trying to teach your students to paint in acrylic, and you are not comfortable painting in that medium yourself, you are likely to feel stressed.

My classes can give you the skills you crave…and the confidence.

The techniques I teach can be used in your classroom.

And you may be able to receive Continuing Professional Education hours for the time you spend in my studio learning these techniques. 

Several teachers who have studied with me found that they could receive CPE credit for the classes. They simply needed to get the classes approved by their supervisor.

Some school districts even pay for the classes.

If one (or more) of my workshops appeals to you, I suggest that  you check with your supervisor to see if you can receive CPE hours for the time you spend learning in my studio. Upon completion of your work with me, I’ll provide you with a letter stating the subject matter and hours, along with your name and my contact information.

If your school is willing to pay for your classes, I can invoice the appropriate person. Or I can provide you with a paid invoice so you can be reimbursed.

Fullfilling your professional development requirement can be fun and personally rewarding. You can nourish your own creativity, while learning techniques that you can take directly into your classroom.

It’s just a thought. I’ve constructed my schedule so that you can take several classes on consecutive days. This makes it feasible for you to travel and have several days of classes if you live outside of the Houston metropolitan area.

If you are an art teacher outside of Texas, and you would like to come to study with me in my studio, check with your supervisor. You might be able to count the class time toward your own continuing education requirements.

Even if you are experienced painting with acrylic & mixed-media, you will still enjoy the classes (and the experience of painting in my wondrous, light-filled studio) and you’ll probably learn some new techniques.

The class schedule for most of June is now availale at
http://www.annbell.net/classes.htm 

I have been a professional working artist for more than 30 years. I have been teaching art to adults for about 15 years. I have demonstrated for many arts organizations in the Greater Houston Metropolitan Area, and Tomball, Livingston, & Baytown. You can learn more about me and see samples of my work at
http://www.annbell.net

My studio is located near downtown Houston, on the Metro at the McGowen station. You can stay at a downtown hotel and come by taxi or rail, without having to rent a car. The same rail goes to the major art museums.

Will I see you in my studio? You are welcome to call me if you have questions.

I’m looking forward to providing you with creative inspiration.

Ann Bell
281-330-3827

PS You can see an album of my paintings on my facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=53716&id=1039957322&l=064708e754

Friend me on facebook, or follow be on twitter at http://www.twitter.com/annbell

It’s been an interesting week. Lot’s of accomplishments and events (which may or may not be accomplishments).

The highlights…chronologically…I would have a problem ranking by importance at this point…after 9PM on a VERY long day.are;
1. Lunch & extended visit with my precious daughter (pre Mother’s Day celebration)
2. Sale of a MAJOR painting to one of my collectors… “Techtonic Enneagram,” which was included in the VAA (Visual Arts Alliance) Open Exhibition last year. She is a MAJOR collector and I am VERY HAPPY and empowered that she has selected this piece
3. My 16 year old cat WEBO died in my arms last night. Needless to say, I was upset and up half the night. Poor Webo had such a hard time adjusting to being a cat. I buried him today under a rose bush I selected and planted. It is a Queen Elizabeth rose…I clipped roses from the blooming rose bushes and placed them around the new rose bush. I adopted Webo 12 years ago when my daughter Elizabeth could not keep him. It was two years before Webo was able to recognize me outside of the kitchen, where he spent most of his time. He is (was) part Manx…perhaps that explains his personality. I’m still very sad. His sibling Fluffy is also sad, although she is enjoying the extra attention.
4. Updated my web site, posting testimonials, removing past classes, and adding 3 new class dates
5. Investigated marketing and exhibition opportunities
6. Reconnected with an old friend I hadn’t seen in months
7. Visited 2 new (to me) art galleries and 2 more that are familiar. One was the NEW and exciting Darke Gallery. Linda Darke is a friend. Her gallery has been open about two and a half years. She has built a NEW gallery space on the property. It is wondrous. Congratulations, Linda!
8. Began seriously investigating Licensing as a means of bringing my art to a larger audience

I’ll stop here. It’s 9:30 PM. I am READY for the day to be finished.

This was a light week. There was NOTHING on my calendar on Monday.

How did your week go? Sometimes when I feel like I haven’t accomplished anything, I find that itemizing what has actually transpired puts things in a totally different perspective. Try it! You MIGHT like it. And perhaps you’ll be as amazed as I was when you see it in writing.

Ann Bell

I’ve collected cards, lace, music and any wonderful item I could find that was made in Venice…in the effort to provide touchstones that would make Venice real for me. Now Venice is within my reach.

My open studio Saturday, April 10, noon until 5 PM will be my first effort to share with visitors & art lovers my Venice Ephemera and collages. Instead of hoarding my collected bits & pieces of Venice, I have used these wonderful items to create unique cards and collages that I will show and sell on Saturday.

Cards that are beautiful enough to frame and sure to be saved & enjoyed by the lucky recipient are priced around $10.

This is a sample of one of my cards.

Collages are priced at $25-$40, for unframed 8″ x 10″ size. I will frame a few of them.

If you come on Saturday, you will also enjoy my larger mixed media paintings, some of which are inspried by Venice. Maybe you’ll find a very special painting to enjoy in your own home.

Regardless of whether you acquire a treasure, you’ll enjoy a wonderful afternoon enjoying art in the creative spaces where art is made.

Ann Bell

PS. Please take my phone # with you, so if you have any trouble finding my studio, you can call me for directions.

