This simple, mindfulness drawing meditation will help you be more GROUNDED and CALM by tuning into your breath. This activity will help you de-stress through drawing. It will bring you into the present moment and immediately feel more relaxed. Designed by an art therapist, this intuitive drawing bring self-care together with art and mindfulness for an honest & authentic view of yourself in this moment. #arttherapy #artastherapy #arttherapynearme #arttherapyclassesnearme #den

This simple, mindfulness drawing meditation will help you FEEL into your energy level and assess what you need to be more ENERGIZED and filled up! This activity will help you de-stress through drawing. It will bring you into the present moment and immediately feel more relaxed. Designed by an art therapist, this intuitive drawing bring self-care together with art and mindfulness for an honest & authentic view of yourself in this moment. #arttherapy #artastherapy #artandmedita

Learn a technique for painting 3-dimensional trees! We'll share some color theory, a brush technique and how to use layers to achieve the look you want. This super helpful painting lesson will take the stress away from making realistic and visually pleasing trees so you can feel confident in your next nature-themed painting! Stippling = dabbing the brush, hold it farther towards the end for looseness Color theory = start with darkest greens and slowly lighten Making a shadow

Every time you create a piece of art, it is taking you on a hero's journey. There are profound opportunities to learn and grow each time you face a challenge and keep going. Michelle shares her first Healing heART painting where she created a painting to answer "What does success look like to me?" and the Divine Wisdom her art was teaching. The best part about this intentional art making process is that each person receives their own wisdom. The "just right" thing they need t

Woodworking is a hobby for some and a profession for others, but it can be a powerful therapeutic tool for just about everyone. In fact, many military veterans with PTSD have benefited from this particular activity. Most people who try out woodworking for the first time quickly become addicted. Creating something with your own two hands can instill a tremendous sense of pride and accomplishment. Giving Yourself a Purpose Everyone needs to feel as if they have a purpose in lif

Here’s the secret: we’ve got it all wrong. What feels important, what we give so much of our time and energy to, it’s NOT the answer. We actually need to nourish the soul. We need to come back into balance...as people and as a culture. One of the best ways to care for the soul is by making art. It gets you tuned into your inner wisdom. It naturally brings you into flow. Expression is VITAL to the soul. And there's a beautiful energy exchange that happens when you make art

Art Therapy is helpful for people of all ages and its benefits go beyond the field of mental health into many other areas of life. Including an art therapy practice along with other recovery methods when dealing with traumatic life events is essential for expressing our emotions (particularly the more negative ones) rather than letting them control our day-to-day. Making art allows for the opportunity to be fully present in the moment and offers a sense of relaxation and peac

“I can’t make art! I’m not creative. Art is for those people, over there with “natural talent.” If these are some thoughts that go through your mind, we have something to tell you! No one is “naturally” good at art. It truly takes practice to be good at anything. And it really, really helps to have someone teach you and guide you. With MBodied, we have a 5-step system for helping students with NO experience go from “I’m not creative” to “I can’t believe I did that!” We

Did you know that Hitler banned modern art while he was in power? He declared it was “un-German” and held an exhibition in 1937 called the “Degenerate Art Exhibition” to mock the art and convince viewers to see it as a symptom of an evil plot against German people. The curators even hired actors to mingle with the crowds and criticize the works. Why did he go to such lengths to slander modern art? Hitler was trying to control people’s perceptions through art. He wanted ar

Having a mindfulness practice can really help us be more present and peaceful. But do we have to meditate on a cushion or are there other ways?!! Making art can be a great substitute if you want to get into mindfulness but don't enjoy meditation. Art naturally brings you into the present moment and lets you express your inner world out and onto paper or canvas. Watch the video below to learn more about the connection between mindfulness and art. #artasmeditation #artastherap

