Creative Fire Kindling

Total Permission to Say YES to Life!

noreply@blogger.com (Jaime Lyerly) — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 17:44:00 +0000

This is a beautiful video that totally captures the place I am shifting towards.

It is a struggle everyday to be the embodiment of feminine that I am so wanting to be. Yet, I get closer with each time I say YES to living fully, even if I am scared to do so.

Thank you to fellow Guide from The Goddess Life Sheena La Shay for sharing this! Check out Sheena's Facebook page the Sociology of Sheena or her website for more of her juiciness.

Total Permission to say YES to Life Video on YouTube

Are you ready for this? Are you ready to say YES to your soul's desire?

Embracing YES,
Jaime Lyerly

Dangerous Prayers

noreply@blogger.com (Jaime Lyerly) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 14:00:00 +0000

I heard this poem last night at the Temple Priestess Samhain ritual. Thank you to Kaliani Devinne for sharing.

It struck me as one of the most delicious poetic concepts that I have ever heard.

Decide for yourself if this kind of prayer is what you are seeking. I know I am.

Dangerous Prayers

by Regina Sara Ryan, from "Woman Prayers: Prayers by Women from Through History and Around the World" by Mary Ford-Grabowsky (HarperSanFrancisco: 2003):

Deliver us, O God, O Truth, O Love, from quiet prayer
from polite and politically correct language,
from appropriate gesture and form
and whatever else we think we must put forth to invoke
or to praise You.

Let us instead pray dangerously--
wantonly, lustily, passionately.
Let us demand with every ounce of our strength,
let us storm the gates of heaven, let us shake up ourselves
and our plaster saints from the sleep of years.

Let us pray dangerously.
Let us throw ourselves from the top of the tower,
let us risk a descent to the darkest region of the abyss,
let us put our head into the lion's mouth
and direct our feet to the entrance of the dragon's cave.

Let us pray dangerously.
Let us not hold back a little portion,
dealing out our lives--our precious minutes and our
energies--like some efficient accountant.
Let us rather pray dangerously--unsafe, profligate, wasteful!

Let us ask for nothing less than the Infinite to ravage us.
Let us ask for nothing less than annihilation in the
Fires of Love.

Let us not pray in holy half-measures nor walk
the middle path
for too long,
but pray madly, foolishly.
Let us be too ecstatic,
let us be too overwhelmed with sorrow and remorse,
let us be undone, and dismembered....and gladly.

Left to our own devices, ah what structures of deceit
we have created;
what battlements erected, what labyrinths woven,
what traps set for ourselves, and then
fallen into. Enough.

Let us pray dangerously--hot prayer, wet prayer, fierce prayer, fiery prayer, improper prayer,
exuberant prayer, drunken and completely unrealistic prayer.

Let us say Yes, again and again and again.
and Yes some more.
Let us pray dangerously.

the most dangerous prayer is YES.

Are you ready to be ravaged by the Infinite? I know I am. Share in the comments below if this kinda prayer is what you need.

Too Ecstatic ~ Jaime Lyerly

Top 10 reasons why Spiritual Practice makes you a better Artist

noreply@blogger.com (Jaime Lyerly) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Praying Hands by Albrecht Durer

Spiritual practice has become an important part of my life. And I want to encourage you to make the connection in your own.

Whether you pray, meditate, practice yoga, do rituals, walk in nature, chant, sweat out your prayers via dance, or just sit and breathe, it all helps you feel connected to the Divine.

But can it make you a better Artist or more creative?

I say YES!

Read on and see what resonates for you:

Top 10 reasons why Spiritual Practice makes you a better Artist.

1. Spiritual practice keeps you CONNECTED to the Divine
Connection to the Divine is one of the top reasons why you a daily spiritual practice can be crucial to being creative.

When you pray, what do you feel? How about when you dance? Or sing? Or Meditate? Each time you tap into the power inside of you, a connection is made to the divinity inside of you.

Even if it feels like a faint whisper of spirit, it is there. Breathe. Listen. And know it is there for you always. The Divine is waiting for you to tap. Once you tap into the connection inside of you, the ideas for your artistic practice just flow out. It is a channel that you open each day with your breath. And that channel gets clearer the more you open it.

2. You are more AWARE

The "devil" is not in the details - God is! By slowing down, you see details you miss when you rushing.

Do you know the softness of your cat's fur? How about the texture of rose hips? The sound of a hummingbird's flutter? The smell of eucalyptus bark? The curve of your beloved's hips? The color of your mother's dress in a faded photograph? These details can translate into inspiration or textural details in your art. Even if your art work is abstract, it will be influenced by the details you observe. These details ARE the magic of life.

3. You are more IN YOUR BODY
The spiritual practices of dance and yoga move you more fiercely into your body that you may even expect. And healing emotional blocks makes you want to STAY in your body more. When you are in your body, you can move and create with more freedom.

Some people say that it takes your whole body to draw. If you are fully in your body you can create with a freedom that you never knew.

4. Time EXPANDS

Have you ever gotten so lost in the moment that time slowed down to accommodate it? That is the magic of "Shamanic Time."

This happens frequently for me during Shamanic Journey. Shamanic Journey uses a monotonous drum to get the brain and body into a trance state so you can can do deep healing and talk to your spiritual guides. In a typical 15 minute journey, you can have an entire movie; a revelation; or just a great healing nap.

By getting yourself into a trance state, you can also expand time while making art or creating. Crocheting naturally invokes this trance state to me, but so can drawing or anything else that is repetitive. Get lost in time. See what happens.

5. Your IMAGINATION SOARS

Shamanic Journey can create a state that is similar to daydreaming or lucid dreaming. You know that you are in a dreamlike state but you have full control over the situation. However when you surrender to the magic of the experience, you see things that you never would have thought of on your own.

Maybe it is a raccoon where a top hat and smoking a cigar. Or a tulip that protects your safe space. How about a star being with a penchant for rubies, and talks in a British accent? Whatever it is that comes to you in journey space can spark an idea for a drawing, painting, sculpture or creative writing. You can't make this stuff up. It is too bizarre somethings.

