Colorado Artists in Recovery

We all are meant to create, to form new things in our life, and bring new things into the world we are in.  In this workshop we will explore different techniques to break through our artistic blocks, limit our inner critic, and celebrate our authentic artist soul. Creation is moving ourselves out of our logical critical minds into play and imagination. This allows our essence, experiences, and passions to flow into an external form.

In this workshop you will:

- Follow prompts that will lead you to create visual or written expressions.

- Have options to work with mediums of comfort or mediums that stretch    you.

- Exploration of your authentic creative.

- Connect with your child self in artistic play.

- Examine your relationship with colors.

- Discover techniques to get out of your head and into your heart. This 
  workshop is for everyone of all skill levels to explore and reimagine what
  your creative spirit looks like! Even those of you who say, “I’m not            artistic or creative.“ We are all creators!

The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect but by the play instinct acting from inner necessity. The creative mind plays with the objects it loves. —C. G. Jung

About Janelle Jay:

Janelle is a lover of art and nature, a curious creator at heart.   Her artistic eye was encouraged early when her artist aunt would ask, “Tell me all the colors you see in the wheat field?”  Observation and exploration are a necessity for her soul.  She loves to discover new things by experimenting with different art mediums, ingredients in the kitchen, and new spiritual practices.  

She is currently an art curator, craft importer, and workshop facilitator at a Denver gallery.   

Janelle’s educational background is in photography.   She pursued this art form because of her desire to capture moments of beauty.   She had limiting beliefs at the time that her painting, sculpting, and sketching skills could not capture those moments.   She moved in a world of her own and world-imposed perfection.   Her inner critic was harsh and eventually limited her ability to create and share any form of art.   This led to crippling depression and almost the death of her soul.  Exploring phycology, spirituality, and rediscovering her authentic artist soul allowed her to begin to heal.   She now embraces that art is not perfection, but the ability to express in some form the beauty and pain of being human.  Some works are shared, and some are just for her.  She now is growing as an artist, painter, designer, and photographer while exploring other mediums and crafts.  

Creating community is a passion of Janelle’s and she enjoys sharing and learning in workshops that she attends or leads.   The artistic communities she has been part of have greatly supported her recovery journey.  

Janelle believes that every human is recovering from something, and that art, mindfulness, curiosity, and creation supports the healing and growth process.   Her intention is to foster a space for all to create and reconnect to their authentic artist soul.