You Did It!
Your 13 Step painting class is finished, the students have gone home or exited zoom - whew!! And now what?
After documenting the process and what came up - for you, for your beloveds, and some self care, there's your Canvas, in a special after- class limbo! What's next in your own process?
I try to take time after teaching to connect with my demo painting and do some of my own Journaling - as I usually don't get much time for that whilst teaching! Sometimes *another* Old Story has come up for clearing, and I make some new story cards. Did any recurring or new codes symbols come through? What do they have to say?
If I did a demo before class, I may bring that out, and begin a dialogue with both. Perhaps I'll bring her out to my porch for morning café, and into my bedroom for awhile to inspire my dreams.
This can be a good time to consult our own Oracle - pulling a card or two from the Soulful Story or Wild Card deck can bring insights and inspire the next step ❤
Several years ago, Shiloh suggested this process for reclaiming a demo painting: To really change it up, set aside some time, smudge, spray your canvas, and paint a strip of white (or white with a bit of color) along the top of the canvas - spray again, then sit back (6' away or so) and journal while it drips! Use that as a guide to move on, and reclaim her! Spending at least a long on the painting after a class as you allotted duringthe workshop allows you to listen for the painting's voice.
Other options I've used after Journaling and sitting with the painting awhile, are to go in with another round of Lights and Darks, tending details, perhaps adding code and prayer dots, then glaze again.
If I skipped any steps for ease of teaching, I might revisit those - pulling out my 13 step cards helps me refocus! I may also have had some insights around using the cards, and be ready to rework one or two!
If the canvas calls for bigger shifts, I might do directional glazes, using different colors on each side, spraying and letting it drip, then turning the canvas and repeating. I sometimes use gold for this, or my beloved interference paint!
Sometimes m all the demo painting really needs is another round of Lights and Darks m a partial glaze, some listening and adornment! And sometimes m they seem fine for months - or years - then begin nudging is for attention!!
Another element of the after class process is a follow up connection with students, both for feedback and perhaps tending if a lot came up for them! While we're only responsible for our piece of the thread, when that piece includes teaching, there's also connection and tending.
You may wish to schedule an occasional Open Studio session, where beloveds can bring their own WIP and receive support and tips! One beloved called me 18 months after class, and was ready to do more on her painting, so we scheduled a private session on her covered deck! I brought She Changes, which had been my class demo, and we painted together.
Learning to balance your own creativity process and tending your students is ongoing, we've got this!
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