Anya Toomre Studio's Art & Creativity June Newsletter

It's been a couple of months since I last checked in with you. I hope that you are healthy and safe.

The pandemic while anxiety provoking has become almost normal, unfortunately. The violence that has erupted during this past week in the US is unsettling and more stressful. There's a chance of a vaccine eventually for the virus. Getting rid of institutionalized and pervasive racism and sexism and all the other -isms will not be happening any time soon. And so many people will continue to be hurt and affected until there is change, education and understanding.

While there are major challenges ahead as a society and world, I've asked myself what can I do and what can my art do?

I was recently came across the short video What is Art For? from The School of Life. It is a great reminder of why art is important. The five main reasons they give are:

Art provides hope.

Art makes us less lonely.

Art rebalances us.

Art helps us to appreciate stuff.

Art is propaganda for what really matters.

With those thoughts in mind, let us all appreciate and make art and be creative as a way to heal, bear with and change the world around us.

What's Been Happening
100 Day Creative Challenge
May 18th I completed a 100 day challenge of working on creative projects and posting about it every day to the The Creative's Workshop. It is an online workshop created by Seth Godin that encourages creatives to take what they have to the next level and bring what they make out to the world to share. Sharing what you do is a generous thing. I feel pretty proud of myself for meeting the challenge.

On the big day, I posted a video made from the hundred or so images I had shared from the start.

Over the 100 days, I finished 42 drawings, completed 2 sketchbooks, and made 30 drawing and painting videos! You can find those videos on my YouTube channel.

Teaching and Workshops
It has been a real pleasure having classes with my students over the past couple of months. Teaching, sharing and learning can be done online but it is of course different than in person. Everyone has been great and very patient with learning curves and technical challenges online via Zoom.

I have also enjoyed the opportunity having people from other areas join in. I've had students connecting from Singapore, Hawaii, Mexico, California, eastern Washington, New Hampshire and Toronto, Canada, in addition to those more local to the Seattle eastside.

Here are some glimpses into student work from a recently finished Travel Journaling workshop:
(Left to right: Xiuming Liang, Maderia and The Happy Prince Museum in Japan, and Lina Yang, Iceland)

Here are some student recipes from the latest run of Recipe Illustrations:
(Left to right: Dulce María Carral, Guacamole, and Paola Marin, Base Para Torta Dulce (Pastry Crust))

And finally from my current Exploring Keeping a Sketchbook students:
(Kore Koubourlis, espresso machine)

Etsy Shop Treasures
My Esty shop is up and running and I continue to add to my listings. I am moving to having all of my products available via Etsy rather than through my website because the shipping rate is much cheaper and I can print shipping labels at home. If you are local, or we can meet somehow once traveling starts up again, let me know what you're interested in and we'll arrange a way to get it to you.

What's Coming Up
For the summer, until September 1st, all of my workshops that were scheduled at Cloud 9 will be online (via Zoom). My 6-week online classes will be discounted until July 1st.

Upcoming Workshops
In the next couple of weeks, three online workshops via Zoom will be starting.

Playing with Your Food in a Sketchbook
6-week workshop
For Adults and Teens
Saturdays 4:00-6:00 pm (Pacific Time)
June 6 - July 18 (no class July 4)
$175 sale (normally $200)

Exploring Keeping a Sketchbook
6-week workshop
For Adults and Teens
Wednesdays 6:00-8:00 pm (Pacific Time)
June 10 - July 15
$175 sale (normally $200)

Exploring Keeping a Sketchbook
6-week workshop
for Adults and Teens
Thursdays 4:00-6:00 pm (Pacific Time)
June 11 - July 16
$175 sale (normally $200)

If you are interested in one of my workshops at a different time from what's offered and have at least one other person to sign up, let me know and I'll see if we can find a time that will work. This is a great advantage of moving classes to be online!

Open Studio
for Adults and Teens
Monday nights 6:00-7:00 pm (Pacific Time)
ongoing online through August 31
$10

The Open Studio is a great way to get some ideas, help or motivation with projects. It is also a place to hang out with a creative community. If you want to be held accountable to keep moving forward with your art, I'm more than happy to help you out there too.

It is an opportunity to come together and create or at least talk about creating and drawing rather than focusing on what we can't control outside. Email me anyatoomre@yahoo.com or message me on Facebook or Instagram, if you have any questions.

Guest Artist
Illumination Women Happy Hour Event
Thursday, June 4 4:00-6:00 pm (Pacific Time)
More information is on the I llumination Women Facebook Group Page

Creativity Coaching
I also continue to coach visual artists during this time. Are you taking care of your creative self? Do you have images and words that you want to express but find somehow you can’t for one reason or another?

Has your inner critic has been too loud and negative? Has something been stopping you from trying to draw or paint? Do you feel resistance? Are you interested in figuring out your artistic and creative goals and developing a thoughtful habit?

I want to help you get unstuck and motivated to start doing and to encourage you as you develop and express your creative self.

I have one-on-one Creativity Coaching sessions and packages available. I look forward to hearing from you!

"The happy result of all this [creativity] coaching has been that I now find myself analyzing common situations and turning them into personal experiences, whether it be a simple birthday card, a personalized gift, or a diary drawing celebrating what I find beautiful in my everyday life. Thank you, Anya." - R. Goodman, Washington

Talk to you in a couple of months.

Be kind, stay healthy, keep your distance and keep being creative,
Anya
www.anyatoomre.com

My dog when it's wet outside. She does not like it!