Point Zero Painting Workshop with
Debbie Purdy, Art Therapist


August 13 - 15, 2010
Friday, Saturday, Sunday
10 am to 6 pm

$295 (with $100 nonrefundable deposit)

contact Debbie Purdy to register at
(630) 530-5697 or
Debbie@creativewingsstudio.com

Experience Process Painting

We enter a room full of color, paint pots on a table, smooth white paper on the wall, and brushes of all sizes, waiting to be handled. We find our spot, in front of the paper. We start with our innocence, picking a color and seeing where it leads, with no agenda or meaning, just the relationship between ourselves, the paint, paper, images, and the others painting quietly in the room.

Comments on the quality of the painting are not permitted, giving us freedom to explore. This creates a sacred and safe place for our creativity to blossom. It's a personal space perfect for seeing how the energy leads us. A facilitator moves around the room, and when needed, uses a method of inquiry to see how we have stopped ourselves through judgment or fear. Inquiry helps us notice how we hold back from full expression with questions or doubt.

We move beyond our fears to let creativity come through again. Creative blocks are released and freedom and spontaneity return. We allow ourselves to play in the mystery again.We find we're not that different from everyone else. We all have the same ways of keeping ourselves stuck. The community of painters supports our process. It is rewarding to see others take risks. It allows us to jump in and choose our creative freedom too.

As we continue to explore, we become fascinated in the truth that comes from pure expression. We come to life again. We learn to trust intuition, that aliveness that is moving our life forward, even if we don't know the destination. Painting for process becomes a spiritual practice. Awakening to the present moment heals and nourishes our spirits. Creativity shows us it's less about the outcome, and more about the journey of finding that inner voice, that is both personal and universal. Deep contact with that true voice inside keeps us returning, keeps us longing to come home to the flow of creativity, the power of painting from intuition.

Process Painting Format

We will meet for a 3-day painting workshops/retreat. There is a talk and discussion before and after each paint period. Creativity and its nature are discussed as well as ways to get beyond the creative blocks.

As we take risks to express ourselves, no comments, judgments or critiques are allowed. A mutual support is engendered. Group cohesiveness is formed as we enter into the sacredness of the creative moment. We find that we are very similar in unique ways. There is a lot of play around the paint table, and laughter is often heard. A strong bond naturally occurs. We find a communion in the heart of the painters community.

Mindful Movement

~ A joyful and spirit filled journey ~
A ‘Moving Into the Body’ movement group

There is great joy in the knowing and healing of ourselves when we experience a full felt-sense presence in our bodies – a coming home.

We may have moved away from, or may have forgotten how to move into this space – this body – that is an essential resource.

This movement journey invites us to remember, deepen, and integrate our instinctual knowing.

MOVING INTO THE BODY are  individual three to four hour workshops or weekly classes, which will move us into our bodies utilizing several movement methods that acknowledge the power of self- healing and the body’s capacity to reveal.   We will engage in the practice of Mindfulness, which is the development of an alert inner quiet that allows us to witness our individual journeys gifting us with safety and a deeper awareness of our own inner truths. 

Mindful Movement groups incorporate a number of movement methods and give us the opportunity to witness and track our inner experience in the present moment.  In all movement groups we create an environment for each of us to respectfully explore and savor our experience.

 Francine Passias, CHT is in private practice in Chicago. She is Certified in Hakomi Experiential Psychotherapy, Advanced Certified Hypnotherapy, and is trained in Internal Family Systems Therapy, Matrix (Group) Leadership, Living Dance Seminars, Continuum Movement, and Somatic Release in Resolving Trauma. She teaches Sacred Middle Eastern Dance. She created Moving Into the Body and Embracing the Deep Feminine retreats, The Body as Resource (a unique support group for trauma survivors) and Mindful Movement classes. 
Francine acknowledges the body as vessel which carries spirit into the physical world.