Other forms of spiritual practice such as meditation, or dance may invoke images that you would have never been open to before. Once you connect your third eye of intuition, it will give you amazing insights and be fodder for your creative expression.

This fodder is a wave of new information, but not like the images we digest each day from the Internet. It is new, fresh and uniquely you! This imagination is what MAKES YOU AN ARTIST.

6. You TRUST YOURSELF more
Do you trust yourself? Because it takes a lot of trust to walk a spiritual path or an artistic path.

Both require a dedication to growth that is almost supernatural. Stagnation is the antithesis of growing. Which do you want to do?

By connecting with a spiritual path, you begin to trust the messages given to you in daily life. Messages can be more than just a fortune cookie phrase. They can be seen in the animals that cross your path, or the repetition of a number, or many other signs that resonate for you.

When you trust your own intuition, that trust flows into trusting the colors in a painting or any other creative endeavor that you can imagine.

Decisions made from your own gut about life and art are the most powerful. If you trust yourself, you can do these things no matter if the people around you think you have lost your marbles.

7. You feel more SUPPORTED
Spirituality thrives in COMMUNITY! Sure, you can do any of these practices alone, but why not gather a few like-minded people together? My Apache teacher talked about the power of prayer in a group, and how the energy was measurably raised when 3 people connected hands to pray.

There are also things like rituals which are so much fun to have more than one person join in. It becomes a community event. A connection that is made with not only you connecting to the Divine, but connecting to your sisters or brothers and feeling THEIR connection. The connections I feel after doing something magical with other people is so profound.

Feeling supported as an artist is so important. We artists tend to work alone, in our studios, without a lot of collaboration with others. It can be lonely but it is also where the work gets done. So by building a community of like-minded people, you have a place to feel completely loved even if your art isn't moving the direction you want it to. Building a community as an artist is a different subject, but it has its roots in gathering 3 or more people together to support you in all your awesomeness.

8. You take BIGGER RISKS
Now you are all juiced up with support! What does that do to your self-confidence? Right! It goes shooting through the roof. And that makes you bolder.

It takes courage to have a spiritual practice. To come everyday to a meditation and look deeply into yourself. To feel when your breath just won't loosen up. To see the days when it doesn't work. To BE in the space of NOT getting it right. Of struggling. Of not knowing when it will get better. The fear that all of the good shit has already happened in your life. The wanting of something better. To completely SURRENDER to divine will to take care of you anyways. To give up all trying and TRUST it will happen because you are protected and loved. That is a space of great courage.

That same courage is what you will need to sustain a creative practice too. It is about showing up. And showing up with a curious and experimental nature that cannot be satisfied. It takes courage to be an artist. To show your creations to the world. To try new ways of making and know that they are leading you to path you cannot even imagine. Take a breath. And LEAP.

9. You know it is a PRACTICE
Practice. Practice. Practice. Just show up. That is all you have to do in life. In spiritual work. In art. It is all the same. "You must be present to win."

10. You KNOW that Creativity is ENDLESS

Yes, you know this. Think about how many ideas you have when you are sitting quietly? Probably more than you want to admit! Creativity can only slip in if there is space to go into. You cannot pour more into a full cup.

As you tap into Divine inspiration each day, you know that that source is endless. You can feel it with each breath. Now breathe into your creative ideas? Same breath of inspiration. Inspire = to breath into.

And know as one idea floats away or is not feasible at the moment, don't worry. Just breathe. Another idea is on its way, along with a hundred of its friends when you are ready to make space in your body to receive them.

BREATHE TO RECEIVE!

Any bells go off from this list? I would love to hear about it. Share in the comments below.

Breathing my way to a more creative me ~ Jaime Lyerly

Like magma; like lava

noreply@blogger.com (Jaime Lyerly) — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 23:33:00 +0000

Like Mother Earth, things in my life have been changing rapidly and have shaken me to the core.

Since hitting the Pause button on my blog in May, I have experienced some major life changes:

Graduation with my Bachelor's in Art: Applied Design, with a minor in Psychology
Ending of a my romantic relationship that lasted 10.5 years
Spiritual awakening to my role as a Energy Healer and Shamanic Temple Priestess

These changes needed to happen "off-line" as much as possible so that I could process them. But I am being called to share my journey again with you.

But this journey will be different than before.

Because this earth sign (I'm a Taurus) has been set on FIRE with my new spiritual connection.

And through this fiery, creative channel comes new art.

Like magma, my fiery earth has churned, hidden from view.

Like lava, it is time to let it out.

So expect new and exciting directions for this blog.

The old content, especially my tutorials, will still be here. I will still share resources and things involving art.

But my goal now in life is to Start YOUR Creative Fire!

and teach by example so that it can burn bright and keep you warm during the toughest transitions.

On Fire,
Jaime Lyerly

Releasing the old to make room for the new

noreply@blogger.com (Jaime Lyerly) — Wed, 04 May 2011 04:57:00 +0000

Pele, from the Goddess Guidance Oracle Cards to spark this fire of releasing.

See this helpful blog post for the meaning of the card.

I am a crossroads in my life as old parts of me fall away and shiny new parts are growing.

To celebrate this transition, instead of letting it scare the shit out of me, I am devoting more of my time to my spiritual practices and letting them inform my artistic expressions.

With my very limited time, I kept this blog going with a very low amount of effort over the last year, and have disappointed many people including myself for not keeping it up to date. I don't have the energy to do it all. And I kept waiting to find that energy somewhere.

So rather than waiting till I "get back to normal" to start blogging again, I am going to release this blog and all its obligations.

What does that mean? The posts will still be here, but I will not.

I may eventually delete the whole thing, but for now, it will be an archive of where I have been, what I have taught and the art that I made.

And it will be a testament to the readers and viewers who have shared this journey with me.

Thank you for sharing this journey with me - however long it has been for you.

You have given me a voice. Thank you.

So I leave this blog the most recent picture of me with one of my Temple Priestess teachers, Jennifer Masters, who along with my other teacher Kaliani Divine and the many others in the Temple Priestess community who have help facilitate my amazing growth.

