This. Is. So. True. For. Me.
by Rebecca Schwieger | Feb 3 | @releaseyourcreativity
Thank you






Thank you
I don’t believe anyone is born with talent. Maybe one can be born with inclination, but talent is something one strives for. Talent is something achieved, not given. Renowned psychologist and professor from Florida State University, K. Anders Ericsson, pioneered the concept that it takes 10,000 hours of practice to become an expert. Here are four tips to help encourage a consistent practice:
Routine is critical to a sustainable schedule. If you cannot carve out a set time to practice your skill, create a “ritual”, an action or habit that will separate “regular time” from “practice time”. Maybe wear special slippers while you paint, or take a bath before every session, maybe play a special musical playlist dedicated specifically for your practice. Anything to help your brain make the connection “Now is the time to focus on my practice”.
An organized work space is a productive workspace, a messy room is a messy mind! These are some of my favorite mantras to keep me motivated to keep a tidy environment. The best way to keep a place organized is to literally have a designated place for everything so that you know when something is out of place. For example, before I had my coin jar, all of my loose change was just spattered all over my room. In old purses, pockets, drawers, dressers, etc. Now that I have a designated place for my coins, anytime I see a coin, I instinctively place it in the jar. If you are an artist, an organized work space will lead for a productive practice. You don’t have to waste 15 minutes finding your pencils when you know where they are. Also, it will be easier to clean up after your practice because you also know where to place all of your pencils.
Have a system in place to hold yourself accountable for your practice. Find a buddy who will help keep you motivated. Whether it’s for working out, practicing an instrument, learning a new language– having a buddy helps keep the flames alive. Maybe tell your friend that every Friday you two will meet to discuss the progress you’ve independently made during the week. Perhaps even a little competition can even be healthy!
Find your passion by asking yourself “Why?”; why is it important to you to master this particular skill? When you lose sight of the “why”, the practice becomes a chore– and chores are no fun! Perhaps upon asking yourself “why?”, you may find that what you once did for enjoyment no longer brings you joy. And that’s okay! If it doesn’t bring you joy anymore, then why keep doing it? Knowing when to quit is also part of succeeding. One of my favorite C. S. Lewis quote is “We all want progress, but if you’re on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; in that case, the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive.”
I hope this helps whoever needs a little bit of encouragement… you are not “untalented”, you just need more practice!
————————————————————————————————————————————
Sign up for a LIVE online art class today! We have classes for adults, teens, and kids. The Art Studio NY’s nurturing style of teaching is perfect for beginners. Engage with some of New York’s top rated artists and mingle with students who share a similar passion for art.
“I can’t paint, I’m not creative” WRONG. Anyone can paint, even your cat!
I saw this painting technique in a Tiktok video over the weekend and I just had to share it with anyone and everyone. Here’s how you can teach your cat how to paint:
1. Grab your blank canvas, put globs of paint on it.
2. Gently slide the canvas with paint globs into a plastic bag.
3. Place catnip and/or cat treats on top of bag.
4. Step aside, and let the artist do their thing!
And voila, you have your beautiful abstract painting, even more special because it was done by your beloved furry friend.
Now, if a cat can do it, you don’t have any excuse! Start painting today.
————————————————————————————————————————————
Sign up for a LIVE online art class today! We have classes for adults, teens, and kids. The Art Studio NY’s nurturing style of teaching is perfect for beginners. Engage with some of New York’s top rated artists and mingle with students who share a similar passion for art.
Everything you do- and I mean everything-has built in benefits. Otherwise, you just wouldn’t do it.
Skipping daily workouts, even though you “really want” to be healthier? You gain more time lounging in PJs and texting with friends.
Repeating the same relationship pattern after you promised yourself you’d “never” date someone unavailable again? You gain self-protection, control and avoid getting hurt.
We create convincing stories why our choices are healthy (even when they’re not)because we are terrified of the unknown. The best option? Embrace discomfort as if your life depends on it… because your life really does depend on it.
Every behavior has its gain, and by clinging to the comfort of familiarity, there is also a huge cost.
WHAT DO YOU LOSE?
The cost is higher than the gain.
#bebrave #createthelifeyoulove #feelthefearanddoitanyway #creativepower #bebrave #narratives #choosestrength #abstractpainters #commissionedart #befreebeyou
For the last 11 months, most of us have hardly seen a thing besides the inside of our homes. Many of us sit on the computer, watching from our windows as the Sun and Moon relentlessly chase each other. The days blend together, the weeks go by quickly, and before we know it, an entire year has passed us by and we have almost nothing to show for it.
How can we overcome this feeling of… time lost?
To tell you the truth, I don’t know! I don’t really think anyone knows right now…
But I do know that I have found one basic principle that has helped combat the monotony:
Whether it is to listen to a song I’ve never heard before, practice a yoga pose I’ve yet to try, or even call a friend I haven’t spoken to in a while… having one unusual experience per day has been so helpful in keeping the days separate.
I started getting into videogames over the last few months despite being a lifelong videogame-hater. A few months ago, I found myself already over the day by 2 pm. I wanted to just go to sleep already so that I could “fast forward” time. Fate had it that my little brother caught me just before my depression nap. He asked if I wanted to watch him play the new videogame he just downloaded. I wanted to saw “Ew, no” but I was so out-of-my-mind bored that I agreed because there’s no way it could be worse than refreshing my Twitter timeline for the 467th time that day.
