Customer Reviews

Creative Awakenings: Envisioning the Life of Your Dreams Through Art

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Creative Awakenings: Envisioning the Life of Your Dreams Through Art

I love this book...as I grow older I desire to make the most of my creative abilities, and like many artists, sometimes lack the drive and focus needed or end up either burned out or discouraged...I absolutely love Sheri's approach as she begins with the difference between a goal and an intention, and was totally surprised to discover the book also contained beautiful mixed media projects and art shared by other well-known artists (Susan Tuttle, Claudine Hellmuth, Jane and Thomas Wynn and others!)...worth every penny!!

This book is a fabulous tool for both beginning and experienced artists and all of those who "wish they were creative" but don't know how to start. Sheri Gaynor's book reminds us that there is an artist in all of us and she shows us how to let that artist out to play. The book is supported by a fabulous interactive web site that puts you in touch with other creative souls who are walking the same path. I can't say enough good things about this book. I have been an artist all my life (geez, almost 60 years!) and I still found so much inspiration here. I have read the whole book at least three times and keep going back for more as well as participating in the web site activities. Grab this book and get going on living your creative life at last!

While some of my Christian art friends may find the approach used in "Creative Awakenings" a little "new-agey" for their tastes, I have found the information contained within Sheri's book to be very enlightening and educational. As an intuitive artist, I completely get the whole idea of allowing our art to speak to us, to help us heal, to help us understand things our subconscious is trying to get out. Though I wish there was more of an introduction, process explanation, in the beginning of the book, instead of jumping right into the program, I would still recommend this to anyone who wants to take the next step in making their creative dreams a reality.

All I can say is I need to take a week off of work so I can go through every inch of this delicious book! It is so rich with inspiration, information and transormational possibilities for me! I've never kept an "art journal" before this and it is a true gift for myself. I love learning the techniques all the while feeling myself healing and transforming in ways that I can't put into words. It may have a lot to do with the fact that Sheri is a professional coach and had spent so many years as a therapist... I'm getting a lot for my money here! And, another delightful surprise....she made a deck of cards! I love cards and I love pulling one each day with the perfect support and opportunity to transform whatever issue it represents for me. When I read the meaning of the card in the back of the book, it's uncanny!!!! Meant to be you might say. Well, this is my best and favorite art book. One that I'll always hang on to and return to again and again. Plus, now I have an art journal that is a source of my ongoing expression, joy and healing process! Thank God for Sheri!!!! xoxo!

"Creative Awakenings" honors twelve months in Sheri Gaynor's life, when she ran away from home in order to recover her "authentic self." She wanted a creative awakening, so she both imaginatively and physically embarked on a journey that would encourage personal transformation. Gaynor now offers a map for others to employ as a guide for discovering, or heightening, their own creative powers. The journey starts with a threefold assignment to (1) uncover and EnVision a dream (2) create empowering art to strengthen your intention to follow that dream and (3) reflect on your art to invite a dialogue that elucidates and deepens the dream.

Gaynor invited guest artists to embrace the process she developed, and they are amazingly open and generous in sharing the experiences of their assigned month. They also offer art techniques, and if that was not enough, a vibrant Transformation Deck is provided to tweak the subconscious into revelation mode.

I highly recommend this book to those Feisty Females out there who are ready to kick up their heels, shout "Wooo Hoooo," and stomp all over the Venomous Toad Committee that always has pins poised to prick their dream bubbles. Gaynor is right on the trail with us, spurring us on. You can't miss the shine glancing off her vibrant cowboy boots, or the invitation she is holding out, for a life filled with passion and purpose.

This is wonderful Art book to help kindle your art fires. For artists
starting out to life time artists, Sheri's book stirs your pot of creativity and guides you to bring out your Soul's purpose of creation.
Doing the work in your journal, opens so many doors. It's a delicious recipe book for your artistic journey. I highly recommend it. Your art will blossom and your soul soar. What more could you ask for?

(Originally reviewed on the Arts & Healing Network at [...]

In this book, Sheri Gaynor shares wisdom gained from teaching workshops on the EnVision Process. This three-step process involves "EnVision Dreamtime" in which you use journaling and quiet reflective time to articulate your vision; "Creating the Art of Intention" in which you make an art piece that anchors your vision; and "Reflections" in which you respond to the artwork with writing and possible additions to the art over time.

The first part of the book sets the stage. Sheri shares the story of her own creative journey, instructions on the EnVision Process, a suggested materials list, and a whimsical exercise called "The Creative Awakenings Visa" in which you make a visual commitment to explore uncharted creative terrain. Then the book divides into a month-by-month format for 12 months - each month featuring a different artist who practiced Sheri's EnVision Process. Artists such as Deborah Koff Chapin, Claudine Hellmuth and others share their EnVision artwork, journal excerpts, and instructions on specific techniques they use in their own artwork such as "Layering with a Transparency" or "Painting by Touch." Also in this section, Sheri has re-printed blog entries about the unfolding process of working with these artists and creating the book. The last part of the book includes additional resources such as a deck of Transformation Cards to tear out and shuffle for additional guidance as your vision develops.

This book is a nice complement to the other two reviewed here in that it delves into the personal creative life of 12 artists and how they each work in a unique way with the visioning process. I was really struck how much the experiences of worry, fear, anxiety, or doubt plague most of the artists, and in the end, seem to be necessary demons to work through in order to get to the shear joy of creating. Also this book is in full color - not only are there many illustrations, but even the text-only pages are on colored, patterned backgrounds. The book offers several different creative techniques to create your vision art - not just the traditional cut-and-paste collage method most often employed in doing this kind of intentioning work. All in all, this is a book that will appeal to creative people who are looking not only to articulate their dreams in a visual form, but also looking for inspiration and insight about the creative path.

Sheri Gaynor's book Creative Awakenings is wonderfully accessible. She clearly lays out a fun way to access your dreams and create your best life through art and intention. Lovely images and inspiring creations abound. The book offers many techniques and prompts - but it's so much more than a "how to" book. Sheri invited a dozen artists to engage in her process and share their resulting art and narratives. It's a book to read and use and read some more. Creative Awakenings has nudged me to be more playful in my art and more intentional in my life. On top of all of that, Sheri is creating a community of artists who are using this book as a common ground. If you have any interest in expanding your creativity, envisioning a better life, or connecting with like minded folks, then I highly recommend Creative Awakenings!

Heard about this in Kimberly Wilson's podcast and had to have the book. I find it inspiring and full of great ideas.

!I recently stopped teaching art at the school I was at for the past few years. I'm now getting myself in a position to teach my own workshops for kids & adults, work on my art work, ect... You book has given me inspiration for this process... I really like the way that it is not a "How to" but rather a thoughtful musing of the creative process, and a conversation between creative minds