August heat, thoughts and invitations

The morning finds me at our local beach doing my Ci Kung. It's 07.00 and warming up fast and soon hitting 40C, they say, by midday

One of the reasons I don't hold workshops in August here in Le Marche, is because of the extreme heat throughout the Province, and the added danger in being out in the sun at high altitudes at Cittadella our mountain retreat in the Sibillini National Park

And this summer it's exceptional and going for a cool morning swim is my way of coping and I'm on my way home within an hour where my studio is bearable with AC and all,

Those of you who practice Ci Kung or Tai chi, would know that it is not just a physical exercise but also a way of awakening the entire body of a morning, the heart and brain in particular- It is also a time to practice right breathing and to open all the senses; all these things together clearing the mind of clutter.

It is how we begin our mornings at my workshops and I am daily reminded of the words of the American teacher and painter Robert Henri 120 years ago

'The object isn't to make art

it's to be in that wonderful state

which makes art inevitable'

So we make art, of course we do, but, if I teach anything at all, it is what it is to be an artist, and how to arrive at this state.

You could say, 'I simply light the blue touch paper, and then sit back and watch.

And you're probably thinking 'Sounds pretty easy to me'

And sometimes it is and sometimes it's not

It depends

It depends on how deeply inside a person's mental cupboard the creative child has been locked.

A child which is beseeching to be released.

There, I've  already said to much

Best advice?

Join my next workshop at Cittadella in September 😀

It's Italy

It's when the mountain storms begin and when the streams and waterfalls gush with water again

It's where the landscape is breathtakingly beautiful

Where Silvio, the owner, and his staff are such kind people and treat us as family

Where we go on visits locally everyday, to hot pools, waterfalls, to Sanctuaries

Where we work in our outdoor studio on afternoons

Where we delight in tasting the very best traditional Italy food and wine.

And (most importantly) where we create exceptinal art, in an atmospere of freedom and fun.

You can read lots more about me on my website

Where you'll find my my blogs, paintings and podcasts.

Here is a painting created by Raquel Ferrer and myself , on a one2one a couple of weeks back, as a present to Silvio for his kindness,

And here is a recommendation by Raquel recalling the experience

'Thank you Michael for sharing these days with me, showing me how to create a powerful bubble - choosing what to bring and let in, and what to leave out - And thank you for introducing me to the world of Chi Kung and so much more.
I enjoyed playing in colours and giving myself full permission to be an artist. I have found my fun mindfulness - I can stay focused, and I can completely forget about the external world and noise when I paint - and I love it!'

Details

Next workshop dates September 5 to 11

Cost of workshop E190

Cost of accomodation at Cittadella from B&B to half board E35 to E75  per day (depending on whether share or single option).

Number in group limited to 12

Contact Michael for any questions you may have; micermice@gmail.com, 

Tel. whatsapp +39 3283535358

My very best wishes and I hope very much you can join us in September

Michael