Dolls and stuffed animals make me happy. Very happy. They always have. Some of my faves are hand-sewn little pig characters… but I will get to that.
I am 58 years old and I still have dolls, still rescue dolls, make dolls. love dolls, receive dolls.
I still have the first one (“Lisa”) I received from my parents in the early 60’s:
I also collect sock monkeys and crafts made by me and those made (and given to me) by my past students (of all ages) and friends:
I just dusted, aired out and re-organized my giant collection of old dolls and stuffed animals… Including a treasured basket of props from 2009-2010 school year at a school I worked at in North Vancouver:
I just realized it has been 10 years since that very special stop motion animation project at Keith Lynn Alternative Secondary School!
During the 2009-2011 school years, I had the pleasure of co-facilitating (along with my colleague, Ian Powell) an animation course at Keith Lynn Alternative Secondary School.
In 2009-2010, the students recreated (with incredible ingenuity) the story of OLIVIA SAVES THE CIRCUS by Ian Falconer:
A few years later, I rescued the collection of props from the project that were mixed in with items to throw out when the school had moved locations to become Mountainside Secondary.
Much love to past Keith Lynn students and staff and to all my present colleagues at Mountainside. Thank you for enriching my life!
Last Wednesday, I was invited by Susan Clements-Vivianto be guest speaker at SFU for the course IAT 208 Introduction to Drawing in SIAT. The course is “an overview of the various forms and languages of drawing as both a critical and creative research tool.”
I did two follow-me exercises: 3-D eyes (using charcoal), human face (china marker).
The entire class was recorded and Susan gave me permission to share the raw footage here! To follow along, you will need some paper, charcoal, a sharp edged eraser, a crayon and a china marker. Enjoy!
I am obsessed with birds. I have this strange belief that I will not uncover truths that I seek in my art without first understanding birds fully. So I am taking myself through my own Bird School– developing my own rudimentary curriculum and drawing out the answers and stitching together the truths.
Sketching and taking notes in the field are exercises that will force you to look more closely, reinforce your memory, and greatly increase the rate at which you learn. The joy of small discoveries is part of the great appeal of birding, and patient study is always rewarded.
– David Sibley
The first rule is simple: LOOK AT THE BIRD… Watch what the bird does, watch it fly away, and only then try to find it in your book.
I am obsessed with birds. I have this strange belief that I will not uncover truths that I seek in my art without first understanding birds fully. So I am taking myself through my own Bird School– developing my own rudimentary curriculum and drawing out the answers and stitching together the truths.
Contact me at britakatarina@gmail.com for CUSTOMIZED CLASSES
Start this new year on a creative note by creating your own evolving vision for 2018 using creativity.
In an intimate setting in my art studio, I will guide you through multiple exercises to enable you to focus on YOUR SELF– and to come away with a unique very personal vision board. This vision board will be YOUR SAFE PLACE.
We will use processes such as:
• Journaling
• Drawing
• Collaging
• Mindmapping and Action Planning
• Big Vision Visualization
• Right Brain Tools
• Whole Brain Engagement
In order to bring my creative adventure to fruition, I will visit this fortress, this safe house, many, many times. Gradually I will assemble the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle I have stored here. Finished, it will provide the ideas, moods, and ingredients that will feed my dream.
– Phillipe Petit
LENGTH OF WORKSHOP: TWO HOURS
NO PREVIOUS ART EXPERIENCE REQUIRED!
ALL SUPPLIES INCLUDED
Some pre-work will be encouraged.
Love, Katarina
Contact me at britakatarina@gmail.com for CUSTOMIZED CLASSES
Mind maps integrate both right-brain and left-brain thinking by capturing your stream of consciousness in a structured way.
Last night, I had the pleasure of facilitating an introductory session to the Trout Lake Youth Council as part of the HELP YOUTH CANADA Outreach Project. I am using creative engagement in order to dialogue on EDUCATION with youth and program leaders at a variety of organizations in the Lower Mainland- to learn from the participants, gather data and to build connection and awareness about HELP YOUTH CANADA’s bursary program.
My main creative engagement tool for this project continues to be sock monkey making as a means to create safe space for dialogue– but last night, as it was a short intro session, we improvised and using only felt pens and crayons, speed-drew OWLS and then wrote answers to pertinent questions. I will be transcribing the outcomes, but needed to share these images right now! The owls from last night are absolutely charming.