Photo by Felicia, May 2011 at Beatrex's Lakshmi Abundance Ceremony

I am more ME than I ever have been in my life. Now I need to figure out what that "me" wants to do. And I need to do it outside of the blogosphere.

Wait! I am not going completely away! I am still going to maintain my Facebook fan and personal page, and twitter. I just may have more to say about spiritual practices than art for the time being.

When I can weave this new spiritual understanding and my drive for art making, I will be back switched on with the full force of my new powers. Just wait and see.

Thank you again for being here and sharing your journey with me!
In love and light ~ Jaime Lyerly

Global Prayer Reqest: Water Blessing for Japan. Today, 3/31/2011 at Noon your local time

noreply@blogger.com (Jaime Lyerly) — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 16:57:00 +0000

Check this out if you are interested. Global Prayer Request for Japan, today!

Masaru Emoto has issued a global prayer invitation for March 31, 2011, Noon your local time. Masaru Emoto's teachings on the consciousness of water has inspired people around the planet, and we are profoundly grateful for his continuing service to Humanity. Please read his entire note below, and join us
at Noon to send Love and Gratitude to the waters of Japan, and to the ALL waters of the world.

In Love and Gratitude

D'Marie

********************

Love and Gratitude water crystal

URGENT: A letter from Dr Masaru Emoto, author of Messages in Water plus other related books.

A letter from Dr Masaru Emoto:

To All People Around the World,

Please send your prayers of love and gratitude to water at the nuclear plants in Fukushima , Japan ! By the massive earthquakes of Magnitude 9 and surreal massive tsunamis, more than 10,000 people are still missing...even now... It has been 16 days already since the disaster happened. What makes it worse is that water at the reactors of Fukushima Nuclear Plants started to leak, and it's contaminating the ocean, air and water molecule of surrounding areas.

Human wisdom has not been able to do much to solve the problem, but we are only trying to cool down the anger of radioactive materials in the reactors by discharging water to them. Is there really nothing else to do? I think there is.

During over twenty year research of dado measuring and water crystal photographic technology, I have been witnessing that water can turn positive when it receives pure vibration of human prayer no matter how far away it is. Energy formula of Albert Einstein, E=MC2 really means that Energy = number of people and the square of people's consciousness.

Now is the time to understand the true meaning. Let us all join the prayer ceremony as fellow citizens of the planet earth. I would like to ask all people, not just in Japan , but all around the world to please help us to find a way out the crisis of this planet!!

The prayer procedure is as follows.

Day and Time: March 31st, 2011 (Thursday)
12:00 noon in each time zone

Please say the following phrase:

"The water of Fukushima Nuclear Plant, we are sorry to make you suffer. Please forgive us. We thank you, and we love you."

Please say it aloud or in your mind. Repeat it three times as you put your hands together in a prayer position.
Please offer your sincere prayer. Thank you very much from my Heart.

With love and gratitude,

Masaru Emoto Messenger of Water

***********************************

Message and water ceremony, via PaLu with the Go Gratitude Community:

Just today I was able to feel trust in the rain, I let go of any fears, I return my perception that the rains are life giving healing waters, sent by the Divine to bring calm, rebirth to accepting all water as the primary source of all Life.

In gratitude to this, my spirit dances with Mother Earth and Divine Mother together; this emerges, please feel free to pass it along, print it out and put it even on your fridge, wherever your Spirit and Will guide you to:

We are going to print, cut and tape this message to litre mason jars, sing to it, play music to it, and tomorrow,
as part of our extended prayer; then at the world timing of the prayer: go to the water's edge, bring our water blessed offerings; repeat the prayer as Emoto sent out loud, while connecting to our heart centre, expanding this energetic to infuse our heart's aura while we hold our containers; then with deep gratitude and trust in the Divine, pour this healing blessed, compassion imbued water into the water body we are located at.

We invite all to partake in this expansion, Sending waves of Loving Compassion; even if you pour your water onto the Earth or where it feels appropriate, holding softly, gently, lovingly our pure prayers intent is to deepen our Trust within, as well as to heal the sorrows of Japan and elsewhere.

May these healing prayers, blessings, gratitudes and water reach the four corners of all existence.

Lots of love, in Gratitude

PaLu

I hope you can join me in this! ~ Jaime Lyerly

Come to my unofficial Fiber coming out party! "Sew What" at the Broker's Buidling Gallery, Friday April 1, 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Jaime Lyerly) — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 18:17:00 +0000

My fiber work is coming out of the closet.

Yes, I work in Fiber....

I am graduating this May with a degree in Applied Design with an emphasis in Fiber, so you think I would be proud to fly my I heart Fiber flag.

But the encaustic wax work I do overpowers fiber with its smell, texture and visual aesthetic.

So I have kept most of the fiber only work hidden away from the world (with a few exceptions).

But on Friday, April 1, 2011, I will be taking my fiber art out to strut it's stuff. And I am not alone.

Come join us!


Time	Friday, April 1 · 7:00pm - 10:00pm

Location	Brokers Building Gallery 402 Market Street San Diego, CA


Sew What: Four Artists Experimenting in the Field of Fiber Emily Stone Joan Mathison Jaime Lyerly Scott Gengelbach Friday April 1, 2011 Opening Night April 2 - 15, 2011 by Viewing Appointment 619.368.1685

___________________________________________________

Expect the unexpected!

But I will give you a hint of what's to come...

Installation work
Humor
Unconventional materials
Fiber that is not your grandma's sampler
and lots of WINE! Yay!

So join us if you can. And I will do my best to get the photos of the show up as soon as possible.

As always, thanks for being a part of my journey! ~ Jaime Lyerly

Solar Spring Spirit Jam on Saturday, March 26, 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Jaime Lyerly) — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 03:45:00 +0000

Looking forward to using my new Tiger Eye Drum by artisan drum maker Lisa Starr

photo by Lisa Starr

Come join us on Saturday, March 26, 2011 · 8:30pm - 11:30pm for the first annual Solar Spring Spirit Jam, brought to you by Mind Altering Records and The Prosperity Hive:

A special evening of transcendental music, dance, and communal drumming featuring Solarminds (of Mind Altering Records) at the

The Prosperity Hive

740 13th St. #503

San Diego, CA

RSVP on the Facebook event page or just come join us!

