Sparking the Wonder Within
“To love what you do and feel that it matters – how could anything be more fun?”
— Katherine Graham
WHAT'S NEW?
KAIZEN-MUSE,
TRANSITION, and CREATIVITY COACHING...
...an exciting and rejuvenating coaching package
• In-studio: art expression, art exploration, art process, and transition discovery
primarily individual work; some small group circle.
• Telephone: primarily individual work; some conference calls (Muse Journey group)
upcoming tele-coaching group
• Online: email; upcoming
webinar
• On retreat: creativity and rejuvenation retreat weekend
(within 1 to 2.5 hours drive of the SF Bay area)
I look forward to hearing from you!
Laurel
Send email inquiry
ART AND HEALING
Two current in-studio opportunities, individual work:
Illustrated Memory Books, for
• Travel and the Creative Journey
• Celebration and Commemmoration
• Loss, Grief, Expression and Healing
Spontaneous Pastels & Energy Drawing
Within the context of coaching and facilitating groups, I use a method of Energy Drawing, a process for quieting the mind and healing the heart, allowing the Artist Healer to emerge into a safe space.
More about Laurel Aston...
ART AND NATURE
ArtSelf and Nature®, a curriculum I developed for families with children, is now part of Sparking Art for Kids, and Hiking with the Muses, where we explore creativity close to the inspiration and serenity of nature. Many of the arts I teach use the fruits of the earth in some way, either for content or in the production process.
ART AND EDUCATION
Educated at The College of William & Mary, I earned a B.A. in Fine Arts and Education (Art Education, Art Studio, and Art History). In the following 30 years, I have focused learning on psychology, art, health, spirituality, education & learning environments, special needs of single mothers, politics, and consciousness studies.
ART AND CAREER
Education, career, life experiences, and personal choices have shaped my professional skills. As an employee, or as an independent contractor, I have worked in creative positions in these fields: Graphic Design, Publishing, Technology & Art, Digital Arts, Video Production, Education, Museums, Event Production, Art Process, and Creativity Coaching.
ART FACILITATION WITH YOUTH
I believe that children thrive in an environment where they have choices, learn to be self-directed, and where education teaches to and fosters emotional and social intelligence and skills. My children went to Peninsula School in Menlo Park, CA, a school which has implemented this philosophy in nursery - 8th grade since 1925.
Studies and training include Parent Effectiveness Training (P.E.T.), Early Childhood and Adolescent Education, Teen Empowerment (YWCA), Active Listening, Peer Counseling, and Process Work (Mindell).
ARTIST AS HEALER
Diana Morgan, my younger daughter, was an artist both before and after her diagnosis, finding much comfort in art activities during her illness. In life she embodied Artemis energy, protector of animals, and in Spirit she is a Muse who inspires me to live life consciously. (Diana died at age 12, from a brain-tumor illness. She was diagnosed at age 10 and died in 1996.) I feel so blessed to have had Diana in my life for 12 years; she lives on in my heart daily and is a Muse for me.
For loss of a loved one, I recommend The Infinite Thread, Healing Relationships Beyond Loss, by Alexandra Kennedy, M.A. To
nurture the artist healer within, I refer people to the book, Creative
Healing, by Michael Samuels, M.D.
ARTIST LIFE
I create in the media of Book and Paper Arts, Photography, Polaroid Transfer Printing , Fabric, Writing, Mixed Media (colored pencil, ink, gouache, acrylic, and other materials) and Illustrated Watercolor Journals. Right now I most enjoy creating with paper and mixed media, collaborative teaching, and traveling with my artkit and laptop!
Stay tuned for the launch of my new artist website. Here is one link to view some of my book art in the Bay Area Book Artists online gallery.
CREATIVITY COACHING
As a Creativity Coach I work with people on creative growth and healing through art.
Why might you want to work with a creativity coach?
• People find that the life journey requires a periodic rediscovery and redefinition of one's artistic/creative nature.
• Many people want to be reflected, held safely in their own exploration, and then discover the most effortless way to move in a desired direction.
• Coaching clients are taking responsibility reins in hand to counteract the discouraging and damaging messages, about the lower priority of expressing the artistic self, which often come from our culture. (If the power of the arts were truly valued, would the budget axe fall first on the arts?)
Contact Laurel about Creativity Coaching.
GROUP PROCESS FACILITATION
Through Muse Journey, SoulCollage, and creativity support circles, I am in service with my skills of facilitation, training in group process, coaching certification, and years of participation and study in creative expression, expressive arts, yoga, Process-oriented Psychology and graduate level study in Expressive Arts Therapy.
WHERE ELSE HAS CREATIVITY SHOWN UP?
I have worked as an activist for the Equal Rights Amendment, birthed two daughters in alternative birthing support communities, participated in the late 20th century launch of the cooperative, organic food movement (through Briarpatch Cooperative in Mountain View and other groups), co-founded a parent support group for families with a child living with life-threatening illness, and I have founded Sparking Art Studio.
WORK, TEACHING, AND COMMUNITY
Some of my professional background:
- Assistant Program Director, Producer and Editor, for the Digital Clubhouse Network, Sunnyvale, CA where I helped breast cancer patients tell their survival stories through the digital medium
- Events and Program Consultant for Caducea Resources for the Expressive Arts
- Teaching Assistant, UCSC Extension, Art+Design Program, Cupertino, CA
- Assistant volunteer teacher for the Community School for Music and Art (CSMA) in Mountain View, CA
- Quality Assurance Engineer for in high tech, testing software for video editing, compression, special effects, and web streaming applications.
It is through these experiences and many more that my passion has developed for creating a program for self-discovery, healing, and recovery of joy through art, nature, and building artistic community. Laurel Aston
Creativity Coach
Contact Laurel
“If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun.”
— Katharine Hepburn
|
