" H O W   D O E S   O N E
B E C O M E   A   B U T T E R F L Y?"
S H E   A S K E D.
" Y O U   M U S T   W A N T
T O   F L Y   S O   M U C H
T H A T   Y O U   A R E
W I L L I N G   T O   G I V E   U P
B E I N G   A
C A T E R P I L L A R."
Tina Paulus

" A R T I S T,
G A I N   K N O W L E D G E,
B U T   K N O W   T H A T
T H E   G R E A T E S T
G U R U   O F   A L L
I S   T H E   G U R U
W I T H I N. "
Robert Genn

" I T   I S   A B S U R D   T O
S A Y   T H A T   T H E   A G E
O F   M I R A C L E S   I S   P A S T.
I T   H A S   N O T
Y E T   B E G U N. "
Oscar Wilde

September always seems to be the beginning of the year for me. I feel a sense of renewal that is clearly linked to my years of going back to school. I have warm memories of buying school supplies and organizing them in preparation for the new school year. As the neighbourhood children trundle off to school I begin to feel the pleasure of new learning opportunities as well.

This year in particular I am excited about the beginning of a new 10 - month course called "Seriously Creative." It is a new venture I have undertaken. It is a coaching/mentoring course for people who want to develop strategies and skills to enhance their creative life. The course will support students in taking their art and themselves more seriously. Whether struggling with defining a project, committing to the work, facing fear and anxiety or staying on track, the artists will find new ways to be more focused and productive.

The course is designed to assist artists in moving to a new level of mastery in their work. It will address the barriers to development and encourage bold exploration of hopes and dreams. It will challenge beliefs that inhibit creativity and it will focus on the serious business of creating.

Working in a group will provide additional support for artists who often work alone. There is much to be learned from peers and much support to be gained from sharing experiences. I believe it will be a particularly powerful experience because the participants work in a variety of mediums. I am sure the "cross pollination" of writers with visual artists; photographers with textile artists will be rich.

"Seriously Creative" will culminate with a public exhibition. Course participants will define their own focus, set personal goals and develop their own timetable. They may take many paths to reach a project. This process will help the artists understand more about their personal process of creating.

I am imagining that I will learn as much as anyone in this new venture. I am excited about the possibilities for my own development as an artist. I expect to challenge myself to be more courageous, bolder, and more productive in my work. In addition, I believe I will enhance my skills as a coach and mentor as I guide this group of creative individuals through an extended process of discovery.

From time to time I will report in about our progress. Right now I am going to sharpen my new coloured pencils and put my name on my new sketchbook.