From Chris Miner of solarminds:

..."I have some new material that I'd like to share with people. Right now it's just me and my acoustic guitar, but I would like to get a big audience driven drum circle going, and maybe a couple musicians helping to provide a drone sort of thing that my stuff could go on top of- very repetitive, meditative, spiritual stuff. The goal being to evoke ecstatic states of mystical devotion and union for everyone involved.

It's all about dissolving boundaries- between audience and performer, and this world and the spirit world. It's about letting the spirits sing through me, letting the spirits dance our bodies. I always tell people my music is divinely inspired, but on March 26th, I want to inspire the spirits to join us, so that we transcend who inspires who on that night.

It will be an experiment for sure, and I'm not sure where the experiment will take us, but I have a feeling it will take us somewhere magical."

Bring your drum, rattle, tambourine, or other percussion instrument, and your dancing feet!

$5-$20 suggested donation

Doors open at 8:30
Music starts at 9pm

Hope to see you there! ~ Jaime Lyerly

What ever happened to Jaime?

noreply@blogger.com (Jaime Lyerly) — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 20:02:00 +0000

I'm still alive!

Personal issues and spiritual awakening have led me to question:

ALL that I am
ALL that I do
Personal life vs. Private life

Personal life vs. Private life is why my blog fell to the wayside.

I had to figure out who I am before I could continue to speak my truth via this blog.

I still don't have it figured out...

But I am closer than I ever have been in my life.

So bear with me a little while longer while I figure out where I need to be.

One thing I know for sure - I was put on this planet to SHARE and HEAL.

Thank you for being a part of my journey!
~ Jaime Lyerly

Zoom! From Haystack, to school to one retreat after another

noreply@blogger.com (Jaime Lyerly) — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 21:34:00 +0000

Quick note to fill in the blanks while I work on the "real" posts for these events.

Got back on Friday night, August 27 from the Haystack Mountain School of Crafts (in Deer Isle, Maine) where I was the Technical Assistant to Cynthia Winika for the Hot Wax: Encaustic Painting Comprehensive Workshop.

The Haystack experience was amazing! I cannot say enough good things about it. I am doing a write up in more detail about this event.

Then school started for me on Tuesday, August 30th before I could even catch my breathe or really unpack my stuff (and life) from two weeks away at Haystack.

As I rush, rush hurry to class to work to class to home to blah blah blah... I am trying to get a solid hold of my schedule and make time for contemplation and writing about my events. But everything on my to do list marked priority! What is a girl to do?

So on that note, I am packing my bags to go teach Encaustic Collage at the San Diego Women's Caucus for Art Retreat, in Julian, CA. It will be the first time I am teaching just collage - which I think is the easiest way to begin to understand working in wax. I am excited to teach, and am looking forward to the event.

But another part of me is just looking forward to having a couple of days where someone cooks my meals again (thanks, Haystack for spoiling me for two weeks) and let's me have quiet time or social time at my own choosing.

I hope to have a great write up about both events within in next week. Then it is rush, rush off to the International Encaustic Artist Annual Advance (Retreat) in San Francisco, the week after that! I think I will need a retreat from all the retreats I am going to.

Until then! Happy art making (even in a rush!) ~ Jaime Lyerly

Jaime's going to Haystack!

noreply@blogger.com (Jaime Lyerly) — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 04:42:00 +0000

Haystack's photo of the week for this week. A view of Haystack of Haystack from Jericho Bay, August 2010.
See more photos at this link: http://www.haystack-mtn.org/gallery.php

I flipped through the pages of the Haystack Mountain School of Crafts Summer workshop catalog in January 2010, and my breath caught as I see the words “Encaustic Painting.” (If you haven't heard yet, encaustic is pigmented beeswax and damar resin that is applied hot to a surface. Encaustic means to burn in).

At San Diego State University (SDSU), where I am finishing my BA in Art: emphasis sculpture, minor in Psychology, there is one scholarship awarded to a student from the Applied Design program to attend Haystack for a summer session.

While the scholarship was awarded to a graduate student, the idea to attend this outstanding school was firmly planted in my brain. I gathered images, updated my resume, made a list of my technical abilities, and sent emails to my amazing and overworked professors to request letters of recommendation.

Having two years of experience working in encaustic and a few encaustic-teaching gigs under my belt, I told myself “I can do this!”

So I applied for the Technical Assistant Scholarship to the “Hot Wax: Encaustic Painting Comprehensive” taught by R & F Instructor Cynthia Winika – and, you guessed it, I won!

Now it is the second week of August, and the time has finally come!

I am leaving this Saturday, August 14, 2010 on an overnight flight for two weeks of intensive study of encaustic painting on the coast of Maine!

Some of the artists who have attended Haystack tell me that it was a momentous time of growth.

SDSU MFA ceramics graduate Kelly Schnorr told me that during her time as a Technical Assistant at Haystack that everyday she woke up thinking she was in heaven.

I know I am in for a life-changing experience.

Haystack sums it up:

The unique experience to be found at Haystack is owed to the combination of internationally-renowned instructors, intensive and focused studio time, the exploration of other art forms including music, poetry and dance, a diverse student body, and an award-winning campus. Students live, eat and work at the school, and studios remain open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Are you jealous, yet? I would be too!

The workshop description for Cynthia Winika’s Hot Wax: Encaustic Painting Comprehensive gives you a clue to what is in store:

Encaustic (beeswax) painting, derived from the legendary painting of the ancient Greeks, is one of the most versatile, durable, and beautiful painting media. After being out of use for 2000 years, it has made a recent resurgence. This workshop will provide a basic understanding of sound technique, safe studio practice, and show the many ways of using the paint and medium. Preparation of supports, thermal properties of encaustic paint, fusing, and demonstration of a wide variety of painting, layering, collage, solvent free image transfer, and mixed media techniques will be incorporated. Slide presentations will include information about the history of encaustics, 20th century revivals, and contemporary artists working with encaustic. All levels welcome.

