My Story

"Every child is an artist.
The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up."
- Pablo Picasso

"Imagination is more important than knowledge."
- Albert Einstein

The arts have always played an integral part of my life and have been a crucial ingredient in my journey and healing process that I've gone through. I have my personal practice in the arts, which I find very spiritual, and my offering in the world, in the form of workshops and retreats. These two parts of my life help keep me balanced and one feeds into the other. Everything that I offer in my retreats/workshops has evolved from my life experiences.

I work from the view that everyone is an artist. We all show our artistry in unique ways and that's one of the things that make the world so wonderful. And if we're not expressing this part of ourselves, then there is a reason why this isn't happening. We are all meant to be here at this moment in time and we all have something unique and special to offer, that only we can. Unfortunately, many of us have lost touch with what's important to us. Many times, our own inner voice has been drowned out by other's expectations of how our life should go; we have lost ourselves.

The process of creating combined with communication and contemplative practices, and body-work can help us find our way again. We are inter-connected beings with many levels. These processes aid healing and help raise our awareness/consciousness, helping us become whole again. I believe re-integrating the arts and creativity back into one's life is one of the most important things we can do for ourselves. During my teaching and in my personal life, I have had many experiences that have shown me these truths again and again.

I am blessed with having gifts in many areas and I did not know how to handle this when I was young. I was always a very sensitive being with an over-developed sense of responsibility and obligation to help and give to others whenever I could, many times at my expense. I would drive myself to try to be perfect and please everyone…. which is an impossible task. There have been challenges, pains, and many joys.

Life is precious and I don't want to lose a moment… I have learned that everything I know can change in an instant. Change is one thing that I can count on. I have come through numerous things from physical and emotional injuries and challenges, to relationship crisis, to a lack of boundaries, balance and sense of self. This led to a huge life crisis when I was 28 years old. Since then I've been on a journey of learning… and re-learning… of healing and taking responsibility for my life choices… and coming to terms with who I am and what I feel called to do.

"Life is a process of discovering who we are and who we're not"
Ilyana Vanzant, One Day My Soul Just Opened Up, 1998

I'm grateful for all the players in my story and though at times it has been painful, I would not change a thing. I would not be who I am if it weren't for my life lessons. I have a strong desire, passion and faith in my natural abilities and in life. I feel transformed by my life lessons and know that these experiences have been crucial to my journey. This connects me with people from diverse backgrounds on so many levels.

Throughout my life, the arts have always been my companion and as I went along, I learned about other elements that supported my process: communication and contemplative practices, and body-work. From my personal experience, I am in a better position to be attuned to what my clients' needs are and how best to serve them in a caring and empathetic way. There is a genuine excitement and love for the process as I demonstrate and work alongside my clients that enhances each experience. I have these activities and practices as part of my own life and know the benefits of each. I expect that some activities can trigger life issues for them, as it has happened with me, and I am able to support them through their discoveries. I am both teacher and student, as we open ourselves up to the wonders of creating and sharing together.

I am an accomplished teacher and artist with many life experiences that I feel have molded me for this type of service. I have worked with young children from two years of age through to adults in their retirement, in all sorts of environments (educational, cooperative leadership, personal development, and health and wellness) and places (Canada, Thailand and Europe). My artwork has been shown in British Columbia, Alberta, Nova Scotia, California and Thailand. My varied art styles, interests and ways of expression span from watercolour and acrylic painting, to pastel and pencil, to big brush calligraphy, to collage, pottery, photography, to jewelry, to flower arranging and interior design, to writing poetry and prose, to singing…! I enjoy so many ways of expressing myself and find myself weaving from one medium into another and sometimes going through phases in each. It's an exciting, evolving journey.

The lessons that I have learned in my life, combined with my communication and artistic skill, enable me to connect personally with people. My retreats/workshops are designed to inspire creativity as a means of expression and a form of healing. Each element that I weave together into a journey is something that has helped me in my life. There is a deep knowing within me of the transformational power of what I offer and what comes through me; I see it resonate and help people in their lives time and time again, in often surprising ways to the individual.

It is always such an honor for me to hold these spaces and allow what needs to come through to happen, whether as a facilitator/host of my own retreat or as part of a team that's guiding the process. I never know all of what will exactly happen for each person because it depends on where he/she is at that moment and how open he/she is to the process, but I do know that when the environment and elements are in place, that something will happen… and it can be quite magical.

So "tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" (Mary Oliver). I invite you to join me in one of my journeys and experience for yourself how this could enhance your life.

I look forward to meeting you.