Today my blog is two years old. I’ve learned a lot from the amazing people I have met here, and feel incredibly grateful for my online network and the friends I have made. You enhance my life!
I’m still painting. Which is not easy. Mainly because as I feel “busy with business” I find it harder to take the time. But I am doing it anyway. Starting each day with a quick painting. This image is an affirmation of my new found focus. It was interesting to realize I have been painting tree roots that expand out in all directions for years. Even my trees didn’t have focus. I walked up to a 500 year old tree in the woods and got an image of tree roots having a focal point, a foundation if you will. So I’m trying it out.
I have been working on redefining and refocusing my business, and have a lot more to say about it. Hopefully soon. I have put up a redesigned website focused on facilitation, which is step one in the refocusing process.
I’m heading out to speak at the International Assoication of Facilitators (IAF) North American conference in Vancouver, BC, Canada. This is always a great conference, where I learn a lot. I’ll be presenting two workshops.
Visual Methods Across Cultures
Christine Martell and Regina Rowland
Visual methods of facilitation provide powerful ways for reaching across all kinds of differences. In this session you will be working in groups, using a set of images as a visual tool and merge it with interactive graphic facilitation and collaborative mapping processes. This will allow you to observe and define interaction patterns that provide clues to a variety of cultural patterns that are, naturally, exposed in visual creations. As visual language evokes more intuitive information it therefore easily encourages the sharing of various undercurrents. These visual techniques accommodate various communication styles and levels language differences which invites full inclusion of all participants and all worldviews.
Exploring Multiple Perspectives on Conflict Using Photographs
Christine Martell
This session will explore the meaning of conflict, conflict resolution, and conflict management in personal, professional and global contexts. Using photographs and the stories that come from them, we will explore the similarities and difference in how individuals and groups interpret these concepts, and then move into ways to bridge differences. Visual tools are particularly helpful to move beyond cultural assumptions into fuller expressions where people claim membership in many overlapping groups.
Thanks to all who journey in this online world with me. You’ve made a big difference in my learning and growth in the past two years.
I like it! Maybe you should urge/force me to get back into painting and drawing. I was an art major very early in my educational career but was told my eye was too photogenic so I quit and, of course, those skills dwindled. Threw everything away and I sure regret that. What a nifty way to start the day!!!!! Go girl.
Congratulations dear woman on two years of blogging! That is just so magnificent. And I adore, adore, adore your artwork of a tree… it is deep with symbology and light
Kia ora Christine!
Many happy returns!
I am impressed that you have so ably depicted the balance of root and leaf in your design, that heart and energy lies at the centre of that grounding.
Catchya later
from Middle-erth
I know I’m happy you’ve been blogging–I never would have met such a wonderful friend! I’m glad to see the “rootedness” that’s happening with your art and, even better, that you’re starting each day with a painting.
Happy 2nd Anniversary! You’re the one who got me to blog.
Betsy
@betsy @michele @ken @goddessLeonie @peggy Thanks, and may we all continue to bring creativity and light into the world in each of our unique ways.
Congratulations! Looks like something wonderful is growing from those roots… loving your artwork!
~E.
Dear Cmartell – can’t find your name – thank you for the response to my new approach to twitter, in my new twitter life. In checking your blog I see we really DO have many parallels. I do a visual recording porcess i call ‘Interpretive Touch Drawing’ . You can see it here: http://www.touchdrawing.com/4Deborah/Interpretive.html You sem really immersed in the depth of this area, by your workshop descriptions…..more connecting to come?
@Deborah
Guess I should make the author credit that I seem to have lost in the code a priority! Didn’t realize my name wasn’t findable, yikes!
I am familiar with your work, have been fascinated by it for a long time, and have been in many workshops and such that have used your cards. Yes, we are working with many similar things, especially now that I am starting to use more artwork and not as much photography. I’ve been applying mine more in a business arena, but my heart is yearning to bring more of the artistic spiritual side forward in new ways.
I was excited to see your name come up on Twitter through Hiro. I came close to coming to the workshop you did not too long ago in Portland, but I had a schedule conflict. So yes, would like more connecting to come.