As the technical assistant for this workshop, I have a unique position in that I am able to attend the workshop, help the instructor, do a presentation about my work, exhibit two pieces in their show, and work on my own art during the free time. All this and meals included!

I am more than looking forward to enjoying all this experience has to offer. I have never had two weeks away from my partner and thirteen-year-old son to be able to focus on my art, so this gift of time is especially moving.

Yet the excitement of having two weeks to work in wax has me all aflutter as I pack my supplies that I want to bring it all!

I just found out that the encaustic supplies are included in the studio fee, but I still need to pack my own panels, papers, and tools. It is a few days before I leave and still packing up and pairing down what I need to bring.

Bottom Line - Two weeks in Maine with studio time devoted to encaustic painting? Heavenly.

Want to hear more about it? Great! I don't expect to have much computer time while I am there, but I will write up an “After Haystack” post including experiential pictures and studio shots that I know you want to see.

Until then, you can pop over to my Facebook page or Twitter and send me a “Good luck at Haystack” message or share some “I heart Haystack” stories and tips!

Looking forward to sharing my experience with you! ~ Jaime Lyerly

Luminous Layers: Exploring Contemporary Encaustic - Video by Linda Womack

noreply@blogger.com (Jaime Lyerly) — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 20:30:00 +0000

Finally! A great video which shows the shows the versatility of encaustic (hot beeswax) painting and sculpture by contemporary artists.

The video below is by Embracing Encaustic author Linda Womack who was also the curator of the Luminous Layers: Exploring Contemporary Encaustic at the Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts in Oregon.

The show is now closed, but you can get a peek at the work in the video below.

I personally love the sculptural encaustic works, and I am dying to find out the name of the artists. Since 3-D encaustic is where I am working, it is great to find more artists who have "mastered" the techniques and are showing them out. When I get the name of the artists, I will be sure to share them!

So how about you? What is your favorite work in this video? Share in the comments below.

Luminous Layers: Exploring Contemporary Encaustic Video

You can read more about the Luminous Layers show on Linda Womack's Embracing Encaustic blog.

I love encaustic! ~ Jaime Lyerly

It's time to Register for the 13th Annual San Diego Women's Caucus for Art Retreat! Mark your calendars for September 10-12, 2010 in Julian, CA

noreply@blogger.com (Jaime Lyerly) — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 22:29:00 +0000

IT’S TIME TO REGISTER for the 13th ANNUAL 2010 WCA/SD RETREAT

The retreat offers a special time to make art, make new friends and reconnect with old friends.

Note: This event is for women, only. Sorry guys! Most of our events are co-ed, but this is for women only because of the sleeping arrangements.

WORKSHOPS INCLUDE

PLEIN AIR PAINTING with Jen Bottoms

JOURNALING, BLIND DRAWING & MAKING YOUR OWN JOY

with Suzana Norberg

YOGA FOR BEGINNERS with Midge Hyde

ENCAUSTIC COLLAGE with Jaime Lyerly

(more details about the workshops below)

_______________________________________

WHEN

September 10th, 11th and 12th, 2010

WHERE

Camp Stevens, Julian, 1108 Highway 78,

Julian, California 92036 (760) 765-0028

We will be staying in the Wolterstorff Lodge

FEE

$150 Retreat only WCA SD members

$175 Retreat & 1 year basic 2011 membership for WCA

members

$190 Retreat & 1 year basic 2011 WCA Membership for

non-members.

All include 3 days, 2 nights and 5 meals (organically grown

and prepared by Camp Stevens ), and all workshop fees

DIRECTIONS

From San Diego : Take Highway 67 to Ramona, then

Highway 78 east to Julian. Camp Stevens is located 2

miles east of Julian on State Highway 78. There is a

“ Camp Stevens ” entrance sign on the left side of the

highway exactly 2 miles from Julian.

Your $50 Non-refundable deposit due by August 1, 2010

(check or PayPal) secures your reservation. Balance

due by September 1st, by check or PayPal. Upon final

payment you will receive a detailed map, packing list,

materials list, materials to bring and schedule, via

e-mail.

NOTE: There is limited cell phone service.

Women’s Caucus for Art, San Diego

13th Annual Retreat

at Camp Stevens

Julian, California

September 10th, 11th and 12th, 2010

QUESTIONS AND INFO:

Jen Bottoms, (619) 892-3429

9500 Harritt Road, #75

Lakeside, CA 92040

jenniebottoms@gmail.com

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS

JOURNALING, BLIND DRAWING and MAKING YOUR OWN JOY with Suzana Norberg

As an advertising copywriter, Sue discovered the joy of art late in life. Inspired by “Harriett The Spy,” her favorite book as a child, Sue always kept a notebook of observations and snippets of overheard conversations.

But it wasn’t until the accidental discovery of three fabulous and freeing books that Sue began incorporating drawing into her work. See the three books that changed Sue’s creative life, page through her journals, and be prepared to draw with your eyes closed. Then apply it all to recording your weekend in a sketchbook that will be provided.

PLEIN AIR PAINTING with Jen Bottoms

Plein Air Painting is painting outdoors. Using oils, acrylics or watercolors whatever is your medium of choice, you will learn simple pallet color and placement while exploring the great outdoors and your personal emotions with the intent of taking out the intimidation factor. Realistic and non-realistic painters alike will love this enabling workshop that will set your spirit free and help you create
flowing, eye appealing works of art. Just let yourself go!

YOGA FOR BEGINNERS with Midge Hyde

Midge has done yoga for over 10 years. She plans to do light yoga exercises, first a warm up, practicing shallow and deep breathing. She reccomends everyone who has a yoga mat to bring it along. We will do mostly standing poses in case there are not enough mats for seated poses. The poses she likes are good stretches and parts of sun salutations, nothing too strenuous, just good stretching and deep breathing....a good way to end or start a day.