To make a long story short, my brief open mindedness led to a a completely new hobby. I’ve since purchased a few videogames of my own. I even found an online community of people who also love the same videogames as I do. I have something to look forward to after work, I have a new group of online friends to talk to, and I have a lot less free time (which is a good thing nowadays, isn’t it?)
Pay attention to how you feel physically. I’ve noticed when my mind craves fresh stimulation, it sends me signals in the form of my physical well-being. I notice I feel more antsy, my legs get restless, my shoulders tight, my eyes strained. That general malaise is almost always cured by a change of scenery– a walk to the window, a walk to the mailbox, even just a simple room change.
Let’s all challenge ourselves to try one new thing this weekend. One thing we haven’t yet done. Whether it is to saunter down the street you usually walk past or to watch a movie you’ve never seen before; Let’s satiate the mind’s craving for novelty and defeat those feelings of apathy!
—————————————————————————————————–
Sign up for a LIVE online art class today! We have classes for adults, teens, and kids. The Art Studio NY’s nurturing style of teaching is perfect for beginners. Engage with some of New York’s top rated artists and mingle with students who share a similar passion for art.
The healing journey of self-development and personal growth is a winding pathway to home. Home within yourself.
At times a steep climb and at others a gentle summer’s rain, you learn to get out of your own way. You strip away the layers that were not ever yours to begin with. False beliefs handed down from generations, traumas acted out onto you that were never about you, all of the times you were told no when your soul needed a yes.
Like an onion, peel them away. Bless and thank each layer of intelligent self-protection, and then let it go. With each release, you become lighter. Freer. You’re one step closer to home.
The parts of you that need changing often get so loud that denial is no longer an option; they’re (you’re) ready for alchemy. The parts of you that have known home get clearer, truer.
10 years ago, I posted this poem. It speaks to me even more today than it did then. It’s home.
“We are not valuable because we are a member of a certain group or because
we call God by a certain name. We are not valuable because we follow a
guru or observe a certain diet. We are valuable because we are a spark of
the divine. And the only thing Gurus, priests, rabbis and elders can do
for us is point us back in the direction of home, and home is, of course, within.”
~Darren John Main
#homewithin #healyourlife #createalifeyoulove #colorfullife #beyourself #truecolors #healingjourney #gohome #createalifeyoulove #abstractpainting
“I’m not an artist”, we tell ourselves, because we can’t draw a realistic portrait.
“I’m not that creative”, we convince ourselves because we’ve never bothered to push our limits.
We create a self fulfilling prophecy when we allow our preconceptions to hinder our drive to try something new.
Your art doesn’t have to look like a Monet to consider yourself an artist.
You don’t have to be the best, you just have to do your best.
I implore you to find your muse. Sometimes I look at my cat and I think “Holy moly you are so cute, I’m filled with so much love, I just want to squish you, squeeze you, never let you go”.
Anyone who’s ever been around a baby knows the conflict between needing to be delicate but also needing to ‘squish’ because the cuteness is just so out of control. That conflict can be your muse.
Put pen to paper and write about how cute your baby/fur baby is.
Put brush to canvas and express through color the feelings your cute baby/fur baby evoke out of you.
You don’t have to “be an artist” to create art. You just have to do it. Don’t let your fear of creating something unsightly hold you back. Let your guard down, tell the critical voice in the back of your mind to take a hike, and just be.
As they say, “the only wasted paint is paint still in the tube”
—————————————————————————————————————————
Sign up for a LIVE online art class today! We have classes for adults, teens, and kids. The Art Studio NY’s nurturing style of teaching is perfect for beginners. Engage with some of New York’s top rated artists and mingle with students who share a similar passion for art.
Everything starts and ends at home.
Home isn’t just an address. Rather, it’s the world inside of me, of you and of every human being.
YOU are your HOME. Create the home you long for inside of your own skin.
Want more LOVE? Learn how to love yourself more.
Want to TRUST life more? Begin by learning how to become the person you yourself can trust.
Want more SUCCESS? Learn how to let go of limiting beliefs and replace them with beliefs (and then action) that inspire you.
What you want the most in life starts as an inside job. You are a creation of the Universe, and the entire Universe lives inside of you. Get clear on what you want, and then do whatever it takes to become the person who creates and attracts every last drop of the full life you desire and deserve.
Create it within. You’re worth it. I believe in you.
#BEDOHAVE #kravet #yestokravet #insidejob #rebeccaschweiger #modernartist #homewithin #betruetoyou #textilearts #createalifeyoulove #artstudiolife #nycarts
Art has proven stress- relieving properties. There are many published studies on the correlation between colors and moods. There are so many benefits to exercising your creative muscle, below are some suggestions on how you can awaken your inner-artist!
This may seem like the most obvious one, but of course I have to mention it! Create a space for yourself that you find pleasant to look at. Hang up posters with stimulating colors. Find some throw blankets in your favorite color and use them to add another layer of color and coziness to the space. Don’t be afraid to change things up. Maybe rearrange things once every few months to keep the energy flowing and fresh. After all, the brain craves novelty.
