Art as Mirror
Painting is often intuitive for me. It acts as a mirror — capturing emotions and sensations as they are, even when I already have some awareness of them. The act of painting helps me acknowledge where I’m at. Sometimes I...
Stiched Memories
This whole thing started with a couple of tiny creatures that were gifted to me that sparked something. I decided to make my own. Mr. and Mrs. Calypso were my first spontaneous attempt in 2008. Working with materials at...
Celebrating and Connecting with the Earth
This gorgeous artwork above is by Autumn Skye, an incredibly talented painter. What a perfect day (like every other day, really) to coCreate beautiful, healthy earth. ! Happy Earth Day, dear Mother-Earth! One way to tune...
Art as Medicine
Shaun McNiff has created guides to embracing the ups and downs of the artistic process and allowing them to carry you along your unique creative journey. He brilliantly captures the core ideas and describes what I have...
Expressive Transformative Art
“Practice any art, music, singing, dancing, acting, drawing, painting, sculpting, poetry, fiction, essays, reportage, no matter how well or badly, not to get money and fame, but to experience becoming, to find out what’s...
Art as Energy Work
We all share something in common, the energy that flows through us, individually as well as universally. This energy is almost indescribable since it isn’t as clear to our senses, but it is real. Energy is as difficult...
Mandala Love Story
I don’t exactly remember how I came to love mandalas so much, or when I first started my love affair with mandalas. What I do know with great certainty is that they help to heal great pain, bring peace to life, and...
Creating a Happier Healthier World
Did you know that happiness is a skill we can learn? Research shows that happiness, compassion, and kindness can be realized and enhanced through training. The neuroplasticity of our brains makes it possible! Happiness...
Colour Your Zen
What makes your heart sing? What brings a big fat smile to your face? Remember the last time you noticed being happy? Are you happy? What is being happy? Is it related to euphoria, ecstasy, contentment, calm, peace,...
Pecha Kucha Storytelling
Pecha Kucha means "chit chat" in Japanese. It’s a creative storytelling presentation format in which 20 chosen images are shown for 20 seconds each. In other words, you've got just under 7 minutes to tell your story,...
Essentials of Nurturing Creativity
Creativity can be celebrated as a way to nurture connection, foster self-awareness and personal expansion in a grounded, pleasurable way. Creating art can be playful, relaxing and revitalizing - especially when we...
Passion on a Lay-Away Plan
When it comes to doing things we love, how many times do we have to hear ourselves say “I’ll do this when…” or “I wish I had time for this,” before we actually do what brings us joy? Or do we even get to it at all? In...
The Artist’s Way: Life as a Canvas
The Artist’s Way: Life as Canvas workshops are available in various formats: an introductory half-day, a weekend, or a 12-week course. On-demand for groups of 6 or more. Louise Lalande, of coCreations, is the leading...
Wellness Centre Imaginarium
Assuming you could have ANY kind of wellness centre in Ottawa, what would it be? With no worries about money, location, time, planning, scheduling, what would you build? Would there be any special healing practitioners...
What Colour Are Your Roots
Do you find pleasure playing with words? Much like colours, they have such splendiferous combinations and associations. So here’s one for you: When you think of “roots” what first comes to mind? The famous Canadian...
