Communities of Connection

Hi Everyone

So often on these pages I am talking to you about the benefits of art-making and how it helps us to heal, destress and to gain isights.  Since the outbreak of the Corona virus in Hong Kong, the number of people attending workshops at the Wild at Art Studio has increased as people are struggling with isolation at home, as schools and government offices remain closed and despite people being urged to work from home and avoid public transport.

Many mums and dads are finding it incredibly challenging to be at home whilst doing their own job AND supervising the home learning of their children of various ages ( while all parties use the wifi and internet at the same time).  

Teachers are up to their ears in devising new strategies with which to deliver complex curriculum topics through all sorts of new technological pathways. Teachers are gregarious people, no one likes being stuck at home !!

So this last two weeks, people have been attending art classes and sharing their stories and challenges as we all recalibrate to this situation and cope with the uncertainties and drama's of each day.

Destress Doodle attendance numbers have increased and people are actually thrilled to go home with a hands on project which they can continue and share in our Doodle Whats App group. This has become a mini platform for support and a stress outlet for all.

Journaling numbers have also increased and we have shifted times to accomodate the new found schedules that people have, they usually arrive very relieved to be receiving a hug,  human contact and the gift of time for self care. 

Saturday workshops have all been full as people are giving themselves the gift of a "time out" from the family or their small home or technological world. I hear relived chatter as people allow themselves to reconnect to the community here at the studio and also as they reconnect to themselves through their art making. Sometimes there is chit chat but often complete silence as people settle into their flow state with palpable relief and calm. 

So as we transition into March, the weather gets warmer and people settle back into another week of home learning, mask wearing and strange runs on shopping items. We will continue to make art and carry on, to reach out and to connect, to comfort and encourage to each other and wash our hands!  Come and join us for:

Lunchtime Destress Doodling

12.30-2.00pm Wednesdays

$150 per session

                            

Joyous Journaling Play

Mondays 6.00-8.30pm

All Mondays in March and April 

$400

Come and play with colour, paint and texture to make papers and pages for your journal!  Journaling is about a blend of PLAY and something to SAY. By experimenting and creating yourself a range of journal papers you will find out more about you as you use printmaking, and other mark making to start your 2020 journaling year!  

                              

Heartfelt Vintage Photo Collages

Calling all Art Journalers and Collage Fans !
We welcome a new Wild at Art Superstar teacher
Kit Lang 

Saturday March 14th

10.00-5.00pm

$1,400

Just what you have all been waiting for ......this workshop is all about magic and gifts us with techniques to preserve the images of our dear loved ones as well as our icons and heroes in our art work forever! Kit will be teaching us ways to enhance our artworks with cool atmospheric images, bringing a truly personalised touch to your work. This is perfect for all kinds of art makers, beginners, art journalers and seasoned creatives alike ! From cards and stationery, to journaling and art making, transfer techniques are simple, fun, and can be learnt and used by anyone - no artistic experience required!

Equinox Mandalas

Thursday March 19th

6.00-8.30pm

$400

Do you feel the need for a little work life balance ?

Come along to this months marvellous offering, seasonally reflecting the Spring Equinox and lets explore balance. The Equinox is a sacred time of equal day and night in the northern hemisphere. By experiencing this, we are reminded about the power of seeking both balance and oneness in our own lives. Whether you are a seasoned Monthly Mandala maker or a beginner, please join our lovely community of creators.

See you here at the studio! 

Welcome to your own creative self!