In the age of the smartphone, many of us have seemingly transformed into amateur photographers. Sometimes we will share those photos on social media, but most of the time the pictures just sit in the cloud, never to be looked at again. I encourage you to spend some time and a few bucks printing them out! You can frame them and hang them on your wall, turn them into a beautiful mixed media art piece, or even make a scrapbook! I always think of photography as a way to immortalize time. Hold on to your pictures, you never know where they may end up 100 years from now…
Food is a way to nourish your body. In today’s era of convenience, all too often we eat food for pleasure rather than fuel. A rule of thumb I keep in mind when it comes to eating a balanced diet is; your plate should feature an array of colors (Natural colors! Not food dye/artificial flavoring). I like to challenge myself to make color coordinated food dishes. Red tomato sauces, orange turmeric spiced, yummy yellow polenta, leafy greens, blueberry smoothies, and pretty purple cabbage slaws… the possibilities are endless! It is especially fun when you visit your local market and try to cook with the seasonal produce. Cooking is more than a chore, it is a form of art.
Fashion can seem like an intimidating niche. Too often we let our own insecurities get in the way of wearing the clothes we admire. And sometimes, it’s our budget that gets in the way. Well, like anything in this world, if you want it bad enough, you can make it happen. It’s the beginning of a new year, now is the perfect time to start revamping your wardrobe. There are so many great resources online on ways to upcycle old clothes. Thrift stores and secondhand shops are wonderful places to find great quality clothes for a fraction of the price. Draping your body in colors that are pleasing to you, textures that feel stimulating to your skin will certainly boost your mood and your confidence.
Everyone who isn’t an artist claims they have no creative bone in their body. That is just not true! You just haven’t found your creative outlet yet. Not everyone is a painter, but everyone is an artist. Perhaps your art is in the form of woodworking, model making, Lego building, sewing, etc! The best thing you can do is try it all and see what sticks. If you find that you are at a point in your life where you are very unstimulated, bored with your regular routine, social media no longer gives you that sweet, sweet dopamine release, then you probably should be doing some self discovery. Explore yourself, figure out what you are interested in. Embark on a creative endeavor. It can be anything from building a fort for your cat out of cardboard to filming and editing TikTok videos. At the end of it, you will have something tangible to show for your time spent.
——————————————————————————————————————————
Bored of life and want to try something new? Sign up for an online art class today! The Art Studio USA has just added new one-time workshop classes for the month of February. Sign up today by visiting our Adult Class Calendar . Questions? Email us at info@theartstudiony.com
by Rebecca Schwieger | Jan 27 | @releaseyourcreativity
During this COVID time, I’ve identified life goals- from work priorities to community to relationships to living in nature- where I’ve been hungry to grow, evolve and change for MANY years…. and either fear, old false beliefs (which seem so convincing!) or lack of time (excuses!) kept getting in my way (aka, I was getting in MY own way!).
So, I decided it was time to call in the troops and upgrade my team. It takes a village, and you’ll benefit by creating your very own personalized team of cheerleaders, healers, helpers, coaches, mentors, truth tellers, family, friends, and lovers. Only you know who gets to be on your team. Remember that you are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with. Choose wisely.
This team is your tribe, and every member is devoted to you being YOUR BEST YOU. They tell you the truth (especially when it’s hard to hear), believe in you, accept and love you (and call you out on your BS), hold the bar high when you’re thriving, and catch your tears when you’re slogging through the messy, hard stuff.
In a conversation with one of my “teammates” yesterday, I voiced my desire for more time and space. To be. To listen. To make space for “new” that desires to birth through me. And to focus my time doing and being what brings me fulfillment and joy.
I ended Tuesday and began today enveloped by a 5’ x 9’ canvas, adding the finishing brushstrokes to this colorful commission. I went to bed with a hot cup of tea while bonding with @michelleobama (highly recommend “Becoming”), and I enter this morning sharing what life keeps teaching me- that leading and living with vulnerability, radical honesty (with yourself first), authenticity and openness is where the magic is.
So go, BE YOU, and compile your team.
#teamworkmakesthedreamwork #bettertogether #bestself #MichelleObama #createalifeyoulove #acrylicpainting #authenticself #radicalhonesty #openhearted #yourteam #buildyourteam #rebeccaschweiger #mixedmediaartist #theartstudiony
Learn how to make a meditative art journal that captures your unique voice. You’ll learn how to layer and intuitively collage, express yourself with paint and meditative marks, use watercolor to channel your mood, then add quotes, pictures and other details to personalize your journal pages. This Beginner’s Art Journaling Class provides the perfect place to explore your feelings through words and art.
Open to all levels, for beginners and seasoned artists alike, in this art class YOU will:
Express yourself through endless artistic techniques in painting, mixed-media, and a wide variety of art supplies. Have social engagement with a community of like-minded people. During this time of COVID-19, we need community more than ever. Learn new weekly techniques with hands-on demonstrations. Receive customized, one-on-one expert art instruction based on your personal needs and interests. Learn in our encouraging, intimidation-free, non-judgmental online art class. Explore and improve on foundational techniques, including: color, tone/value, texture usage, traditional and non-traditional materials usage, composition, glazing, brushwork, personal imagery, paint application, the art of combining art mediums, and more! Feel inspired by subject matter, such as: abstraction, realism, landscape, the human figure, art history, and personally chosen subject matter. Create a finished piece of artwork, and experience a sense of accomplishment. Receive the scientifically proven health benefits of engaging in art, including stress relief, anxiety and depression reduction, increased focus, boosts self-esteem and enhances problem-solving skills.
