The Right of Writing - Give Me back my Mo-Jo

Hello :-) - it's 2020 - very hard to believe. Classes are staring in D.V. in February after a hiatus for the exhibition which went down amazingly well...and then I /we all had to do the end of the year...and then the start of new new one.  It's been hard for many people, but the good news is that creativity is very happy when life is making us THINK. This year, I have two methodologies: 1 on 1 - this is a request I have had for a while and will now implement.  These classes will be tailor-made for  individuals on request. I will combine a half hour theory and then 2 hours practice. On 11th February I will begin another ON MAKING BOOKS THERE IS NO END - a   5-6 week course at the MoJo Studio. Please note - all materials are included - including a visual diary and how to use it successfully.  This course is designed for those beginning their creative journey, as well as those who have reached a creative block.  Classes will also be held at Eye4Art in Umhlanga...

BUT it has engendered much creativity in its wake. These are two books from the last course - Trish and Merryl - others of us are still busy with homework! Another course started on Tuesday at 2 at Eye4Art - wonderful...but I forgot to take photographs... I will hold another Introductory class from the MoJo Studio on Tuesday 4th June. Classes will be held every two weeks.  Remember, all materials are supplied. Another book making class starts at the end of the month - looking forward to seeing 'Oldies', now well into their third Module. When I expanded the photograph Trish shared, I saw all the family she had made as trunks/pillars in her garden - beautiful.  Merryl has forged ahead, well ahead of me! Her Logogram book, Visual Poetry Book and Asemic Book are all finished and sewn into their pockets onto the large holding accordion spine - fabulous Merryl!  More books to come when everyone finishes their homework!

We were full at the MoJo Studio yesterday. It was an exciting day. The task (aside from 'the dream boat' which remained untouched), was to create a round-robin chapbook. Each participant started with their own chapbook and drew for 15 minutes. The book was then handed on and the second person worked on it (repeat). There was tea and orange cake in-between as it takes a great deal of concentration to accomplish such a pressurised task.  EVERYONE was up for the challenge and this is the first book which is finished.  I LOVE it!!! Homework, under the title "The Portrait and the Seed", which is the content covered thus far is to find words to enhance the drawings.

The Medici effect  refers to a phenomenon that occurs when creative, talented, and productive people from different fields come together and are able to collaborate to create something innovative and new. Frans Johansson coined the phrase in a book by the same name. During this course, we move from a  discussion  of a simple diagram to layer the art work done during the previous class. I use this idea for course participants to use their own strengths and abilities from different areas/ disciplines  in their lives to form innovative intersections which will help them achieve their goals. The diagrammatic artwork obviously becomes more complex, the more the ideas are unpacked. Risk areas are discussed, as is overstepping in certain strengths. Such 'overstepping' means the intersection is passed and the innovation is lost as the strength is not reigned in.  It’s a methodology which can work when tackling ANY goal, no matter how small...

Its Thursday morning - a whole WEEK later! I have a lot of tidying up to do in the Studio before participants arrive...It's supposed to be my CLEAN teaching studio as opposed to the painting studio, but its such a creative space that work SNEAKS in and demands attention!!! I have 9 exciting projects on the go, so I'm taking over every available surface I can... Wednesday last  week - MUCH better!!!!!

Catherine - thank you for letting us into your beautiful space - all 9 of us!We have a wonderful core group (#4) of MoJoians - the results of the first class of Module 1 were SO creative.

It's REALLY hard to believe that it's the new year... I don't quite seem to have finished the last one 😲! I am really looking forward to working with everyone again, and hope to introduce more participants to this course. Reminder: The entire course is 6 modules which combine art, creative writing, narrative therapy and art therapy to enhance/access and reformulate in some instances creative thinking. Classes January 26th   Mojo 2 - last class of Module 1 January 29th   Mojo 4 - beginning of Module 1 February 6th   Mojo 3 - Start of Module 3 (proposed date) February 16th Mojo 1 - Class 2 of Module 1 New Classes February 5th  Mojo 5 - Classes start - Introductory Class in Glen Anil - 9.30 The programme is as follows:   Introductory Class 1 Self Portrait - of another sort What   is a self-portrait? What is its function/How does it function?   Module 1 The Right of Writing 4/5 Sessions) W...

Ok - not EXACTLY - I didn't have the discomfort of flying there, but teaching at Studio 33 on Tuesday was simply gorgeous. Our hostess, Catherine Stempowski is the most gracious lady with FINE, fine art abilities. The studio dog, Ochre is a rescue dog. She was so relaxed, so in tune with her environment. After the workshop, participants were reminded that this course is about combining many disciplines into one process to access creativity.  In order to begin this journey we examine ourselves - our own version of the 'self portrait'. Writing is ultimately the subject matter. Writing as reflection, as poetry as asemic as aesthetic as logographic as landscape of the mind.  I hope I did not leave anyone out! Sitting in this environment of peace and creativity brought out for me, once again, the reason why creativity is our greatest gift, given by the Creator of all.

An essential part of creative thinking is to unpack ones thoughts in a visual way. Ideas and concepts are made flesh and somehow, therefore become further evidence to be explored. The following are some wonder journal pages from the second and third group of creatives. We are unpacking seeds as metaphors for ideas. This is not everyone in the group, but these images give the idea of digging and delving, searching and revealing layers in order to UNDERSTAND. Most of us will be meeting again on the 10th November and then lets see how much more gets unravelled. We will also be painting and discussing The Medici Effect in workshop 3.  I am looking forward! We held this class at eye4art, but the next will be held in my studio at home. We will then revert back to the gallery space.