Explore Christ as a Healing Icon
with Kristena West M.A.
OPEN AS A SELF-STUDY in your own time
Free PODCAST regardless of your feelings about Jesus-Christ bring those emotions to the art table and begin to reveal the Christ to your heart and deep story.
$40
Self-study
Artists at some point in their creative explorations will probably devote some time to considering the Christ and what that means to them. Christianity is a world religion, an esoteric study, a universal symbol, and has millions of stories, arts, music dedicated to this theme over 2,000 years.
"Those who want to paint Christ have to live with Him."
Fra Angelico (1387-1455)
“The essential thing is to work in a state of mind that approaches prayer.”
– Henri Matisse
Contemplation as a Way into the Heart Space
For years I have offered classes on sacred arts from Buddha to Sophia to Jesus Christ. My M.A. is in cross-cultural sacred iconography-a wide hoop for the worlds religions, traditions, disciplines and encounters.
In my classes WomanSpirit and Journey to the Sacred Male over the years my student would share "Weird" experiences. Weird being a code word for Spiritual experiences- and everyone was having them. This showed me that focusing on "Weird Experiences" pointed to life purpose, or a deeper story that was awaiting the soul to open to inquiry.
This art class is an opportunity to question, ponder, contemplate and explore Jesus Christ in your life. My free PODCAST is a great opportunity to listen to how my Art Dolls - Grail Maiden's evoked a Power Response at my art critique in Berkeley, California. Working with a deity, archetype, avatar, whatever the term you are comfortable using is an invitation for a conversation.
Every tradition recognizes the necessity of mindfulness contemplation. In the Christian tradition contemplation, from contemplatio, Latin Theoria, refers to several Christian practices which aim at "looking at", "gazing at", "being aware of" God or the Divine. We provide two images for you to download or you can use an image that resonates with your heart.
Spring is a good time for new seeds to plant, transform our thoughts to the blooming earth and think about how do I resurrect myself? I invite you to take art class Christ as a Healing Icon and join the conversation of the heart.
Portraits
examples of participants works
PROJECT 1: WARM-UP PANTOCRATOR
We Start with a warm-up with our Pantocrator, the direct LOOK of Christ into your soul. This begins our journey into contemplation and Perceiving. This Call and Response begins our journey.
PROJECT 2: RUDOLF STEINER'S REPRESENTATIVE OF HUMANITY SCULPTURE PASTEL PORTRAIT
You can use an image of Christ-Jesus that you like, or use the images that are available for download for your use; the Panocrator and Rudolf Steiner's wooden sculpture portrait.
You can see the R.S. image to the Left and my pastels & eraser to the Right.
what will you learn in this class?
What you will learn in this contemplative arts class is always a new beginning, we are different every time we face our canvas aren't we? What you bring to the class, your motivation, focus, prayers, and energy will give back to you what you put into it. It's a different kind of creating, and it's a beginning for many people.
For many people this is a new way of working, a new chapter of art making, and for some it may become a life long practice. For others, they may be in mid-conversation, and want to dive deeper into the conversation-practice.
Begin Where You Are. So just begin and see what arises.
•Tips and techniques on developing a Contemplative Arts practice
• How other cultures make sacred art, and what are some key components of sacred art making?
• How to draw a portrait in pastels, watercolors with the downloadable samples of portraits
$40
SUPPLY LIST
9" X 12" OR 18" X 24" CHARCOAL PAPER
I RECOMMEND SENNELIER, NUPASTEL, REMBRANDT ETC. PASTELS
ASSORTED PENCILS, WATER ACTIVATED COLORED PENCILS, WATERCOLORS, PAINT PENS,
CHARCOAL STICK AND/OR PENCIL & CHARCOAL BLENDER
18"X24" CANVAS FOR PAINTING
ACRYLICS, OILS, MARKERS ETC.
Meet Kristena West M.A.
Kristena West received her Masters in Transformational Arts & Consciousness, a program that focused on how artists can change the world. Her thesis is on cross-cultural sacred iconography. BA is in academic and professional writing and psychology. Undergraduate is in Fine & Commercial Arts and Fashion Design.
She is the author of two books, Alchemy the Magical Arts of the Union of Soul and Olaf Asteson a Holy Nights Dream & Art Retreat Workbook available on Amazon.com.
My areas of study are the esoteric mystery traditions, the mystic Christian and desert Fathers techniques of meditation, contemplation, mindfullness and the art of pondering a question in our Hearts. I have been an artist my entire life. I have been engaged in community arts, curated exhibitions and worked in fine art galleries since I was eighteen years old. I have always worked with groups.
I have 30 years training with shamans and have trained groups and clients in these ways of knowing. My question has always been with indigenous shamans and the mystery traditions "What makes Art Sacred?"
Those answers take time to tell, his is the beauty and delight of Transformative Sacred Arts.
$40