Find out the last 2 steps of MBodied's system for helping people overcome this common issue with making art. #Westminsterpaintingclass #Westminsterartclass #Westminsterdrawingclass #art #artandcommunity #artclass #learntopaint #learntodraw #artforintroverts #artasmeditation #destresswithart #stressrelief #newhobby #creativity #Denverpaintingclass #Denverartclass #Denverdrawingclass #Denverartstudio #Denverlearntopaint #Denverarttherapy #Denverwomensgroup #denveradultartclasse

What is the reason most people don't make art? MBodied has a 5 part system for overcoming this common issue! Find out steps 1-3 right now! #Westminsterpaintingclasses #Westminsterpainting #Westminsterpaintingclass #artandcommunity #artclassarvada #Westminsterartstudio #ArtStudioWestminster #artastherapy #timeforart #relaxingthroughart #makingtimetomakeart #Westminsterartclass #Art #artclasswestminster #Denverpaintingclass #Denverartclass #Denverdrawingclass #Denverartstudio

I’m sitting in a roomful of people who are silent, totally absorbed in what they are doing, soft music playing in the background and a sense of community and belonging. This is one of my favorite things as an introvert, enjoying the company of others while totally engaged in what I am doing. Now, we’re not silent all the time. We talk, we laugh and engage. The difference is, that’s not the focus of our gathering. We gather to paint, our focus is on creative expression and

#1 It’s easy for them (and hard for me) The assumption that painting is easy for some and hard for others can keep you from pursuing an interest in art. We have this belief (maybe from watching Bob Ross) that some people can paint effortlessly and this translates to “if it’s hard for me, I must not be meant to do it.” As if there are some chosen few people who are meant to be artists. Truth: Painting is challenging! Painters don’t love painting because it’s easy. Serious

How do I get more “me time”? It’s always on my list and I never seem to get to it! I know I need it but how do I actually make it happen? Many people who take painting classes at MBodied say that it’s their “me time”. Whether they planned it that way or not, 2 1/2 hours of painting and listening to music inevitably becomes a much-looked-forward-to me time. Art is naturally centering and self-reflective. You sit down to paint and intrinsically start a dialogue with yoursel

Be encouraged. Find insight. Explore your creativity. Feel enthusiastic. Find a vision. These are some synonyms for being inspired. Sound like something you’re craving? Inspiration is the fuel for my life. I need it, I feed off it, I seek it out. Why? Because it feels amazing to be inspired. It’s tingly excitement for what’s happening and what’s coming next. It’s like being really alive in this moment. I love it! I am offering this wonderful experience to you as w

There’s something magical in Michelle’s studio. Some combination of Michelle’s true passion for her art – her actual paintings and, more loosely, her art of shepherding students through learning about painting and themselves – the good conversations in the studio, the freedom to create and learn and make mistakes, and something…magical. I found out about MBodied Art Studio because I wanted to relearn about the art techniques I so loved in high school and then forgot about in

I love the community that is forming among the painters at MBodied! If you walk in during Introduction to Acrylics or Open Studio you will hear people chatting about life, about their painting process, making jokes or singing along to the music. Other times you hear nothing at all. That silence is the absorbed focus of painting known as the “flow state.” Making art can take you into a deep state of presence where it feels like only you and the painting are there. How coo

Manifesting is creating what you want in life. In the bible you can read, “God said, let there be light, and there was light.” That’s manifesting…not as easy for the rest of us though. Why not? Because we are human. Because we have beliefs that limit our ability to manifest. I may want to have love in my life but I may also hold an unconscious belief that I am unlovable. Even though I want love, I can’t manifest love because my belief has a stronger influence than my wa

About a year ago I was dreaming up the idea for MBodied Art Studio with the help of the book, Creating on Purpose: "the spiritual technology of manifesting through the chakras” by Anodea Judith and Lion Goodman. The process in this book helps you find a vision that is in line with your life purpose and to the benefit of others. From this place, I envisioned how the studio would feel, what it would provide and how the core of the offerings would be from the heart. When I go