Use the links below to sign up for an art journaling class today!
4 WEEK ADULT SESSION:ART JOURNALING CLASS ONLINE – The Art Studio NY
Adult Classes – The Art Studio NY
“Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.” -Carl Jung
Contrast. Light and dark, living in harmony, is what brings a painting to life. Many of us, however, will spend our entire lives suppressing and denying our own contrasting shadows that live inside of ourselves.
Beware. The more you reject your darker side, the bigger and stronger these internal forces grow. Denial feeds the monster.
The challenge. Our shadows are not easy to see. They’re often blind spots! We deny, block and defend against seeing the truth, because shadows feel threatening… and antithetical to what and who we imagine ourselves to be.
What shocked me when I “got” it. Every judgement, finger pointing moment, blame, frustration, and anger I have towards another, or a feeling I have that is “of course” someone else’s fault (aka inner-blamer), is simply a mirror or projection of something that exists within me. We are reflections to and for each other. If you’re wise, you’ll take a deep look in your own mirror.
Go deep or go home. Lately, I’ve been dancing, crying, talking, giggling and cuddling with my shadows. Meet my shadow cast: I have parts of me that are controlling, judgemental blamer, teenage-tough as nails, people-pleasing, a rebel, defensive and defenseless, to name just a few.
Psychologist Carl Jung, “the shadow” superhero, warns that repressing you’re shadows will prevent you from reaching your full potential. When you fail to examine your own shadow, you become a slave to false beliefs, psychic injuries, and the opinions of others- and worst of all, you lack real awareness and acceptance of your true self.
Get to know your shadow. Often, underneath the shadow armor is a part of you that is yearning to be loved, accepted and cared for… by YOU. It may be a bumpy ride at first, and don’t go it alone. Eventually, expect to encounter your greatest teacher, healer, best friend, lover and truth teller. Your own self.
#shadowwork #meandmyshadow #carljung #mixedmediaart #artstudiolife #theartstudiony #trueself #lightandshadow #selfacceptance #psychology
Art is a vessel for self expression. Sometimes, we have a lot to say and words just aren’t enough. Too many people feel repelled by art because they believe they “can’t even draw a stick figure!” I suppose that means we feel art is supposed to look a certain way. For something to be considered ‘art’, it has to be held to a ‘certain standard’.
Okay well, who is setting the standard? Seriously, is there an HR handbook that outlines what art is supposed to look like? And who is enforcing these guidelines? Is there an Art Police Force that goes around writing tickets to those who create repulsive art?
Remember, no one is going to create a Kahlo-level painting on their first try. Why would you compare your first month of work to someone who is years into their practice? Our aversion to try new things because we are afraid to fail is what keeps us complacent. With that complacency, we start to crave novelty.
Aldous Huxley writes about the human race seeking mind-altering substances before it even discovered farming! It is innate to want to escape. Instead of trying to fight it, accept it. Go with it. Pay attention to your current routine; how do you cope with the desire to escape?
We may find that some of our habits, while they serve their purpose in the moment, may have some unsavory effects on our physical and mental well being– and that is okay! You are only human and you are trying to keep yourself and your family alive while trying to understand this mysterious existence that is Life.
Begin thinking about how we can replace our negative habits with something that can serve a similar purpose but provide us with a healthier being. Remind yourself that you want to make this transition because you love yourself.
The reason I like art so much is because at the end of a practice, I have something tangible that will represent that particular thought journey.
What keeps my performance anxiety at bay is reminding myself “It is not important to be liked by others, it is only important that I can live with myself”.
This painting of my cats may not be realistic enough to win me an award, but it brings a smile to my face because it reminds me of my four furry friends. Twenty years from now, my cats won’t be here anymore, but I will always have this painting to remind me of how much I loved them. That is motivation enough to keep me painting. Even when I’m at that stage where the painting is so hideous I start to doubt my entire existence. “Push through it,” I remind myself. Even when I’m at the stage where I’ve been working on it for days but it looks like nothing has changed yet I still feel like it’s not done. “Just keep pushing through it.”
Just keep pushing until you get to the part where you can look at your painting and think “Yep, I can live with this”.
Take an online art class today with some of New York City’s top rated artists. Exercise your self-acceptance muscle by creating and sharing your art in a safe and nurturing environment. New winter 2021 virtual art classes have been added for Kids, Teens, and Adults. Questions, comments, art work? Send it to info@theartstudiony.com ATTN Kristen
Some lessons are timeless.
“Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it,” said the 13th century mystical poet, Rumi.
The realest, hardest and most epic journey of love occurs between you and you.
If you long for the love story, become your deepest lover and most compassionate friend. Embrace and stand naked with all of your pieces. Kiss your wounds with compassion. Belong first to yourself. Set yourself free.
When you feel triggered by someone or something outside of yourself, bless the messenger and ask, “How is this a mirror of what exists inside of me? What part of me do I need to see, accept and love?” For everything you feel and notice in another, you are that, too. We are all made of the same stuff.