ENCAUSTIC COLLAGE with Jaime Lyerly

Encaustic is beeswax, damar resin and pigment applied to a surface hot and fused using heat. We will not be using pigment but instead, be learning the basic techniques of of encaustic collage in this workshop. We will explore layering, collage, incising, embedding and transfers. There will be plenty of time for hands on experimentation. Bring your own collage elements and get ready to try this “hot” way of painting.

ABOUT CAMP STEVENS and WCA/SD RETREAT

We will stay in the Wolterstorff Lodge, which was built from the ashes of the Bishop’s Lodge, destroyed in the “Angel Fire” of September 2007. The lodge has 24 beds; 4 six person rooms with 2 shared baths, and a meeting room with a fireplace. The OUTDOOR FACILITIES include tree house, outdoor chapel and other outdoor meeting and gathering spaces. Visitors can also enjoy a swim in the pool (seasonal), a stroll in the botanical garden, games on the lawns, basketball and volleyball, or an evening campfire.

I hope you can join us! You can check out pictures from last year's retreat on my Facebook page ~ Jaime Lyerly

Movements of my soul -- Introduction to Family Constellations workshop - Sunday 6/27/2010 in Vista, CA.

noreply@blogger.com (Jaime Lyerly) — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 23:20:00 +0000

I have been changing....

Changing what I am,
what I want,
how I live,
what I do,
what I need,
and how I deal with it all.

During my time of major flux (my partner moving to Berkeley, my son graduating from middle school, my job not being what it used it be, my high stress life taking a toll, researching graduate schools and more) , I usually turn to art-making as a way to cope.

However, it has been a desert of non-productiveness in my life recently.

A lull in creative expression for a week to "unwind" from classes ending has turned into month of no art making.

A few nights of just watching tv has turned into a sleepless nights playing video games.

A break from class work has turned into a break from living.

How does this happen? I am not sure.

But during this time of low productivity has come a huge blessing - a time for "soul work."

Through artist and healer Ellen "Ellie" Benfatti, I learned of Family Constellation work, which is based on social psychology, family dynamics and energy healing.

She calls the changes that occur because of this healing, "Movements of the Soul."

I won't go into too much detail about the constellations here, but I can say that they have changed my life.

Every aspect of it from how I make art, who I think I am, what do I want, how do I get it, and how do I deal with this thing called life.

And it is a lot to process! Which is why I my blog has been neglected and you see me less on the social networking sites. I'm still here.... just thinking, feeling and trying to understand it.

So please bear with me as I morph into this new person that is greater than the sum of her parts.

Want to know more about Family Constellation work?

Great! Check out the links above and the book called The Healing Power of the Past.

Live in San Diego area? Even better!

Ellie is having a three hour workshop this Sunday, June 27, 2010 from 10 am to 2 pm which is an Introduction to Family Constellations.

Here is the info from the Facebook event:

This is an introductory 3 hour workshop. If you've wanted to join Ellie to experience the transformational work of Family Constellations but haven't had the funds or the time now is your opportunity. Ellie asks that all participants contribute a donation of $25.00 to cover the expense of the conference room. Ellie will do 1 constellation chosen by lottery and 1 constellation as a group. Great opportunity for those of you who are wanting to experience more success in your personal finances, life's passion and or career. Ellie will be focusing on Money and the Heart. You must RSVP to attend. Please RSVP by email to: eangel11@gmail.com. If you don't RSVP you will not be admitted to the event. Sorry no exceptions space is limited. When you RSVP please provide name, phone number, and names of guests who are attending with you.

Note: I will be attending this event!

It really is an awesome experience, and I felt compelled to share it with my friends and readers.

To your health and wellness and deep soul movements.. ~ Jaime Lyerly

Watch me tonight LIVE on Community Artist Connection Public Access TV show

noreply@blogger.com (Jaime Lyerly) — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 00:10:00 +0000

Haven't gotten enough of me "talking" on my blog? Watch me on TV!

Tonight at 8 pm, I will be interviewed by artist Laura Jean Thompson for her Community Artist Connection Public Access TV Show.

We will be talking about my encaustic art, future career goals and whatever else she throws my way.

I am surprisingly less nervous than I would expect at the moment. However, I am not sure what is going to happen when I actually get there!

You can watch the broadcast LIVE via the internet at the link below. It should be on 8 pm, PST.
Live Broadcast!

There is supposed to be a "Chat" function that you can ask questions which we can see. This is all new to me so I am not sure how that all works. But feel free to check it out!

I am even letting my 13-year-old son watch via the internet at home. He may be the only kid in the world who would want to "chat" with his mom during her interview.

The show will air later on Public Access TV. I will let you know exactly when it will be on.

Okay - time to shove down some dinner and get moving!

Thanks for the support! ~Jaime Lyerly

Wordless Wedneday - Introspection

noreply@blogger.com (Jaime Lyerly) — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 04:13:00 +0000

San Diego area volunteers needed! The Tag Project at Kiku Gardens this Saturday June 5, 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Jaime Lyerly) — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 20:07:00 +0000

Image from the Tag Project Facebook page

In San Diego area and have nothing to do this Saturday morning?

Want to help with an amazing project?

Great! Come join us at the Kiku Gardens as we help Artist Wendy Maruyama "age" tags for her Tag Project: E.O. 9066. See this invite below from Wendy:

The Tag Project will be at Kiku Gardens Saturday, June 5, 2010 from 10 AM - noon. We are now at a point where we need help taking the tags through an aging process (dunking in coffee and krinkling and setting out to dry).

If you would like to help, please bring rubber gloves, old newspapers, and if you have one, a plastic dishpan or some similar plastic container for dunking tags.

Roll up your sleeves, and join the fun!!

Location:

Kiku Gardens
1260 Third Ave.
Chula Vista, CA 91911

Time: 10 AM til 12 pm

Here is more about the Tag Project from the Facebook page:

This project was begun as part of my research on Executive Order 9066: it is the first time I made the personal decision to really look at this sorry chapter in history as a Japanese American artist. I plan to focus on this direction in my work for the next few years.