💜Come on in........💜

from

🌻🌻🌻Katie🌻🌻🌻

🌻🌻🌻 Keep Calm and Carry On 🌻🌻🌻

No matter where you are in the world, you will have heard the news of the Coronavirus outbreak which began in China and which is now filtering into other destinations as we speak. I am now living in a city, which has closed all schools, government offices, banks, borders and is urging us all to work from home if we can. Consequently Social Media is overflowing with chats about whether to stay here or leave, whether to wear a mask or not and whether what we read is even true. Anxiety is around every corner. On Saturday I read a blogpost by Dr David Owens, long-term doctor here in Hong Kong and founder of our family clinic OT and P who states: “Anxiety is highly infectious. It is much more infectious than the Coronavirus. The greatest triggers of anxiety are lack of control and uncertainty. A common feature of an anxious state is a negative interpretation with catastrophising thought processes.” Sound familiar?  Dr Owens responds by offering explanations of inflammatory terms, such as “epidemic” and “risk”. Here’s his article : https://www.otandp.com/blog/communicating-risk-in-an-epidemic-a-personal-perspective Other antidotes to anxiety might include a whole range of stress reduction techniques, I am seeing many people around me using their newly found free time to walk in the hills and explore the countryside which is lovely. Contact Calm Connections HK https://www.calmconnectionshk.com to join others walking in the hills and Ewa Wilkinson  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=546145755 to join nature photography walks. Check YvonneLi and guests daily meditations: https://www.facebook.com/beloveHK/ from all over Hong Kong.  A process of calming can be called becoming grounded and centred, terms used to describe reconnecting with the self in order to access the present moment, to calm the parasympathetic nervous system and gain a sense of self control.  You know you are grounded when you feel calm, peaceful and centered. Being centered means that you have a reference point or a place to come back to when life’s challenges and emotions push you off balance. The center is the place you know you have to get back to, it may feel safe or steady. In therapy we call this Self Regulation, which means to self-soothe and calm oneself when under stress. Returning to the “centre” can take place through various art making activities in which one refrains from conscious thinking and planning, which aligns with the therapeutic qualities of meditation. This can provide self-soothing for when anxiety feels out of control, that people can access in a group or at home or in the workplace. Much of this regulation takes place automatically-beyond our awareness but it allows the mind to take a break and time ‘stands still’. Such art making activities are available to you here at the Wild at Art Studio where we are offering a range of art experiences for self regulation. Come along and ground and centre with us, turn down the anxiety monster and allow yourself some space outside the house in a small group setting! Mindful Drawing 4 x Wednesday mornings 9.30-12.00pm  12th, 19th and 26th February $400 Connect with yourself and all your senses through Mindful Drawing. This beautiful experience  helps you to reconnect with the simple moments in life, brings a sense of peace and enjoyment, as you re-kindle your creativity and grow your drawing  confidence. Both mindfulness and drawing require you to slow down and pay close attention to what's in front of you. These workshops introduce you to the idea of inhabiting the present moment, as you observe your sensations and experiences and pay attention to all of your senses – You will be fully guided through a range of drawing experiences and materials, no previous art experience is required! Lunchtime Destress Doodling Every week 12.30-2.00pm Wednesdays $150 per session Do you sometimes feel like it’s all just too much? Discover your own calm centre through some peaceful meditational art making. Imagine being able to quieten your mind and go back to work or your family fully refreshed! Doodling can be a simple path to relaxation and inner focus and may help calm an anxious mind. It can help you press pause on intrusive thoughts and provide you with a practice that you can access at any time by yourself. I love HK Collage Saturday 29th February 9.30-5.00pm $1,400 inc all art materials, scrumptious treats throughout the day We are all here because one way or another we love Asia's World City: Hong Kong! This wonderful melting pot of races and cultures affords us all a way of being that is different to our own home country. It is a place of spectacular views natural and man made as well as iconic structures, scenes and other quirks. It is a home in need of love right now ! We've had a hard year of it and yet we are still here.... Come and create your very own homage to Hong Kong in the form of your own art work. You will be guided to blend paint and collage methods to create a HK scene of your choice this will be created in layers over the course of the day. All materials provided and plenty of cups of tea and biscuits as you make art in the beautiful Wild at Art Studio in Central. No previous art experience is required for this fun and accessible process. Diving Deeper Retreat Days Saturday 28th March  9.00-5.00pm Studio29, Lamma Island $1,400 inc all Art Materials  a journal and a scrumptious lunch and treats Exploring personal stories through art making can help us to reframe challenges, develop new perspectives and articulate our inner world. Come and use your art-making to listen inside! Working on personal themes, you will be guided to experience mixed media art journaling. It can be the start of a transformational journey as you uncover insights and find ways to let your inner voice show you the way. All dates and details are on the webpage. http://wildatartstudio.blogspot.com/p/wild-at-art-studio-offerings.html Booking for all workshops can be made directly to me on: wildatartweekly@gmail.com See here for map and directions http://wildatartstudio.blogspot.com/p/contact-me.html Welcome to your own creative self! Come on in .... Artfully Yours from Katie