Discover the barriers you’ve built against being and living as your most authentic self. Hug, kiss and heal the shame, fear, rage, trauma and the shadowy layers of yourself that you’ve refused and rejected. It’s time to come home to you. Welcome it all.
The depth of loving connection that you feel with another is directly connected to just how much you can love every part of your perfectly imperfect self.
Confucius said it perfectly. “I want you to be everything that’s you, deep at the center of your being.” That’s what true love is.
#truetoyou #loveyourselffirst #acrylicpaintings #abstractartist #commissionedart
It’s the beginning of a new year- a time filled with optimism, renewal, and resolutions.
Yet, we all know how this goes… by March, that ambition will have turned into self-reproach. Statistics show that at least 50% of people who make New Year’s resolutions lose motivation after just a few weeks. There are the go-getters of society who are able to create goals for themselves and actually stick to them. However, I believe the majority is like myself– a go-getter in spirit but a loafer in practice.
I set myself up with great expectations which only leads me down a spiral of disappointment when I inevitably don’t meet them. Then I feel ashamed of myself so I give up completely because I am afraid to face failure yet again.
If you find that you follow a similar pattern, I think I have found a solution:
You will be disappointed when you try to imagine how the future should look, how the world should be, how the people around you should behave. You will never be satisfied with the outcome when you’ve already imagined what it should look like.
The same sentient can be applied to your art practice. Before sitting down to begin a painting, I already have an idea of what the end result should look like. As it turns out, my motor skills are not as aligned with my imagination as I thought and my painting never looks quite how I envision it. I get so lost trying to perfect the strokes that I can’t even see that my painting is beautiful just as it is!
In short, give yourself goals, goals are good. They give you something to look forward to, something to work for, a reason to get out of bed every morning. But, be easy on yourself! Go with the flow, listen to your body. And most importantly, stay present.
I’ll tell you what you can do today– and that is to check out The Art Studio NY 2021 winter class schedule! Keep an eye out for the new virtual art classes and maybe make “take an online art class” one of your 2021 resolutions!
Imagine if the sun purposely withheld its rays out of fear, and clouds clung to their raindrops while worrying what fellow moisture-holders thought. Odd, right?
So, why do humans do it? Withhold, fear, cling, worry, people please, hold back from sharing our inner-essence. When you do that, you make the flowers of your life droop and die.
Express every little drop of your you-ness. Let us see you, feel you, be with you in your state of perfect imperfection. You were born for this.
You may not see it with your eyes, yet much of what matters most is experienced not by sight but by the human heart. When you live life with all you’ve got, you share your light, your truth, your you-ness…. and that special magic that only you have echoes and ripples and reaches into every crack and crevice, seen and unseen alike.
You being you, me being me and we being we changes the world. Step by step. Day by day. It’s where the healing happens. It’s not always easy, yet it’s always worth it.
Don’t hold back. Take the risk. Paint. Sing. Howl. Have those hard conversations. Stop tiptoeing through life. Cry. Kick like The Rockettes. And please, have some FUN! Wear a tutu and twirl your pretty self away. Go dance your pants off, unedited.
Life is now. There is NO tomorrow. It doesn’t yet exist.
Time waits for no one.
Inspiring art classes to kick of 2021 while connecting to ALL OF YOU:
@theartstudiony www.theartstudiony.com
#LiveToday #creativeliving #createthelifeyoulove #liveyourtruth #authenticity #freespirits #loveyourself #liveandlove #mixedmediaart #mixedmediaartists
Here in NYC, it’s starting to get dark around 4 pm. Between the remote living and the early moonrise, I’m beginning to feel a sense of disconnect to my state of being. I feel uninspired, unmotivated, and unengaged.
The brain craves novelty. Research shows that exposing yourself to new stimuli and challenging yourself to create new habits will develop new neural pathways in the brain. To be alive is to be stimulated. Anything that engages your sensory faculty will connect you to your sense of self. Experiencing the world through your senses will remind you that you are, indeed, alive. Keeping this in mind, there are many exercises you can do each day to fully emerge yourself into the present.
This is arguably my most indulgent sense. Rummage through your kitchen and savor the different spices and flavors that are special to you. Spend an evening creating a dish that you find comforting. Mindfully snack on a fruit, chew it slowly, pay attention to the splash of stimulation on your taste buds.
Sniff your favorite perfume. I keep sachets of lavender in every room of the house. Lavender is among many other herbs that are clinically proven to reduce feelings of stress. Brew your favorite tea, fill your home with the aroma of coffee, light a delicious candle.
To your favorite music. Listen to the vibrations of Tibetan healing bowls. My favorite sound lately has been didgeridoo music. The Polynesian vibrations evoke an interesting sensation from within. Listen to the cars drive past your window. Play an audio of a babbling brook or the white noise of a thunder storm.
Experience the sensation of a warm bath. Pet your furry kitten or pup. Give your roommate a gorgeous hug. Run your hands across a satin robe.
Give your sore eyes something pleasant to look at. Create a stunning art piece. Stimulate your brain with bright yellows, moody blues, passionate reds. Learn how to turn a blank piece of paper into a visual masterpiece.
In times of isolation, your imagination can be your best friend. Keep yourself surrounded by brightness in these dark, winter months. Better yet, now with the power of Zoom online art classes, you can feel inspired by creating alongside others with a similar passion as you. Create art under the instruction of one of NYC’s top rated art professionals.