281-330-3827  Remember, I’ll have maps of all the spaces. Saturday, April 10, noon until 5 PM.

If you want to try this fun painting surface, they are available at Art Supply on Main, in Midtown Houston–on sale for 50% off, only $8.50 for 11″ x 14″ board.

This painting is predominantly acrylic, 11 x 14. I painted it at my Saturday demo for Art Supply Expo.

Vikki also has a huge selection of stretched canvas at buy 1, get 1 free.

Golden City, shown below, is the first painting I did on this new surface. It is predominantly watercolor, with acrylic, acrylic ink, and Inktense colored pencil details.

If you would like to see these paintings, Vikki will have them in the store by Wednesday.

If you would like to see my current schedule of classes, visit http://www.annbell.net/classes.htm This month they are all planned between March 13 and March 20, to fit teacher’s schedules. Spring Break!

Ann Bell 

I call it “Dreaming.” I captured this big idea in a small 8″ x 10″ canvas.

This is the second in a series of paintings developing inspiring concepts.

I have decided to dedicate more time to dreaming.

Every night recently my sleep has been visited by rich images from unknown sources. I wonder what it means!

Ann Bell

Learn how to make your own textured painting. Attend either the Mixed Media Class or the 3D Texture class. Easy registration through Paypal on the class page, or call me at 281-330-3827 to reserve your space.

Stimulate your creativity, regardless of your level of art experience. I’ll make it really easy if you are a beginner. My studio is near downtown Houston, so whether you are in outlying areas such as Kingwood, Conroe, Humble, Spring or Sugar Land, or even beyond, I am accessible. If you are in Montrose, River Oaks, Memorial, West University, Bellaire, or the Medical Center, I am close to you.

All supplies are included in the class fee. You’ll enjoy the day painting in my glorious creative studio. You’ll learn new techniques. AND you’ll leave with a beautiful piece of original art that YOU created.

You will enjoy the art for years. You’ll make more art with the techniques you learn.

You will amaze your family and friends.

Perhaps you’ll make a priceless valentine for someone you love.

If this message speaks to your heart, treat yourself to a creative day painting and learning with me. These classes offer an opportunity to experience making art in a real working art studio. Small space with limited class sizes guarantees that you receive my personal attention. What could be better than this?

Ann Bell

You are creative, even if you don’t realize it! If you don’t consider yourself creative, it might be that you do not recognize your creativity and give yourself credit for it. Creativity displays itself when you find new ways of doing routine tasks or when you find a way to do something you haven’t done before.

All progress is the result of human creativity. Each technological, scientific and medical breakthrough happened because highly trained professionals creatively applied their knowledge in a new way. Creativity is responsible for every new product, however simple or complex.

I don’t want to oversimplify here. For progress, much more than an idea is necessary. But the idea is the seed from which it all grows. Without the ideas, there could be no progress.

Most people are so busy doing routine tasks that they don’t allow themselves the luxury of quiet time. Stress builds until they become ill. I suggest that taking some quiet time in your day to renew yourself and nourish your creativity might actually save you time in the long run. Two immediate ways this could happen occur to me: you might discover better, quicker and/or more effective ways to do your tasks and you might save the downtime caused by illness through preventing the illness.

Creativity flourishes when the mind is able to enjoy unstructured time—or play time.

If you would like to be more creative, the first step is simply deciding that you want to become more creative. Your intention becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy when you simply take the second step of allowing a small amount of “unbusy” time into your life. Your intention alerts your creative right brain that you want to be creative. So, as you make space in your time, your right brain notices whenever an idea crosses your conscious, and it alerts you to the idea.

Unfortunately, if you continue your super-busy schedule and don’t provide some quiet time for your brain, nothing will happen.

Creativity flourishes when the mind is able to enjoy unstructured time—or play time. I suggest these 3 easy ways for you to open the doors to your creativity.

1. Sit quietly for a few minutes and breathe deeply. If you can play relaxing instrumental music or arrange silence, you will get the best results. Voices distract from the relaxing ambience. Quiet is the key word.
2. Take a walk. The act of walking combined with observation of nature seems to attract ideas and promote the peaceful state necessary for those ideas to show themselves.
3. Take a leisurely shower. The rhythm of the falling water seems to lure ideas to the surface.

Pick one of these suggestions and follow it. When you are finished, write down the ideas that come to you in the next hour. Then make your own list of things you “don’t have time for” that might actually save you more time than they take with the ideas they generate.

For more creativity tips, consider.

Ann Bell

I realize many esthetic and emotional benefits by surrounding myself with handmade items to bring joy, beauty & even functionality into my life.

When I use a handmade object, or view a painting,
I am reminded again of the wonder of human creativity.
You too  will get joy from handmade things, even if you aren’t an artist.

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A new window will open. After you take the pledge & close the window, this blog will still be here.

I listed new paintings in my etsy store.

I hope you have enjoyed the holidays. I certainly did.

And I have been busy planning new classes. Many of my students have asked me for a Composition class. I am working on it now. It will be on Saturday, January 23. I will be adding it, and other classes for January to my class schedule  during the next few days.

Last year in January I taught a Vision Board Class.
I have been working on my own Vision Board for 2010 & beyond.
(Most of my 2009 Vision Board is now reality!
They just seem to work that way.)

I haven’t decided whether to teach the class again.
If you want to take a Vision Board Class from me, please get in touch.

Ann Bell