The youth will be signing up for three different projects:
• Project Backpack
• Sock Monkey Workshop
• In-depths youth forum on education
I obsess about the power of drawing, the mark making by any of my participants and the beauty of the results. ALWAYS.
Huge thank you to Bernie Dionne and the council for hosting me and to my friend, Beverley, for assisting me!
I have the pleasure of working with an extraordinary group of individuals at Mulberry PARC doing art projects that range from drawing, interactive art, sock animals and group painting/quilt! We have had 5 sessions so far and, at this point, confirmed 10 more that will take us into November!
My goal with the art sessions is to not only teach fun arts and crafts techniques to the students, but to build connections and provide a safe and healing space. My students are very courageous, daring to dive into challenging work, working through frustrations, laughing at the outcomes, letting go of attachment to personal projects in order to create group pieces, embracing challenges such as hearing and sight issues, arthritic hands, and anxiety- being present and curious in the moment and meeting it all with a sense of humour! I am very honoured to spend time with each and every one and treasure the experience and grateful to the Mulberry staff for inviting me!
The evolution of the panels:
This post is dedicated to my dear friend, Cheryl Bain, who has the greatest gift for working with older adults and who inspires me to no end each and every day.
Unfortunately due to personal issues, I am unable to facilitate at the Aug 22/23 workshops. Sincerest apologies. But I am happy to write that Michele will be facilitating!
Love, Kat
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JOYFUL LIVING THROUGH RELAXATION PRACTICES AND ARTISTIC CREATIVITY
NOURISHING SUMMER WORKSHOPS BY THE OCEAN AT CHASTER HOUSE IN BONNIE BROOK
1549 Ocean Beach Esplanade, GIBSONS
ADULTS*: AUGUST 22, 2017 7:30-9:30 PM $60.00/participant
TWEENS: AUGUST 23, 2017 1:00-3:30 PM $50.00/participant
CHILDREN: AUGUST 23, 2017 10:00 AM- 12:00 PM $40.00/participant
Each session begins with a guided meditation. We then move on to joyful creativity and round out the session with a healing practice. Nourishment and fun at its finest!
NO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE REQUIRED!
* Teachers may use this class for Professional development. Check with your district as it will give you practices to share in your classrooms as well as provide you with ideas for wellbeing.
Class size limited so please sign up early!
To register and pay course fee contact Michele at: Email
SCROLL DOWN FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE WORKSHOPS AND THE FACILITATOR!
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About the Workshops:
ADULTS: AUGUST 22, 2017 7:30-9:30 PM
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TWEENS: AUGUST 23, 2017 1:00-3:30 PM
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CHILDREN: AUGUST 23, 2017 10:00 AM- 12:00 PM
About the Facilitator:
Michele Lilyanna:
Michele Lilyanna taught in the Canadian public education system for over thirty years. Her teaching focused on social and emotional learning and artistic expression. She is the co-author, with James Baraz of Awakening Joy For Kids, awarded the 2016 Nautilus Gold medal. She is a featured parenting writer for Dr. Rick Hanson on both his website and in his Ten Pillars of Happiness course. When Michele is not teaching parents, educators, or children, she is awakening joy on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia with her partner, Peter, and her two sons.
Regarding my creative process, I welcome the conversations my inner critic instigates. [This is not the same voice that picks at my skull with negative self-judgment. That’s another thing all together].
I have learned how to dance with the inner critic in my art process, welcoming its critique versus criticism, allowing mistakes, experimenting, allowing editing, willing the throwing away of crap. It’s not about silencing the inner critic and pretending EVERYTHING I MAKE IS GREAT. It’s about allowing its presence as a natural part of being a creative human.
The participants in my art sessions have ranged in age from 2 to 105. And depending on the age group, the specific program, the vulnerabilities, the style of the students- the inner critics become vocal in varying ways.
Some inner critics are happy and healthy. There is nothing quite like working on your own art beside a 5 year old who so naturally dances with their inner critic as they work– joyously creating while making decisions on color, shape, style. Happily sharing techniques, insights, asking questions.
My nephew Henrik’s latest book cover
But some inner critics are negative, detrimentally vocal and hurting. When do some of us lose this joyous ability to dance with the inner critic? When does it become an inhibiting monster as opposed to an ally? How do we tame it?
Adults in particular struggle with perfectionism during my drawing classes. That is why I don’t hand out erasers (the eraser can become a crutch, and the participant may spend too much time “fixing” as opposed to diving in to the process). That is why I do a follow me technique so that we are all literally on the same page.