The Art Studio USA’s virtual art classes will awaken the fire within you to keep your creativity blazing all throughout these winter months.
Please visit our winter 2021 class calendar for adults, teens, and kids to see what we have available for you.
Be nice. Be kind. Give to others. Save the world. Don’t be selfish.
In Julia Cameron’s bestseller The Artist’s Way (my personal pandemic highlight), she shares, “Afraid to appear selfish, we lose our self. Many people, caught in the virtue trap, do not appear to be self-destructive to the casual eye. Bent on being good husbands, fathers, mothers, wives, teachers, whatevers, they have constructed a false self that looks good to the world and meets with a lot of worldly approval. We refuse to ask ourselves, ‘What are my needs? What would I do if it weren’t too selfish?’”
What would you do if it wasn’t “selfish”? Carve out time to do those things that nourish your true self. The world will thank you for it.
The Art Studio NY and USA’s online art classes will provide live technique demonstrations. Our virtual art studio provides a safe space to develop your skill alongside your peers. In these relaxed and encouraging online art classes, you will receive step-by-step guidance and nurturing art instruction by a professional New York City artist.
All of our offered online watercolor classes will deepen your knowledge of color mixing and how to create color palettes that are expressive and beautiful. Our live watercolor classes online will teach you how to create and build texture, composition, both abstract and realistic painting techniques, layering of paint, expressive mark making, and more!
Create beautiful bouquets, daisies, roses, and everything in between.
This class is available as a one time workshop or an eight-week series.
Learn the foundational techniques needed to paint the birds you see in your own backyard. You will leave this class with the resources and confidence to create a bird painting of any kind.
Perfect for those who want to begin painting at home, but don’t know how to start!
This class will nurture your inner-artist and you will feel inspired as you deepen your practice of portrait and figure drawing. Drawing techniques including quality lines, identifying form and big planes, contrasts and counterpoints, line of gravity, gesture drawing, mark making, drapery and textures, light and shadow, blending and edge control. Create a variety of artworks, including specific features like eyes, hands, lips, arms, and selected subject matter of your choice.
Ages 9-12
In this class, students will learn artistic techniques through drawing, including how to draw animal faces, bodies, proportions, textures for fur, scales and wings, shading and shadowing, making things 3-dimensional, colored pencil color mixing, color layering, and more!
Students will receive step by step instruction on how to draw a wide range of animals, such as pandas, penguins, cats, koala bears, parrots, foxes, unicorns, dolphins, snow leopards, and more!
Ages 9-12
In this interactive and upbeat drawing class, kids will learn how to draw everything as they master drawing techniques such as shading, composition, detail, 3D effect, contrast, mark making, personal expression, and more.
This is a class for all comic book, manga, and cartoon lovers who are eager to express themselves creatively AND have FUN in the process! This engaging and inspiring cartoon drawing art class will teach your child specific comic, cartoon, and manga drawing techniques combined with the encouragement for personal self-expression. Specifically, students will develop their own unique, personal drawing style while learning how to draw faces, living figures in motion, develop comics, cartoons, and manga characters
Check out our adult art class calendar and kids art class calendar to see all available classes!
Don’t see anything that quite covers your goal? Contact us at info@theartstudiony.com to inquire about setting up a private online painting lesson or online drawing lesson.
Enjoy this inspiring journey of watercolor painting classes with NYC’s #1-Rated art studio, The Art Studio NY. In this class, you will learn a wide variety of watercolor painting techniques that will send your creative spirit soaring. In our beginner virtual watercolor lessons you will learn how to combine watercolor painting techniques with your own authentic self-expression in watercolor painting classes.
Painting is meditative, relaxing, and inspiring. Our instructors’ nurturing style of teaching encourages you to learn the artistic techniques of painting and self-expression. In our acrylic lessons on zoom, you will receive one-on-one expert art instruction as you enjoy our nurturing and non-judgmental art studio. At the end of it all, you will create many finished paintings to celebrate and hang in your home!
Oil paints are sumptuous, exciting, and one of the most popular painting mediums used by artists throughout the world. When you learn oils online in our Zoom oil painting lessons, you will relax, de-stress, and get inspired with encouraging art instruction. We will teach you how to master the most important oil painting class techniquesLearn to express yourself through oil painting. All levels welcome, but perfect for total beginners!
Drawing is one of the most popular modes of artistic expression since the beginning of time… just think of cavemen! Learn to express yourself through this encouraging and relaxing virtual drawing lesson. Learn our fear-free art approach as you learn to draw in our intimidation-free, non-judgmental art studio.Hundreds of past students have been completely amazed at how quickly they learned how to draw in our #1-rated NYC art classes!
If you’re not ready to commit to a multiple week class, check out one of our many one-time workshops. I will warn you, though, once you start creating art, you’ll never want to stop!
When I first moved to NYC, I was 19 and living in a one bedroom apartment with two other women. Anna had lived in the apartment the longest. She lived in NYC for the last ten years, and I was living on my own for the first time. I am so grateful for Anna because she took care of me like an older sister. She taught me how to keep a clean apartment, she gave me dating advice, and for a while, she was my only friend. She moved out only a few months later, while our time together was brief, I owe a lot of who I am to that fleeting friendship.
