Art Of Tracy Verdugo Blog

There is a pleasure in the pathless woods, There is a rapture on the lonely shore, There is society, where none intrudes, By the deep sea, and music in its roar: I love not man the less, but Nature more. ~George Gordon, Lord Byron, Childe Harold's Pilgrimage too often I forget that right outside my door is the medicine to soothe my overwhelm, infuse my spirit with a feeling of absolute freedom and connect me to my muse. it really isn't even that I forget...i just get caught up in a cycle of DOINGNESS until I STOP and reevaluate and remember the need for BEINGNESS... This morning I took a long, lovely walk on the beach, alone. My purpose was not to exercise but just to wander, to feel the sand beneath my feet and WONDER. I noticed the marks made by the little pippies (clams) like some ancient script willing us to remember our connection and the way the clouds filled the sky in ripples. and how the water split the sand in tiny rivulets I noticed the tiny pi...

This time last week I was up to my elbows in paint,ink and pastels, hanging out in a stable with 13 gorgeously brave creative seekers, surrounded by gum trees, horses, kangaroos and cockatoos! Heaven! In these beautiful surroundings I got to deliver my very first Paint Mojo two day workshop~ the format I will be bringing to the U.S in Sept. I can't tell you how much I am loving spending an entire weekend teaching and inspiring others to recognise and own their unique creative mojo and in return being taught and inspired by my students in oh so many ways. Thank you for allowing me into the landscapes of your lives, your creative space, into its wonder..... its childhood memories... its performance anxiety.... its tender, vulnerable beauty.... its limitless possibilities....its critical voice... Even though I have been teaching for twelve years I'm feeling something very new unfold inside me and it FEELS SO RIGHT ♥ During the weekend we shared our stories, fo...

Hello lovelies....just wanted to share this beautiful interview with Rice, Sallianne and Ellen! It gave me chills and made me teary at the same time..... It still doesn't feel quite real that in 6 months time I'll be teaching at my first BIG retreat and judging from this heartful podcast and from the interaction already happening at the Art Is You Yahoo group I've chosen the right one for my initiation. I will be teaching three workshops at both retreats, Petaluma, California and Stamford, Connecticut. Sacred Marks will be a two day intensive where I will encourage students to dig deep into their own wellspring of creativity to find the contemplative space to create personal symbols and their own unique narrative. Students will explore a multitude of abstract techniques using paint, ink, oil pastel and collage. Text and imagery will be woven together to create a unique, personal art language. On Friday we will throw our preconceived notions to the winds and spend...

Hi all...its been a little bit quiet from my side hasn't it? Lots happening and continuing to happen in this girls life... a very strange start to the year and not as anticipated with me being laid out on my back for three days over New years with horrible lower back spasms... just started getting that under control with a few visits to my lovely physio when WHAMMO!!! an attack of yucky IBS right in the middle of a long anticipated visit from the gorgeous Louise Gale !! we managed to have a lovely time anyways even though I probably shouldn't have been eating that raspberry chocolate chip muffin under the circumstances! In the midst of all this painting, painting, painting ...finally finished two commissions that my poor friend Angela had been waiting for for 6 months...this one is her on her new vespa! She really is the cutest! Also been painting for two exhibitions, one which opened last weekend and has been very successful with 5 paintings sold so far and gr...

Big message from the Universe to me at the end of this amazing year.... SLOW DOWN!!!! Have been flat out on my back or on my side dealing with lower back spasms which my chiro says are a result of a twisted sacrum... ok, ok I get the hint...so I've been a little bit (understatement!) in overdrive, so I've been playing the role of Superwoman all year, trying to be the best mum, wife, artist, teacher I can be, studying full time and setting a standard of Distinction or High Distinction for my results, setting the wheels in motion for an EXTRAORDINARY 2012!! So for now I'm getting the message, chilling out, actually watched a whole movie in bed today and bawled my eyes out for the whole second half.. if you havent seen The Notebook you should so watch it... absolutely beautiful and just the right thing for me to see today and to contemplate the biggest most real,truly important thing in life...LOVE ♥♥♥ I'm also counting down the last 20 hours till the inc...

"When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be." ~Lao Tzu~ Hello beautiful friends...i hope you've all had the loveliest time over the past week of holiday festivities..I've been busy, busy, busy painting happily away, indulging in delish food and yummy wine, hanging out with Marco and the girls and getting in a little beach time. today I felt moved to share a process with you which is especially relevant at this time of the year.... in honour of letting go of those things which no longer speak to us or even about us and allowing ourselves to move forward into our most amazing ever blossoming newest and shiniest selves.. this painting is the last large one left of a series I painted in 2008 inspired by our family's 7 month creative sabbatical which took us from Australia to the U.S , Canada and Mexico...(you can read more about our adventures here ) all of the rest have found their new homes and gone to live with lovely new families....but th...