May 2025 – Our Art Way

(image seen above) This is my version of the sunflower during our Art Way Painting Sunflowers class. I was so befuddled by my attempt to paint a sunflower that I found myself writing out “The Sunflower” by Mary Oliver and making petals out of her beautiful words. My inability to paint gave way to my love of words and color and the resulting art makes me happy!

I live with many artists. Their paintings, drawings and sculptures make me so happy! Everything they create is simply gorgeous. When I paint or draw or sculpt, it looks like a three year old just entered the building. My hands do not communicate what my mind envisions. It’s just not my jam to do that kind of art. So when we started The Art Way, I fully expected to be the person who put out the supplies, made sure the art teachers were set up and cleaned when it was over. I did not see myself participating in the actual creation experience.

More surprised I could not be when we had our first Art Way experiences last fall. As planned, I was in the back straightening supplies, making sure participants had all they needed. The next thing I knew, I was drawn to a pile of magazines, washi tape and card stock. Before I knew it, a meaningful collage was emerging.

Even more surprising was the realization that I was making art and finding a trust in myself that I could create something beautiful. I can’t explain how it deepened and opened and enlivened something important in me, but it did.

Each month, Martha, our amazing Art Director, leads us through the Open Art Studio Process where she invites us to set an intention for what we will create. The intention is what will guide our art. We align our mind, body and heart then write what we expect to receive from whatever images we create. One month, I set out to be true to me no matter what the universe seemed to be sending me.

A couple of weeks later, I had my new office. The month of the election, I set out to be one with those who felt too hard to love. My art ended up being too big for me to finish and I realized how big that mountain is. Last month I set out to let nature speak to me about what was true and good and the next thing I knew, my clay was forming a heart tree of our family with Merrill and my hands as the trunk. These are not things I can explain. But I am learning that they are part of the mystical flow that comes from engaging with the creative process.

Sitting around the dinner table last nite with eight amazing friends, I realized again the profound gift of community. Hearing about others’ struggles lightens our load. Laughing about how human we are reminds us of our universal imperfections. Re-telling special stories connect us to ourselves and lets others see us too.

The Art Way was born out of a desire to make space for creating art and connecting with others. It has grown organically through these past eight months as we have enlisted the presence of professional artists who have taught watercolors, abstract charcoal drawing, painting sunflowers, art with words, vision boards, charcoal portraits, flower making and clay. But what we are actually learning is that we don’t have to judge ourselves. We are realizing that we can submit ourselves to the process of creating, learning lessons we might not otherwise learn. We are growing a community where all of us feel welcome and connected by the dignity of our humanness. And we are aware of how much we want to keep this thing going!

In that spirit, we will be hosting a lovely event on Friday, May 16 at The Old School Makerspace 4:45 – 9:00 pm. Please join us to share a beverage, a bite and a chance to see or support The Art Way. Donations have been made from San Antonio artists and will be available for purchase. But mostly we would love to introduce everyone to this inspiring space and place and way of artful living.