One night we were having one of our nightly tea talks before bed and without realizing it, she said something that transformed me forever. She said,
I don’t quite remember what brought this conversation up, but it was exactly what I needed to hear at the time. Perhaps Anna could feel the potent air of guilt that I carried with me everywhere like a pet chihuahua.
At the time, I felt guilty for everything!
I felt guilty when I didn’t give a subway beggar money.
I felt guilty for eating sweets after dinner.
I felt guilty for my thoughts, I felt guilty for my actions, I felt guilty for the way I look, I felt guilty for owning things– I never allowed myself to actually enjoy anything! The sad part is, I didn’t even realize that I was feeling this way.
Well, that night, Anna planted a seed in my psyche. It didn’t mean much to me at the time, but that seed was propagated a few months later when my mom gave me $60 to help me out with groceries…
Instead of getting groceries, I went straight to Smith St and spent all of my mom’s money at the bar. The next morning, I felt so guilty I couldn’t think about anything except how disappointed I was in myself. I called my mom to tell her that her daughter is a degenerate and she’s better off never giving me money again. My mom’s initial reaction was to laugh and to say “Oh well!”
I said, “No, Mami, I’m serious! You have to yell at me because it’s what I deserve.”
She saw how distraught I was, so instead of lecturing, she got serious and said, “Don’t feel bad, just do better next time.”
Writing this out now seems so silly that such a benign notion was so foreign to me. Not for nothing, but this goes to show how fragile a subconscious mind can really be. We do not realize how detrimental our thoughts can be to our livelihood.
When you are feeling guilty for something, you are dwelling on it, lamenting, wishing you could go back and do things over again. Well, I hate to break it to you, but Elon Musk hasn’t invented a Time Traveling Tesla yet. All the worry about what you “shoulda, coulda, woulda” is an exercise in futility.
Instead of feeling guilty, tell yourself “I did the best I could at that moment. The only thing I can do is to remember this feeling next time a similar situation arises, and to do better next time.” Then, release the thought. If it comes back again, that’s okay. Examine it again, and then release it again.
I know it is easier said than done, but like anything else, practice makes perfect. In the meantime, there are other things you can do when your brain’s Guilt Gear gets stuck.
Talk to a good friend.
Go for a walk in your neighborhood.
Cook a meal for you and your loved ones. (Do not underestimate the meditative nature of chopping veggies!)
Put pen to paper and write down your thoughts in a journal.
Or maybe sit down and make some art.
The Art Studio NY‘s nurturing style of teaching is the perfect way to connect with your intuition to really create a tangible piece of your own self expression. The virtual art journaling class is the perfect way for beginners, seasoned artists, and everyone in between to come together from anywhere in the world. You can enjoy creative fulfillment in this relaxing and self-expressive online art class! Learn how to make a meditative art journal that captures your unique voice. This Beginner’s Art Journaling Class provides the perfect place to explore your feelings through words and art.
Check out our adult class calendar to see what classes are available for you today!
Time seems to have been divided into two parts; Pre-Covid and Post-Covid. Everyone’s world as they once knew it has been shattered. With destruction, however, comes creation.
Learning to live in a Covid-19 society has not been an easy transition for anyone. Our sense of connection has been stripped from us seemingly overnight. We went from seeing our loved ones almost every day, to being alone for months on end. We have all made immense sacrifices to keep ourselves, our families, and our neighbors safe by staying home as often as possible.
The world will not remain in turmoil forever. Either Covid-19 will disappear eventually or we will learn how to be at peace with it. In fact, it has been about 8 months since the initial Covid-19 shut down in the United States and we are already starting to adapt to this new reality. Over the first few months of the pandemic, I kept telling myself “… when things go back to normal…” I have now replaced that notion with
We have virtual profiles, virtual hangouts, virtual jobs, virtual parties, virtual schooling… We now experience the world almost entirely through a screen!
As of last month, The Art Studio NY closed their studio in the Upper West Side– the location where they have served the community since it was founded over 16 years ago. What a bittersweet feeling it was to turn off the lights at the studio for the final time. Bitter, because it is the end of an era. Sweet, because with each ending comes a new beginning. We are without a physical studio, but we are also without restrictions. We are now bigger than we’ve ever been! We are no longer just The Art Studio NY, we have gone way beyond the Upper West Side.
The discomfort we are experiencing will be but a memory one day. Now is the time to be easy on yourself and be easy on those around you. Remain in control of your happiness, let yourself enjoy peace.
Thanks to technology, we now have students join in from almost every continent on the globe!
The Art Studio NY has had the pleasure of serving its neighborhood in the Upper West Side for about 15 years now. We are a place for children to hang out after school, a place for retirees to spend their mornings, and a place for friends to unwind with a bottle of wine after a long day at the office.
As TASNY grew through the years, one of our biggest “problems” (albeit, a good problem) is we just didn’t have enough space for all the students who wanted to be a part of our studio. Who knew the solution was right under our nose!
TASNY initially made the transformation to zoom art classes to keep up with the developments of the COVID-19 pandemic. We wanted to continue to provide a much needed outlet to our students, many of whom have been taking art lessons with us for years.
