Are you plagued by a sense of lack?
A lack of connection to others?
A lack of connection to yourself?
A lack of satisfaction with your life?
The Artist's Way Can Help!
This workshop might be right for you if...
You're curious what a more creative life would be like.
You hide your dream
because
"it's impossible".
You don't even know how to know what you want.
You suspect that
life could be better.
What Is It?
The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Creative Recovery is a book written by Julia Cameron, originally published in 1995. Countless people over the last 30 years have used it to get more in touch with their authentic selves and express themselves creatively. You don't need to be An Artist to benefit from doing The Artist's Way - everyone creates every day, whether it's how you spend your time, how you look at the world, or where you decide to put that new lamp.
It's a 14 week program - 1 week to set the container, 12 weeks to work through the book, and 1 week to wrap up.
Group sizes are from 4-8 people, and we meet for 2 hours once a week.
All you need is a copy of the Artist's Way and a journal, and some art supplies along the way.
Share your journey and get support from other recovering creatives.
The Artist's Way is a 12 chapter book. Each chapter has a focus on a particular facet of creative healing, and readings and exercises related to that focus. Between our weekly meetings, you'll read a chapter and complete some of the exercises on your own. When we meet, we'll discuss how that week's journey went for each of us, what we thought of the readings, and our answers to the exercises if you feel comfortable sharing.
Want more details?
Testimonials
I had no idea what to expect from The Artist's Way, but I was craving a path towards deeper artistic expression. Gina helped me to dive into the work by offering a dedicated time and space each week. It took patience, but I discovered a new (or perhaps old?) trail in the wilderness of my mind and I've been walking it diligently ever since.
- Abigail S.
With her combination of humor and honesty, Gina created a warm environment that felt safe and fun for exploring ideas and emotions. I had unsuccessfully tried to work through the Artist's Way in the past, and doing it with Gina was the first time I made it all the way through. I experienced accelerated growth, personal expansion, and a deeper awareness of the wonders of daily life.
- Kate H.
Gina is great at making the space you need to develop as an artist - warm, supportive, active, and affirming. We have received so many messages over the years that tell us what we can't do. Gina is great at turning the volume on those messages down so you can discover what you can do, and listen to the most essential voice, your own.
- Luke O.
Creativity is not a luxury
But it is luxurious
Facilitated by Gina & Conly
I'm an Asheville musician/writer/painter/theater person/carpenter/aerialist. I first explored The Artist's Way when I was 21, and have worked through it 4 more times in the last 16 years - by myself, as a group participant, and as a facilitator.
With this workshop, I'm thrilled to offer people a chance at better living through the power of reclaimed creativity: understanding yourself better, getting out of your own way, finding deep joy, feeling truly seen, treating yourself with loving kindness, creating a life that feels vibrant and exciting.
I'm excellent at creating a safe container where people can more easily express themselves and risk exploring. I fully believe that each person is their own best teacher, and I strive to keep my ego out of the process so as to allow you the opportunity to fully focus on your own path.
Each and every person has something unique and valuable to contribute, and holding back that contribution causses discomfort and despair. Embrace your cosmic imperative to share the gift of your authentic self with the world.
Conly (they/she) is a ritual guide, educator, and artist whose work lives at the intersections of
creative process, ancestral lineage healing, and liberation frameworks.
Their vocational work spans three decades as
a performing artist, teacher, caregiver , restorative justice facilitator and healing practitioner. Conly is also a member of Actors Equity Association and grew up performing in regional theatre, film, and television.
With a BA in Theatre Arts, MA in Counseling Psychology and Expressive Arts Therapy, and ongoing Ph.D studies at the European Graduate School for Expressive Arts, Conly is a lifelong artist and student. Their work and scholarship
challenges old paradigms and amplifies decolonized ways of being. Conly teaches Expressive Arts Therapy at The Wheat Institute in Winnipeg, Canada, therein embodying intermodal arts based research methods, therapeutic approaches, community building, and NeuroQueer pedagogy.
Conly has worked with kids to centarians since a youth themselves and follows a lifelong charge growing with and nurturing communities towards deeper healing and more expansive self expression.
"Art
washes
away
from
the
soul
the
dust
of
everyday
life."
- Pablo Picasso
The Details
The Artist's Way is loosely structured after a 12 Step program - there are 12 chapters, each focusing on a different element of creativity and the conditions that allow it to flourish. Each chapter has some readings related to its topic, and then a few writing exercises or activities. We'll tackle one chapter at a time, meeting for two hours once a week to discuss how the week's experience went for each of us.
Week 1: Creating the container and getting acquainted
with the Basic Principles and the Basic Tools
Week 2: Recovering a Sense of Safety
Week 3: Recovering a Sense of Identity
Week 4: Recovering a Sense of Power
Week 5: Recovering a Sense of Integrity
Week 6: Recovering a Sense of Possibility
Week 7: Recovering a Sense of Abundance
Week 8: Recovering a Sense of Connection
Week 9: Recovering a Sense of Strength
Week 10: Recovering a Sense of Compassion
Week 11: Recovering a Sense of Self-Protection
Week 12: Recovering a Sense of Autonomy
Week 13: Recovering a Sense of Faith
Week 14: Wrap Up
The Artist's Way can be done as a self-directed program, just you and the book.
The benefits of doing it in a group are accountability (actually working with it instead of definitely wanting to but then...not doing it) and the beautiful supportiveness that can be found in other people. There's something about speaking your truth to a group that just hits harder than saying it to one person, or no one. Other people can also sometimes point out a theme or an angle to your thoughts that you'd miss on your own.
The book has a spiritual center, but it's of the "choose your own Higher Power" type. No belief in the Judeo-Christian God, or really any god, necessary.
The author recommends allowing about an hour a day for Artist's Way time, 7-10 hours per week. But like anything, you can put into it the amount of time you have and still get more benefit than not doing it at all.
Take
your
playtime
seriously.
The Logistics
The current workshop session will take place on
Monday afternoons from 1-3pm
September 15th - December 8th
There is a tiered price structure for this workshop:
$450
$575
$700
You can choose which tier works best for you. Those who are willing/able to pay more help to keep the work sustainable for us while also increasing access for those who are currently lesser-resourced.
There will be a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 10 participants per workshop session.
All meetings will take place at The Well in West Asheville.
Ready to Enroll?
We're excited for you to join us!
Workshop payments must be made in full before September 15th*. Please pay at your chosen tier and then fill out the enrollment questionnaire below.
After we receive your payment and your questionnaire, you will receive a welcome email with all the details you'll need before we get started.
*Payment plans available upon request - email artistswayavl@gmail.com*
