If you've been around for a while, you already know that I've been hosting adult coloring nights off and on for about 4 years. For a while we were meeting on Sundays, early in the afternoon, to hang out, have a short meditation, color and share meaningful conversation. Prior to the pandemic, I would occasionally host a jokingly titled "Art Party at Nef's," where we would gather at my place to eat and drink and work on our personal creative projects.
Emerging from the isolating aftermath of the pandemic, the I hoped the groups might offer respite and a small sense of community, and I look back over those times with tremendous gratitude for the folks who showed up week after week to contribute and connect. Over time life's demands made it difficult to remain consistent in offering the opportunity to get together, so I've decided at least for the time being to bring the Neighbors' Table online. I still believe that nothing replaces the value of gathering face to face, but I am so thankful to have you join us and look forward to seeing everyone's Sunday mindfulness art!
What's coming?
Interactive posts & Community Group - bear with us as we work out the kinks, but we hope members can share your weekly work in the comments section below and are working on setting up a forum here on the site where we can continue to connect and share.
Guest contributions from fellow artists and writers who use creation in their own healing or recovery, including one of my partners who will be posting regularly, Loretta - generously sharing her poetry, creative writing and introspective activities.
Weekly art & writing prompts - at the time of launching this project on the site, the goal is to have mindfulness every Sunday, self-expression every Tuesday (this will include posts and prompts about personal growth, art & writing to inspire meaningful expression of our inner world and also activities designed to increase creativity.) Thursdays we invite you to participate in the Coming Home journal project, with prompts for introspection and deepening our relationship with ourselves and others.
Podcast discussions about personal growth and healing, challenges, recovery and mental health and how art can transform our lives.
...and more
Ready for your first Sunday Ease activity? Let's go!
I've amassed quite a collection of coloring books, one of which is about a dozen floral illustrations from the dollar store. I like every page and since there are only 12, I set a goal for myself to color every page in this particular book. On one page I thought it might be interesting to try limiting to just one color, so I pulled out every shade of blue pencil and marker I own, and went for it. You could also add in an accent like black or grey (as shown in another picture I did a few years ago) or even just black/greyscale.
I can't wait to see what you come up with this week, please share in the comments below (or email directly to CenturyHouseArt@gmail.com) and I hope to see you back on Tuesday, when Loretta brings us deeper by beginning to share her story of grieving a difficult loss and how poetry and writing has been a part of that process.
I can't wait to try this!