One project, "The Tag Project", was started in New York - I replicated 1011 tags from internees from my hometown (San Diego/Chula Vista). I was inspired by the thousands of folded origami cranes I saw at the Hiroshima Peace memorial and this group of tags was called "Cascade". I was also deeply moved by the photos of Dorothea Lange, one is shown above: it was her photos that initially provided the physical and emotional weight of the internment, and how it so profoundly affected the Japanese American citizens during and for years to come. All Japanese Americans were rounded up in 1942 and each were issued a tag and an ID number designating their destination: one of several internment camps, all in desolate deserted areas of the United States. The most haunting and striking photos were of the families wearing tags at the various assembly centers before being shipped off by train to these remote areas.

I was taken by the weight of these tags when they were completed and hung, despite appearing to be light and airy. This struck me as being very relevant to the way the internment was perceived by the general American Public. To this day it shocks me to still run into fellow Americans who had no clue that this had happened. I am going to commit to making all 120,000 tags, for all the Japanese Americans who were sent to all the camps. I feel that the sheer numbers and the scale of these tags will convey to all who view this that the internment was a massive project that was to affect an entire culture of people and their future generations.

Find out more on the The TAG Project: E.O. 9066 Blog.

Interview with Wendy in American Craft Magazine - "The Tag Project: In Search of Cultural Memory"

Tag Project Video

The Tag Project | Poston from xavier vasquez on Vimeo.

About Wendy Maruyama -

Wendy Maruyama is Head of the San Diego State Furniture Design /Woodworking program and has taught at SDSU since 1989. Prior to that she has headed programs at California College of Arts and Crafts and at the Appalachian Center for Crafts. She received her BA from San Diego State and MFA from Rochester Institute of Technology. She has been the recipient of a Fulbright Grant to England, foreign travel grants to France and Japan, and four NEA Craftsmen's Fellowships. She also serves on several non-profit boards, including the Furniture Society and Haystack Mountain School of Crafts. She is a frequent workshop leader and lecturer and her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally. It is documented in numerous publications and included in public collections, among them the Mint Museum of Craft and Design, American Craft Museum, Oakland Museum, Mingei International Museum, Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the Arizona State University Museum in Tempe.

I know it is late notice, but you really want to come to this event! I would love to see you there.

Happy volunteering! ~ Jaime Lyerly

Image of the Week - Cildo Meireles

noreply@blogger.com (Jaime Lyerly) — Sat, 29 May 2010 01:32:00 +0000

© Cildo Meireles Missão/Missões (How to Build Cathedrals)

(detail) 1987, Daros-Latinamerica Collection, Zurich , Photo: Tate Photography

Image from the Tate Modern

~ Jaime Lyerly

Wordless Wednesday - Yasaka Shrine with Fortunes

noreply@blogger.com (Jaime Lyerly) — Wed, 26 May 2010 17:17:00 +0000

~ Jaime Lyerly

SDSU Art Council - 8th Annual Scholarship Exhibition at the La Jolla Athenaeum on May 21, 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Jaime Lyerly) — Mon, 17 May 2010 19:34:00 +0000

Missed those other chances to see my encaustic art? Then come to this one.

San Diego State University Art Council 8th Annual Scholarship Exhibition

Dates/Times: May 22 - June 19, 2010
Opening: May 21, 2010, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Location: La Jolla Athenaeum Music and Arts Library
1008 Wall Street, La Jolla, CA

More Information: The Athenaeum presents for the eighth consecutive year an exhibition of artwork by scholarship winners of the San Diego State University's Department of Art, Design, and Art History. Students from the upper division of the undergraduate or the graduate programs will be selected, based on scholarship applications, by the SDSU Art Council. Each of the five receives a monetary award and the opportunity to present their artwork in this exhibition.

What's in it for you:

* Support local and emerging artists
* Meet the five of SDSU's undergraduate and graduate artists who, including myself, have been awarded a scholarship based on an essay and portfolio review.
* Check out the Artist Book Collection.
* FREE ADMISSION!
* Three in One! See the other two exhibitions running and opening at the same time in different galleries at the Athenaeum, Including: Selections from the Athenaeum's Erika and Fred Torri Artists' Books Collection: Fischli/Weiss and Ellen Salk: Shaker Loops

Hope to see you there! ~ Jaime Lyerly

Free e-Book "Exersighs" - Self-esteem Workbook for Artists by Artella

noreply@blogger.com (Jaime Lyerly) — Mon, 17 May 2010 16:38:00 +0000

Shared by Sally Evan's Embracing Creativity newsletter. Check it out!

Artella's free giveaway!

Free copy of Exersighs Exersighs is a 10-page ebook of guided exercises and inspiration, with 16 exer-sighs-es to boost your self-esteem effectively and immediately, triggering momentum for your next creative project, and breaking down blocks FOR GOOD.

Artella Freebies Page

~ Jaime Lyerly

Opening Reception for SDSU's "Comatose in the Sculptorium"

noreply@blogger.com (Jaime Lyerly) — Sat, 15 May 2010 22:04:00 +0000

Reminder!

Tonight from 6-9 pm is the San Diego State University's Intermediate and Advanced Sculpture class anonymously juried show called "Comatose in the Sculptorium"

Exhibition: Comatose in the Sculptorium: SDSU's Intermediate and Advanced Sculpture student show

Dates/Times: May 15 - 20, 2010. Hours variable. Opening: May 15, 2010 from 7 pm - 9 pm

Location: San Diego State University, Flor Y Canto Gallery on the fifth floor of the Art Department.

More Information: Facebook event

What's in it for you:

Support local and emerging artists!
See the experimental and conceptual sculpture that is being produced by the SDSU sculpture students. The variety is amazing.
See my untitled 3-D encaustic sculptures from 2009 in a whole new setting and installation.
Meet the infamous instructor and local artist, Richard Keely.
FREE ADMISSION!

Hope to see you there!

~ Jaime Lyerly

"Repeat. Sum. Repeat." Installation Experience - part one

noreply@blogger.com (Jaime Lyerly) — Mon, 10 May 2010 17:09:00 +0000

Just wanted to let you all know that I am still working hard on my installation in room Art 418C at San Diego State University with Experimental Musician Chris Miner called "Repeat. Sum. Repeat."

