As part of getting to know the artist Amanda Grace ( @pilgrimsoul.ie ) in the lead up to RAW 20, I am sharing her wonderful responses to the Creative Invitation which we ran in the lead up to the Make Create Express Creative Retreat weekend. Amanda’s responses to the prompts were thought provoking and inspiring. Heree is the weekly wrap up- enjoy.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Feel free to join in with the prompts or just follow along and be inspired.⠀
More urgent still than the question of how to make 'good' art, is the question of why be an artist at all?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Day 1: My Favourite Creation.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
The truth is, I have no favourite creations but I can tell you what my favourite thing about my creativity is.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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It is the vehicle through which I most deeply connect with the essence of who I am; a connection that helps me form an understanding of what it means to be myself. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
And the curiosity, compassion and courage to be TRUE to that understanding.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Creative practice helps me map the greatest adventure of my life.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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What about you pilgrim? What is your favourite thing about your creativity?⠀
Inspiration board: current view.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Day 2: Creative Space.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Space to me, is spiritual and the tending to it, a sacred act. It's a living, breathing thing; a relationship, one of the most important of our lives.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Last year I called upon the expertise of Áine Atara @designerfengshui to envision for me, a creative space that would support, sustain and inspire me and that's exactly what I got. I love and appreciate this dwelling so much.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I've yet to get professional photos of it, but all in good time.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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One of the cool things Áine suggested, is this peg board which sits over my art desk. Here I can post words and images that inspire, teach and comfort me.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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It's a joy to show up for work everyday here at pilgrim HQ and so much of that is down to this space, such a worthy investment. Thank you mo cara. ⠀
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What's an investment you've made in your creative space that helps support and sustain your
How many loved your moments of glad grace / And loved your beauty with love false or true/ But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you/ And loved the sorrows of your changing face.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Day 3: Between the covers.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
The first time I read these words by WB Yeats, I felt as if someone had stepped on my grave.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I am the changing face & my journals, a parade of sorrows.⠀
One of the deepest longings of the human soul, is the longing to be seen.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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John O Donoghue. Anam Cara.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Day 4: My Favourite Subject.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Until recently, I probably would have said me. That I'm my favourite subject. But what I know now is that it is the concept of 'self' that is my favourite subject and I'm endlessly fascinated with how that self is experienced, accessed and expressed.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I use symbols in my work as a teacher for that very purpose and it never ceases to amaze me how profoundly the self speaks, when her person is unencumbered by words.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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What's your favourite subject to explore in your creative practice?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
One word: Simplicity.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Day 5: What's exciting me.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Oh how I crave simplicity, but how elusive it is to a chronic over complicator (aka perfectionist).⠀
Ink. Ink. More Ink.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Day 6: Favourite medium.
Ok so it's not my favourite medium but it what I got for ya in today's tutorial.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Pop over to Amanda's Insta feed to watch her video.⠀
Definitely my apron.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Day 7: A happy accident.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Art that makes itself is the best. I love this shot of my apron taken by @theinformedcreative.⠀
RAW with Amanda Grace begins on the 31st of August- for more information visit HERE
