HIDDEN TREASURE
Rachel Ellen AndrewsI've been playing this week. I just signed up for 21 Secrets over at Dirty Footprints Studio. 21 Secrets is an online journalling playground consisting of 21 art journal classes with some really inspiring teachers and I dived in to my first class last week - Tracie Hansen's 'Journal Quest'.
So, the premise of this class is that a 'quest' is to 'search or seek for hidden treasures and that the adventure of the artful spirit is 'a quest'.
Tracie invites us to splurge the paint around our journal page and then 'excavate the hidden treasure' within.
I found the process fascinating and quite humbling as I watched these little tribes of people appearing on my journal pages. Only the day before, I had been talking about the need to have my own tribe of like minded, kindred spirits and here were my own tribes!
I could write a story for each of these people, and maybe I will as part of my journalling process, but for the time being, I am enjoying making the images. I see each of the little people as part of myself and it occurs to me that perhaps I am painting my soul group in different dimensions or realities. How you see them is up to you...
Without giving away too much of the process (you need to sign up for that!!), we are urged to set our intention then HAVE FUN! PLAY! EXPLORE! Does it get any better than that?
Well, yes, it did get better than that! I realised as I was playing, having fun and exploring that I had made similar images before. I was half way through my second page and decided I couldn't go on any longer without looking for some old sketchbooks (and I mean old - 30 years old!).
What I found was striking...images I made just about 30 years ago, were very very similar to the ones I had been making using this technique
If you've read my story, you will know I abandoned my creative self for the longest time. so it is reassuring to know that the subconscious thread is now re-surfacing. For me, this was the real buried treasure...the real excavation...
(I posted an album of these 'old' images on my Facebook page. For some reason my blog won't let me add any more links today, so if you want to visit, just click on the Facebook link at the top of the right hand column.)
I've had so much fun with this class and this process; I'm not finished with it yet. If you want to sign up for 21 Secrets, you've got until the 1st October and the classes stay open until the 1st January 2013. Hop over to Dirty Footprints Studio and sign up, I guarantee you won't regret it.
How have you been playing in your art journals this week? Have you found any buried treasure? What have you been excavating?
From my tribal heart to yours
Rachel x
Reader Comments (9)
Oh I love hearing the whole story about this "quest"....so interesting how our art will often illustrate what's going on for us in our lives! Your "tribe" is revealing itself to you....and I am happy to be part of it!
I love this Rachel it's so brave to take yourself on a journey of excavation.
Not knowing what treasure is buried within is exciting, scary & takes a leap of faith.
It's wonderful to see your old self linking with you now.
I love the idea of a tribe of like minded people & know my daughter will too.
I am now contemplating what treasures I may have hidden & can't wait to do some journalling. Thankyou for the inspiration 💗
Such an inspiring blogpost. I did this lesson last weekend and I had so much fun too! And so surprised with the results. It is kind of cool to see the people reveal themselves, and I am not done wirh this lesson, I absolutely plan to do more :-) And how awesome is it that the creativity you've buried for so long is still there! I love your older works! Keep on painting and having fun :-)
HI Tracie, thanks for stopping by, I really appreciate your comments and so excited with this quest!
Hi Kerry, thanks for sharing and so glad you feel inspired!
Hi Brigitte, thank you! I've seen your IG posts and yes, it is cool to see the peeps reveal themselves, I love this process!
Loving this SO much :) The new, the old, the play, the treasure hunting. So much goodness Rachel xo
Love this post, Rachel. These images are just beautiful and meaningful. I'm thinking of signing up. Have you done any of the other videos? Are they all as good as this one or at least some of them? ♥♥♥ Thanks for sharing!
Thank you Julie for stopping by and for your lovely comments. I'm loving it too xo
Sheri, thank you too for your feedback. This is the first class I've done out of the 21. Dion Dior's Mandala class looks great but I'm a bit obsessed with mandalas. I don't know about the rest, I'll have a look today and let you know.
Hi Rachel Your blog on excavating is so moving and thoughtful.
Never was there a heart so trampled on, as the one once touched, lost and found.
The work your now doing is even more pouinent and precious due to path you have trod. The beauty, sensitivity and quality of your lines have remain with and shine from your pages to feed hearts. Lovely to behold x
Looking forward to hearing of you journy as you move
From loss to strength.
Hugs Phyllis X
Phyllis, thank you for your lovely words xo