This morning, I had the pleasure of teaching a wonderful group of women at OASIS in Bethesda at a workshop called Eyes Closed, Hands Open. Together, we explored what happens when we set aside observation, judgment, and the desire to "get it right" and instead turn our attention inward.
We began by closing our eyes and drawing with a pencil in each hand. Rather than looking at a vase of flowers and trying to copy what we saw, we focused on sensation, movement, and intuition. The goal was not accuracy but trust—allowing our hands to wander across the page and create lines guided by feeling rather than thought.
What emerged was a collection of unique and expressive floral compositions. Once the sketching was complete, we opened our eyes and brought the drawings to life with colored pencils and watercolors. Layers of color transformed the spontaneous marks into vibrant, imaginary bouquets full of personality and surprise.
We began by closing our eyes and drawing with a pencil in each hand. Rather than looking at a vase of flowers and trying to copy what we saw, we focused on sensation, movement, and intuition. The goal was not accuracy but trust—allowing our hands to wander across the page and create lines guided by feeling rather than thought.
What emerged was a collection of unique and expressive floral compositions. Once the sketching was complete, we opened our eyes and brought the drawings to life with colored pencils and watercolors. Layers of color transformed the spontaneous marks into vibrant, imaginary bouquets full of personality and surprise.
One of the joys of intuitive artmaking is discovering that creativity does not always begin with seeing. Sometimes it begins with feeling. Today's artworks were a beautiful reminder that when we quiet the inner critic and stay curious, unexpected beauty can emerge. Thank you to all the lovely women who joined me and embraced the process with openness and playfulness. Check out my upcoming Oasis classes HERE.
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