I have found an easy and magical way to create joy and surprise in my art classes that in turn surprises our inner critics– collecting and collaging the class’s drawing.
For example, last Monday, I facilitated my third session with older adults in Burnaby. The group bravely dove in to the session. My students quickly realize my exclamations of delight at what they draw are authentic- I get SO EXCITED about the way people make marks on paper.
There is a lot of laughter, a lot of concentration and dialogue, a lot of self-judgment and some express disgust at their drawings. So how do we tame that inner critic so as to not wallow in self-judgment and crumple up our work and throw it into the recycling bin?! How do I lift my students?
The real magic happens with we let go of our work, cut them out and create collages. TOGETHER- the drawings become MAGICAL. The class expresses surprise and delight and take ownership in the most delightful way. One participant expressed her delight- “I thought my drawing was so bad compared to yours and everybody else’s. But when I see it up there now in the midst of the rest of them, it looks so wonderful.” On Monday, we created 4 panels (which will be embellished with feathers and embroidery and exhibited at the residence).
Session 1: OWLS
Session 2: Bunnies
Session 3: Hummingbirds, Ladybugs
It has become a theme in my art teachings- collaging work as a group- be it on the streets or onto boards. I just love it.
Our inner critic is surprised. Our work as a group looks amazing. And we are building CONNECTION. By letting go of our work, by sharing it, combining it, we become a COMMUNITY.
I am deep in the process of a very personal art project– the 100 Herons Art Project– to answer the call to create art born out of my deep desire to capture the magic of the herons in my neighborhood…
“The answer must be, I think, that beauty and grace are performed whether or not we will or sense them. The least we can do is try to be there.” ― Annie Dillard
… and to help support my ability to provide free arts programming for a local program that supports refugee youth ages 16-24.
Session 1 was yesterday!
I hopped on transit yesterday afternoon and spent a couple hours on the Skytrain and the bus headed to a Lower Mainland youth program that supports refugee youth.
This program is extraordinary- “a collaborative, case-managed service model for the delivery of comprehensive, holistic and client-centred programming.” It provides youth with support services across the board, helping them navigate their new environment, learn life skills, build community and connection.
Today was Session 1 of the initial intro to the free arts programming that I will be providing this for the group this summer. We spent an hour and a half together in a cramped room that filled with lots of laughter and smiles as I instructed in English (and Swedish as one young woman who is multi-fluent exclaimed that she knows Swedish) while the program coordinators translated. It was quite wonderful hearing art instruction in multiple languages all at the same time! I did my usual intro lesson using newsprint and china markers drawing OWLS and 3-D eyes to build trust, introduce my style and to create safe space.
Many of the participants grabbed a china marker on their way out at the end of the session. YES! That is what it’s all about!
Sitting on the two hour ride home, my mind wanted to go to: What are you doing? How can you sustain this? But my heart was full. I feel so honored to spend time with this wonderful group.
Art creates joy. If only in the moment. And that is all we have.
Check the panels at:
I currently have several 20″ x 30″ panels in progress. They are being embroidered and embellished. They will be exhibited at various community events in August!
INTERESTED IN PRE-PURCHASING PANELS?
The panels are being made available for pre-purchase on my ETSY site:
I am between contracts– creatively hustling while applying for new contracts to survive and to be able to provide specially requested arts programming for refugee youth (at no cost to their program). That is what my100 Herons Art Project is all about.
HERON’S MOST SIGNIFICANT ESSENCE: aggressive self-determination and self-reliance
Check out:
I am focusing on the Pacific Blue Herons who are nesting just down the block from me in Stanley Park, Vancouver:
THE DEAD HERON:
Recall that on June 15, 2017, I took a walk to the heron nests to look for some feathers in the grass for collaging… and I came across a LARGE pile of scattered heron feathers– obviously from a heron who fell or was pushed out of the nest and who likely lost its life to a predator. A teen heron perhaps? I gathered as many feathers as I could– thanking and honoring the heron’s life by incorporating the feathers into the art.
A feather from a heron symbolizes patience, grace and confidence…
Recall as well that I took the feathers home, soaked them in gentle detergent to clean and disinfect, and laid them out on newsprint to dry them. I then categorized them and collected them into mason jars.
I have been incorporating the feathers into the 100 Herons Panels. For example:
A week ago, I came across what was likely the body of that heron whose feathers I collected. I felt so moved. Compelled to examine. (Yes, those are maggots and blow flies doing their work).
