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. Here is the final weekly wrap up- enjoy and be inspired.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Feel free to join in with the prompts or just follow along and be inspired.⠀
There’s a comfort in tea. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
a homliness. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
or maybe it’s a coming home,⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
from loneliness.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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To put the kettle on⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
is an invite to yourself…⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
To sit, my love.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Slow down and tell me all.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Tea is attendance,⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
to the sad⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
the grieving⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
the fearful ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
and the lost.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Like a soft brush⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
on freshly dried hair,⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
tea says ‘c’mere,⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
let me fix you up luvvie, ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
it’s ok.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
everything is going to be ok.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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An Ode To Tea by Amanda Grace⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Day 15: Studio Ritual⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I have a small tray, teapot and warmer and every morning as I begin work, I boil the kettle and make myself tea to start the day.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Milky Oolong is my current fav. Caramel Rooibos too. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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What's your favourite tea?⠀
Pro tip: Paint brush cleaner is cheaper and more effective than make up brush cleaner. You're welcome.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Day 16: Brush love. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Did you know my very first proper job was beautician. I wanted to be a make up artist and I applied to the Joe Blasco school of special effects make up in Kissimmee Florida in 1994. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I didn't follow through with it but there ya go....⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I use 'The Masters Brush Cleaner and preserver'. It's only a fiver in America. More this side of the pond though.
Scribbles are my fav, followed by continuous line drawings, that's drawing without lifting your pen from the page.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Day 17: Mark Making.
Always listen, the words you need to hear are being spoken right this very minute.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Day 18: Inspiration.⠀⠀
Joni Mitchell: Morning Glory On The Vine. A book of early songs and drawings.
Day 19: Books.
Joni Mitchell fascinates me. Her creativity and talent alone sets her apart but what really intrigues me is the degree to which she always remained true to her own vision, producing all her own albums, choosing her own sound, guitar tunings, providing her own artwork.
She, like many truly independant (particularly female) thinkers has been labelled 'difficult' as a result. Because she's non conforming and uncompromising and that takes such huge guts.
Not that she ever gave a shit but she was acutely aware of what that 'cost' her professionally, (like Sinéad O Connor) and yet it wasn't enough to make her betray herself.
I like that. It scares me too but if integrity is a value, then the bigger scary thing is not to honour it.
Her biography, Joni Mitchell: In her own words & written with Malka Marom is a must read btw.
What do you think of when you think of Joni?
Prompt: Chose one of your journal spreads and become it, speaking from that place.. example 👇🏼
I am a perfect day.
I am a soul with wind in my hair.
I am nature, the kind a body craves.
I am lightness, freedom, pleasure, joy.
I am a child again, true to my being.
I am the one before whom the path lays down.
I am easy.
I am freed.
Day 20: community. It's your turn now, respond to this prompt and share it on IG tagging @pilgrimsoul.ie & @artismagic.online
Sometimes it takes a while for our reclaimed missing parts to fit back in again. Welcome them anyway 💛
Day 21: Gratitude.
I offer this to the many teachers, guides, mentors, advisors and students who have witnessed, supported, challenged and held me on the epic quest of discovering who I am.
As an eternal student of this and other healing questions, I'm grateful for you all.
What are you grateful for today?
RAW with Amanda Grace begins on the 31st of August- for more information visit HERE