Within the first week of switching to art classes online, we began receiving registrations from folks in Virginia, Massachusetts, Florida, and more. I remember being so excited to see inquiries coming in from other states. Eventually, we started getting registrations from people in Canada, Italy, the Caribbean, even India and Australia! I thought, how cool is that? We have people interested in our little studio from thousands of miles away.
And apparently, it took closing our physical location to see just how strong that community really is. People are now able to get the NYC art studio experience from literally anywhere in the world. Zoom art classes online are the perfect way to meet people with similar interests as you no matter where you are located.
It’s a place for you to make a new friend, share a laugh, and mingle with people who may offer a new perspective from their side of the globe.
Check out our class schedule to see which Zoom art lesson is best fitted for you!
“It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you.” -Buddha
These last few months have been quite trying on us all. Not a single person is left unaffected by the Covid-19 pandemic. This pandemic has cost millions of people their loved ones, their jobs, and their way of life. Our lives as we knew it completely changed almost overnight. It is a very traumatic thing to have your sense of security stripped from you. We are all experiencing a distressing moment in history together. Many of us are in a highly emotional state right now.
And that is okay. Be easy on yourself.
We are all trying to figure out how to come out on the other side of this.
It is such a cliche to hear that meditation will change your life. Well cliches are cliches for a reason! If you know something works, why wouldn’t you do it?
When most people think of meditation, they think of the traditional way of sitting cross legged with a straight back and your eyes closed chanting “Aum”. That can be quite intimidating for those without prior knowledge or experience with meditation.
I’m here to make the benefits of meditation more accessible to you.
In simplified terms, meditation is completely experiencing the present moment. Your anchor is what keeps you grounded to the present.The breath is the most traditional anchor, but rules are meant to be broken.
Get creative, perhaps your anchor is your feet as they hit the ground while you walk to work. Or maybe it’s the knife on the cutting board as you chop onions for your family’s dinner.
My yoga teacher taught me thoughts can be grouped into two categories; past thoughts or future thoughts. Tidy up your mental space by filing away your thoughts into either the future or past category. Then bring your attention back to your anchor.
Focus on your breath and you suddenly remember that you’re alive. You made it this far.You’ve learned from your mistakes and you’re just trying your best.
There’s nothing to worry about until there’s something to worry about.A good friend of mine would always say “Stop worrying, Kristen! When you worry, you suffer twice.” Why waste valuable mental real estate on things that upset you?
The more you think about the things you don’t like, the more those things control you. And if you avoid thinking about the things you don’t like, they similarly control you as the avoidance surrenders you to external circumstances.
The key is to find balance. Be brave and acknowledge the truth. If something is bothering you, think of resolutions. The sooner you make the change, the faster you will reap the rewards of said change. Many people are hesitant to begin art classes because they claim they are unskilled. Well, duh, of course you are unskilled if you’ve never taken a class!
Talent is not something you are born with, it is ambition and practice. If you set your intentions on something and put in the time to work on it, you will be successful.
If you are looking for a safe space to practice self expression and exercise your intuition, I highly recommend signing up for our online Art Journaling class. Your instructor will encourage you to stop overthinking and just express yourself freely. Basically, art journaling is like keeping a visual diary to talk about various struggles or aspirations you may have. It is an aesthetic way to document your life!
Join Rebecca on Sunday Nights for her FREE online art class live streamed to Facebook and Instagram.
Instagram: @theartstudiony
Facebook: The Art Studio NY
Hanging up posters of your favorite band expresses who you are through the music that resonates with you.
Cooking dinner for your family is a way to express your love and affection for them.
Photographing a particular scene expresses the desire to remember that particular moment forever.
Just one google search will bring up enough articles about it to keep you reading until quarantine ends. There’s plenty of literature written on that subject by people way more qualified than me. So instead, I’ll share a quick anecdote.
My grandmother was a very feisty lady. When she passed away, I was faced with the typical existential anguish we all experience when a loved one passes. I felt grief, guilt, sorrow, fear, distress- all of these emotions just swirled around in my brain, making me feel as though I was a prisoner of my own mind.
Then one day I found a beautiful photograph of my grandmother from a vacation we took together. I thought this picture was so beautiful it just had to be a painting. I wanted to give the painting to my grandfather because I knew he was also having a hard time dealing with her loss. So I picked up a paintbrush and got to work.
As I painted, I could feel the emotions that have been tormenting me travel from within my brain, to my hand, onto the paintbrush, to then be deposited onto the canvas by the oil paint.
I turned an invisible foe into a tangible art piece . Through my own art, I was able to express my love for my late grandmother, and share a vulnerable experience with my grandfather.
TASNY’s goal is primarily to teach the technical applications of art- how to use your medium as a tool to craft the elusive visions within the mind. But it is more than that; it is a community, it is a support group, it is a home.
One of my many mantras are, “I want to be a blessing to everyone I meet”.
I think this exists in TASNY’s philosophy as well. We want to help improve each one of our students’ lives by creating a nurturing, welcoming environment- a safe space to be vulnerable. By providing online art lessons, TASNY acts as a catalyst for new friendships, new ideas, and a new You. By simply logging on to Zoom, you can enter a place to learn how to create a palpable expression of who you are so you can share it with the world, just like I shared my expression with my grandfather.
Click here to register for Rebecca’s FREE Sunday night online art lesson!