Jane Gross
social worker/art therapist and teacher of expressive painting wkshps for healing called “painting from the heart” from United States
What Inspired you to do a Soul Art journey?
I have been feeling isolated lately and longing for connection to a community of creative woman. Laura’s invitation to create was exactly what I needed today. I could feel the enthusiasm and the collective, creative energy as I painted.
How would you describe your creative process?
I set an intention to move through a heavy heart into a light, creative flow. I began by tracing my left hand and my right foot onto a large piece of white paper and then dipped a large brush into the red tempera paint. The smooth, luscious flow of the paint and the power of the color slowly shifted my energy. It moved me to fold the paper which created a mirror image. The black lines defined the image and revealed a giant butterfly. I used the back of the brush to make patterns in the solid black shapes and then finished the piece with details and thicker areas of paint.
What insight did you receive from your Soul Art?
I received the transformation that I was searching for today. The heaviness that I was carrying was lifted by allowing the paint to lead me on this journey. I expressed the darkness, rather than holding it back and once it hit the page, the thick, black paint re-empowered my soul.
What is the most important thing you would like to share about your Soul Art experience?
My experience creating today was an important reminder to me that spontaneous, expressive painting has the power to wake up our souls and revitalize our spirits. We teach what we need to learn and this is one lesson I will never grow tired of teaching.