Last Saturday was supposed to be the informal opening, but we were still installing all day and night, so there was not much to see.

This Tuesday, 5/11/2010, all the installation will be complete and the room should be open from 12 pm until 3 pm, and more hours as requested.

Thanks to Joyce and Will for stopping by on Saturday. They got to see all the pieces spread about, but not installed. However, they were very understanding!

Thanks to Gwyneth Mapes for coming by on Sunday, and giving me such an honest opinion of the installation as a whole.

Huge thanks to Starry Wright, Chris Miner and my son, Xen, for helping me install.

A few lessons from this installation experience, so far.

SDSU parking enforcement will still give you a $40 parking ticket, even if you are quickly unloading your car, and they haven't printed the ticket.
Expect to move boxes in and out of the room all day for a couple of days.
Bring other people to talk to! On Friday, I kept leaving the room to seek out interaction with people.
Prepare your artist statement and tags before hand.
Don't expect that the room will be set up with lights and power needed.
Sound installation needs more preparation than expected and should be laid out visually before any art is installed.
Pedestals are pretentious, but needed to differentiate the works, unless prepared before hand.
Purchase all hardware, extension cords and food before installation day.
It is much harder to install older pieces and make new work at the same time. Don't pressure yourself into doing more than you can handle.
Installation is exhausting!

I will have lots of pictures coming soon, video of the pieces including the sound collage by Chris Miner. Stay tuned for more!

Thanks for joining me on this journey! ~ Jaime Lyerly

Wordless Wednesday - Toyko Panda

noreply@blogger.com (Jaime Lyerly) — Wed, 05 May 2010 17:11:00 +0000

~ Jaime Lyerly

Current and Upcoming Exhibitions (and what's in it for you...)

noreply@blogger.com (Jaime Lyerly) — Wed, 05 May 2010 15:18:00 +0000

I have been a busy bee recently and have a few events that you may be interested in, especially if you are in San Diego, CA.

If you are not in the San Diego area, you can join me on the journey through my blog posts (although those always come later than the event).

I would love you to come and experience these, but I know you are all busy.

So, rather than just tooting my own horn about the awesomeness of me to get you to come to these events, I am going to tell you what's in it for you!

These events are in chronological order.

Current/Upcoming events:

Exhibition: A World of Art - San Diego Women's Caucus for Art Member Show

Dates/Times: May 1 - May 15, 2010, call to arrange for viewing times

Location: East Village Company, # 29
906 10th Ave, San Diego (corner of 10th & E-downtown)

More Information: See the Facebook event

What's in it for you:

See the diversity of work from the San Diego Women's Caucus for Art members.
Also to my encaustic covered hand-carved Jelutong wood sculpture "Reliquary" and untitled encaustic painting.
Check out the East Village Company's space, hosted by the elegant and gracious, Coco Cabuquit-Jarboe. Coco opens her artist loft home to host art events. The relaxed ambiance makes viewing the art and meeting the artists a rewarding and intimate experience. One of San Diego's best kept secrets.
FREE ADMISSION!

________________________________________

Exhibition: Repeat. Sum. Repeat. Art installation by Jaime Lyerly and sound installation by Experimental Musician Chris Miner

Date/Times: May 11, 2010, from 12 pm to 3 pm.

Location: San Diego State University, Art Building Installation Room Art 418C (on the fourth floor.) If you are not a student, park in the "W" lot, which you can buy an hourly permit. Call me at 619-750-2404 to get directions from there.

More Information: My first attempt at installing my body of work, including most of my current encaustic paintings and sculpture, and my newest fiber related works. See the Facebook Event.

What's in it for you:

Supporting local and emerging artists!
Check out my body of work, and help me figure out what needs tweaking as I get ready to apply for graduate school.
Experience Chris Miner's sound installation which is based on the patterns and songs of whales. This is the initial stage of this sound collage, and will be expanded for inclusion in the Atomino 2010: Experimental Art Festival in Germany in August 2010.
FREE ADMISSION (obviously - and I will entertain you too!)

__________________________________

Exhibition: Comatose in the Sculptorium: SDSU's Intermediate and Advanced Sculpture student show

Dates/Times: May 15 - 20, 2010. Hours variable. Opening: May 15, 2010 from 7 pm - 9 pm

Location: San Diego State University, Flor Y Canto Gallery on the fifth floor of the Art Department.

More Information: Coming soon!

What's in it for you:

Support local and emerging artists!
See the experimental and conceptual sculpture that is being produced by the SDSU sculpture students. The variety is amazing.
See my untitled 3-D encaustic sculptures from 2009 in a whole new setting and installation.
Meet the infamous instructor and local artist, Richard Keely.
FREE ADMISSION!

_________________________________

Exhibition: San Diego State University Art Council 8th Annual Scholarship Exhibition

Dates/Times: May 22 - June 19, 2010 Opening: May 21, 2010, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Location: La Jolla Athenaeum Music and Arts Library

More Information: The Athenaeum presents for the eighth consecutive year an exhibition of artwork by scholarship winners of the San Diego State University's Department of Art, Design, and Art History. Students from the upper division of the undergraduate or the graduate programs will be selected, based on scholarship applications, by the SDSU Art Council. Each of the five receives a monetary award and the opportunity to present their artwork in this exhibition.

What's in it for you:

Support local and emerging artists (see a trend here?)
Meet the five of SDSU's undergraduate and graduate artists who, including myself, have been awarded a scholarship based on an essay and portfolio review. I will get the names of the other four artists soon.
Check out the Artist Book Collection.
FREE ADMISSION!
Three in One! See the other two exhibitions running and opening at the same time in different galleries at the Athenaeum, Including: Selections from the Athenaeum's Erika and Fred Torri Artists' Books Collection: Fischli/Weiss and Ellen Salk: Shaker Loops

Whew! Lots to do in the next few weeks, right?

Even though I would rather avoid these art openings, (yep, that is me - the introvert in me wants to stay home and watch movies instead) , I will be attending all these events.

I would love for you to join me! ~ Jaime Lyerly