In fact, I have been a bit obsessed. I kept walking back to the spot witnessing the taphonomy process: the transition of animal remains from the biosphere into the lithosphere.
Biosphere:the regions of the surface, atmosphere, and hydrosphere of the earth occupied by living organisms.
Lithosphere:the rigid outer part of the earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle.
Yesterday, I decided to sit down beside the decaying remains and draw the little thing- thanking it and honoring it. I was, in all honesty, tempted to take the skull, but sitting there under the nests– the atmosphere strangely silent– I knew I was simply there to be a witness. And to leave the heron to its process.
I left a little flower and went home to incorporate the moment into, what is now, the 5th panel.
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$375.00 of the $2500 goal raised so far. My goal by the end of this long weekend is to reach $750.00. My first session with the refugee youth group is booked for July 13, 2017, and I hope to be able to bring not only drawing supplies for the session but art kits for the 26+ youth on that day that they can take with them.
Thank you to my donors so far and for all of you spreading the word.
THE PROJECT:
I am creating of twelve (OR MORE 20″ x 30″ panels depicting a total 100 Herons between June 14 to July 31, 2017. The panels will be exhibited and sold.
For every $25 raised I will draw a heron!
THE SPONSORED ART will allow me to develop and provide FREE ART LESSONS for REFUGEE YOUTH from war-torn countries at a Lower Mainland program. Funds go to program development and facilitation fee, art supplies, art kits for participants, travel costs.
DONATION BUTTON:
I will be drawing a heron for every $25 raised!
Any amount welcome! Donors of $10.00 CAD or more can choose to have their name and/or a special message woven into Heron nest imagery in the panels.
You can donate via PayPal or email transfer britakatarina@gmail.com. I can provide receipts.
Check the panels at:
I currently have several 20″ x 30″ panels in progress. They are being embroidered and embellished. They will be exhibited at various community events in August!
INTERESTED IN PRE-PURCHASING PANELS?
The panels are being made available for pre-purchase on my ETSY site:
I have so much I could write about the two days. But for now I will list just a sample of words I scratched furiously into my SKiP sketchbook…
Radical imaginations, weaving process, verbal to visual, resist, politics of care, intersectional framework, history can be a weapon/tool, mutate change, visible thinking, metaphorical typography, critical creativity, Gutenberg Parenthesis, porous pedestrian, kennings, serendipidoodle, fringed oddity,spurned desire, Sanburgian synthesis, scheduled creativity, the way out of the box is the shackles, pareidolia, storytelling ethics, mark making…
I am so excited to build on the connections made at the symposium.
Some photo highlights from my two days:
A huge thank you to Jason Toal and the entire team for including me!
I had the pleasure of visiting with my dear friend Teri’s grade 1 and 2 class today in a Vancouver school! (Teri is a SUPERSTAR teacher and her classroom is a creative paradise). These incredible young artists created a beautiful heron mural as well as hummingbird studies.
I am so grateful for their generous bake sale donation towards the 100 HERONS project! I’ll be drawing more sponsored herons this week!
THE PROJECT:
I am creating of twelve 20″ x 30″ panels depicting a total 100 Herons [between June 14 to July 31, 2017].
For every $25 raised I will draw a heron!
THE SPONSORED ART will allow me to develop and provide much-needed FREE ART LESSONS for REFUGEE YOUTH from war-torn countries at a Lower Mainland program in July and August.
DONATION BUTTON:
I will be drawing a heron for every $25 raised!
Any amount welcome! Donors of $10.00 CAD or more can choose to have their name and/or a special message woven into Heron nest imagery in the panels.
You can donate via PayPal or email transfer britakatarina@gmail.com. I can provide receipts.
Check the panels at:
I currently have several 20″ x 30″ panels in progress. They are being embroidered and embellished. They will be exhibited at various community events in August!
INTERESTED IN PRE-PURCHASING PANELS?
The panels are being made available for pre-purchase on my ETSY site:
I am creating of twelve 20″ x 30″ panels depicting a total 100 Herons [between June 14 to July 31, 2017].
For every $25 raised I will draw a heron!
THE SPONSORED ART will allow me to develop and provide much-needed FREE ART LESSONS for REFUGEE YOUTH from war-torn countries at a Lower Mainland program in July and August.
DONATION BUTTON:
I will be drawing a heron for every $25 raised!
Any amount welcome! Donors of $10.00 CAD or more can choose to have their name and/or a special message woven into Heron nest imagery in the panels.
