Mantra Making + Motherhood: A Conversation on Creating Art during COVID-19
“In a time of solitude and fear, we are cultivating joy, love and connection.”
— STACEY FAY & SUSAN PADRON
I was so honored when my beautiful and talented friend, dating and relationship expert, Kari Tumminia shared my name with, personal stylist, Susan Padron and told her that we needed to meet. Anyone Kari guides me towards, I reach out to right away. My love for Kari was forged in the streets of the Dominican Republic teaching sex workers how to make jewelry during grad school.
We survived torrential rain storms, stifling humidity, cockroach infested car rides, hospital visits with intestinal infections, mangled Spanish in which I asked for men’s balls for breakfast instead of eggs, the most delicious chicken and avocado meal of our lives, streaming Glee episodes late at night from the rooftop of her house, and splendid beach vacations as picture here:
We lived through a crazy ass season of life and survived, and a forever friendship was born. In the DR, Kari introduced me to tapping and energy work, a modality that has changed my life. An incredibly talented artist herself, Kari supported my exploration of art making and she opened the door for me to have my art work featured at House Restaurant, in Media, PA.
Kari created my logo and has continually been the source of so much love and light that has come into my life. So when Susan contacted me saying that Kari mentioned my name, I was happy to oblige in any way that I could.
Susan shared that she and her friend, Stacey Fay, were both small business owners, mothers and creatives and felt compelled to respond to the lock down with something positive. Using the resources at their fingertips - ZOOM and a widespread community of entrepreneurs and creative makers - they launched The Creative Pause Project,
A daily inspirational video on art, beauty and spirituality
These beautiful ladies were intentionally creating an opportunity for people to step back from what they were engaging with to allow themselves a moment to pause and daydream and reset. They were interviewing photographers, artist, florists, relationship and fitness experts, bakers, musician, coaches, stylists, tarot readers... basically a plethora of incredible humans doing lovely, inspiring and divine work.
These are just a few of the brilliant women interviewed on The Creative Pause Project: Majet Reyes @divagirltribe, Liz @getshelfhelp, Sarah @sarahelizabethface, Miss Wondersmith @misswondersmith, Ilia Stranko @spiritually.curious, Sarah @sarahdegeorge, Erika @lovebitesbyerika
Life as a Modern Hand Lettering, Fauxligraphy + Watercolor Artist and Teacher
I was beyond honored when Susan and Stacey invited me into their space to have a conversation about my experience with the art making, mothering, and navigating both of those dynamics during the lock down.
We had such a lovely conversation about the importance of giving yourself permission to make art. I also shared some easy and accessible line drawing, watercolor painting and hand lettering exercises using the fauxligraphy technique, a trick that creates the look of calligraphy style lettering without the need for swanky tools, in hopes that listeners could dive right into art even if they have never done it before.
I would be so honored if you would listen to listen to our conversation.
Circle art line drawing tutorial worksheet
Combine Watercolor Painting, Modern Hand Lettering or Fauxligraphy to Create Your Own Unique Mantra Art.
If you are looking to make more art and want more lessons like the one that I taught in this episode, be sure to join my FREE Facebook group, The Makers Circle, where I provide weekly prompts to get your creativity flowing and I give a weekly live art demonstrations on Monday night’s called, Maker Mondays. Our time together will give you a loving and supportive mindset and art making experience.
In this episode with Susan and Stacey, I also mention a FREE lettering guide that you can use to start your lettering journey. This guide is perfect for beginners and is an easy and accessible introduction to fauxligraphy and hand lettering. Be sure to download this guide from my website.
I even have a stellar list of my favorite materials that you can check out to get you started on your art making journey.
Be sure to check out all the incredible interviews that Susan and Stacey have hosted as well. Their lineup is powerful and dynamic and filled with such talented souls filled with rich insight and perspective. One of my favorites is of course their interview with my beloved Kari.
Let me know what you think of my episode in the comments below.
Sending you love & light,