You may not know this but paintings and drawings have a "hard stage." It's in the middle of your process somewhere, you've been trucking along, feeling good... and all of a sudden you don't like it. And you don't know what you don't like! Something is off and you're feeling deflated, discouraged and wondering if you have to start over. Shannon likes to call this, "the ugly stage." 1st lesson: this is NORMAL!!! It doesn't mean anything about you as a painter or drawer. (insert

How to draw a face. Michelle and Shannon from MBodied Art Studio teach you the step-by- step way to draw a face that looks good every single time! If you've wanted to feel good at drawing people but never knew how, there is a way to map out a face so it is proportional and will look good every time. Shannon will show you how to use the symmetry of the face to draw it out so that the eyes and nose are all even and correctly placed. She teaches this face map in our drawing clas

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

"Why do you make art?" Hear from the students of MBodied's watercolor class. Common responses to the question are: "because it's relaxing/stress-relieving", "to express my creative side" and "I get absorbed in the process and lose track of time!" Why do YOU make art?? #Westminsterpaintingclasses #Westminsterartclass #Westminsterdrawingclass #Westminsterartstudio #artclass #paintingclass #drawingclass #learntodraw #learntopaint #learntopaintWestminster #artclasses #denverartc

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

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

Did you know most kids stop making art around the age of 11 or 12? At this point in cognitive development, kids begin to want their art to look real and if they can’t accomplish this feat they give up on art altogether. Many adults have affirmed this to be the story of when they stopped making art. I tend to agree, if art had to be realistic, I wouldn’t enjoy it much either. But that's the thing…it doesn’t have to be like anything! That’s why I love abstract art, it allow

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

#Westminsterpaintingclass #Westminsterpaintingclasses #Westminsterartcommunity #Westminsteropenstudio #Westminsterstressrelief #Westminsterhelpwithanxiety #Westminsterartparties #Westminsterartclasses #Westminsterartclass #Westminsterarttherapy #Westminsterartclassees #Westminsterartstudio #Westminsterartparty #Westminsterartcoach #Westminstermetime #Westminstercommunity #artclassesarvada #findingwhoyouarethroughart #healingthroughart #painting #artforhealing #whyisartimporta

Many people who take my acrylic painting class say “it is very therapeutic.” What can be therapeutic about a painting class? First: painting and making art is present-centered. That is the goal when you meditate or do yoga; to be in the moment and truly present. Well, art does that naturally. You just can’t dissociate or be somewhere else when you are painting. It begs you to co-create with it. "What color should this be? Where do you want this to go?" It’s an engagi

Do you know what the art process is, really? When I want to paint a canvas, for example, what are the steps I got through to complete this task? First, I need an idea. “What am I going to paint?…What do I want to share with the world?” Then I have to visualize it and figure out what it’s really going to look like. Third, I need materials. Gather up the paint, brushes, palette, canvas and any other things I might need to begin. As I work on my painting there will be inevi

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

As the year comes to a close, I can say with certainty there is one habit I will definitely continue in the new year. The best thing I did for myself in 2015 was create a morning routine that starts each day off with centering activities. For me, the first and most important one is writing. I write in my journal every (almost every) morning. It is a sacred time when I check in with myself and see “what’s up.” I don’t write about what happened yesterday, I write about how

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

A lot of people use art as a means to deal with sadness, stress and trauma. Others use it to explore their inner talent and creative voice. While other forms of therapy rely on verbal language to express thoughts and feelings, art therapy uses art media as its primary mode of communication. Keep in mind, though, that you don’t have to be an artist to enjoy the benefits of art therapy because it is focused on the process of making art rather the final product. If you are curio

Tape resist art is a fun and unique way to make all sorts of artwork. It is one of my favorite art projects because children of all ages can participate in this activity and actually create a beautiful and colorful masterpiece. This week, we thought of sharing with you some tape resist art projects you can share with your kids. We bet they’ll love it! Tape resist painting Painting is a fun activity, but if you add in some tape resist – it’s just downright awesome. What you ne

Traumatic events can happen to anyone at any time. People may experience mild to moderate symptoms of anxiety following a traumatic event. Some may even suffer from post traumatic stress disorder. This is not a sign of weakness. These symptoms are our brain’s normal response to an event that one perceived as dangerous or life threatening. They need to undergo therapy in order to overcome their symptoms and help them heal emotionally. It may surprise you to learn that art can