You can donate via PayPal or email transfer britakatarina@gmail.com. I can provide receipts.
Check the panels at:
I currently have several 20″ x 30″ panels in progress. They are being embroidered and embellished. They will be exhibited at various community events in August!
INTERESTED IN PRE-PURCHASING PANELS?
The panels are being made available for pre-purchase on my ETSY site:
– and embroidered with additions of discarded nest sticks, found feathers, string, beads, and sponsor names.
Yesterday, I took a walk to the heron nests with my friend Darcy to look for some feathers in the grass for collaging…
Usually I find one or two heron feathers. Well, we came across a LARGE pile of scattered heron feathers– obviously from a heron who lost its life to a predator. A teen heron perhaps? Of course I had to gather as many as I could– thanking and honoring the heron’s life by incorporating the feathers into the art.
A feather from a heron symbolizes patience, grace and confidence…
I took the feathers home, soaked them in gentle detergent to clean and disinfect, and laid them out on newsprint to dry them. I then categorized them and collected them into mason jars.
I am creating of twelve 20″ x 30″ panels depicting a total 100 Herons between June 14 to July 31, 2017.
For every $25 raised I will draw a heron!
THE SPONSORED ART will allow me to develop and provide FREE ART LESSONS for REFUGEE YOUTH from war-torn countries at a Lower Mainland program.
DONATION BUTTON:
I will be drawing a heron for every $25 raised!
Any amount welcome! Donors of $10.00 CAD or more can choose to have their name and/or a special message woven into Heron nest imagery in the panels.
You can donate via PayPal or email transfer britakatarina@gmail.com. I can provide receipts.
Check the panels at:
I currently have several 20″ x 30″ panels in progress. They are being embroidered and embellished. They will be exhibited at various community events in August!
INTERESTED IN PRE-PURCHASING PANELS?
The panels are being made available for pre-purchase on my ETSY site:
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The art will be drawn in my signature style– collaged onto 20″ x 30″ foam board panels and embroidered with additions of discarded nest sticks, found feathers, string, beads, and sponsor names.
Sample drawing showing chinamarker on newsprint, embroidered, with additions of discarded heron nest stick, found heron and seagull feathers, recycled beads
THE BACKGROUND:
I have been asked if I can provide art lessons to a group in Surrey, BC, that provides support services for youth ages 16-24 who have experienced extreme trauma and life disruption. The youth comprise of refugees from war-torn countries.
These particularly vulnerable youth face challenges and barriers that may include: lack of employment, experience of violence / trauma, lack of education /interrupted education, cultural shock, family size / issues, little or no English, social isolation, mental health/chronic health issues, lack of financial means, criminal justice issues, housing issues, alcohol/drug addiction, lack of support…
The group meets twice a week and the youth have expressed a strong desire arts-based programming.
ART and creative expression breaks down the barriers, builds connection and resiliency, and strengthens the participants’ abilities in making healthy decisions about their futures. Participation in therapeutic art programming provides participants with the opportunity for developing healthy relationship skills, learn stress and anger management, and build the confidence to be the best possible versions of themselves. Art connects us beyond language. We connect with the heart, within a safe space. We express together and move towards healing.
The program staff, who I met during an inclusion focus group, are incredible and dedicated. They provide extraordinary services on an extremely tight budget. I have been asked me about my services and fees. I am so honoured to be asked.Creating art and helping others express themselves creatively is what I am on this planet to do. This is EXACTLY the type of work that makes my heart sing! But there is no way I could/would/should charge a fee for my services and supplies to this group.
THE NEED:
Unfortunately, I am between contracts and currently not in a financial position to be able to volunteer my time to develop and facilitate the program and nor provide supplies. And the need is urgent. This is not the time to wait for months and months for grant opportunities.
What to do?
I took a walk into “my backyard” the other day– Stanley Park. I stood for a long time under the heronry wondering about my own life, my work, about my desire to provide free programming to youth, at a loss as to what to do next. I bathed myself in the sounds of the heron chicks. I continued on a long walk into the trees, around the lagoon, listening. Walking with the question.
I dreamt that night of 100 Herons, walking among them. A mixture of being up in the trees with them, under the trees, in the water. I had a peaceful heart, feeling this was a message about the healing power of art– about my need to make personal commitment to my true path:
TO CREATE, to focus on my gifts. To stop searching elsewhere.
THE ANSWER LIES IN MY ART. In my heART.
You are being called to take courage and follow your true path, which will be discovered through exploring your inner self. Find what draws you to action.
