Inspiring Artist, Lisa Dieken

Have I got a special treat for you today!!!  Not only am I sharing this fantastic interview with artist, Lisa Dieken, but Lisa is featuring an interview with me on her site as well.  Click here to read my interview at WildCreativeHeart.blogspot.com.

Double Whammy!  Double Inspiration!  So, go on and grab your cup of tea.  Then come on back and join us for some heart felt inspiration.

 

Hi Lisa, Please introduce yourself and your art a little bit.

Hi Jeniffer and Everyone! Thank you for having me here!

I’m Lisa Dieken, multiple-media artist, photographer, avid hiker, lover of the wildnerness and all of nature. In my work, I’m a shamanic journey practitioner, energy worker and Certified Kaizen-Muse Creativity Coach™. I help people with breakthroughs in their creativity, assist their creative evolution, their creative rEvolution, by working in both the spirit world and the physical world. Their creativity expands in their art, their business, in problem solving, in their relationships…. and in creating their life. In addition they feel more serenity, joy, and passion.

For many years I created realistic art, in pencil and charcoal drawings, soft pastels and watercolors. I sold several pieces and had a few pieces in juried art shows. However, there came a point where I wasn’t having fun anymore and actually dropped most of my creating. Except I discovered that of course the desire to create was intense and it wasn’t going to go away! I had to find a new way to create.

I finally started playing with intuitive drawing simply using charcoal on large pads of newsprint and also colored paper with oil pastels. Then I added acrylics and attempted doing abstract/intuitive paintings. I’ve also played with pottery, assemblage sculpture, photography and more recently collage and art journaling. I also am feeling guided to spend more time writing.

I really try to focus on the process rather than creating any type of beautiful artwork, but I do love creating pieces that appeal to me too. I intend to focus on what wants to emerge rather than have any idea in my mind about what I want to create. It is such a beautiful feeling of flow when I can connect with Spirit / my Higher Self and create from that place. Though sometimes I do receive mental images of what wants to be created before I begin.

 

 

For me {making} art is…

Inspiring. Healing. Magical. Insightful. Sometimes challenging and frustrating. Fulfilling. A necessity. Surprising. A passion. Sensual. Intuitive. Uncertain. Playful.

Surrendering. Learning. Experimenting. Taking risks.

 

What are you currently working on?

I’m loving the 21 Secrets classes and intend to get to more of those. I also just purchased some large 5 feet x 3 feet canvases that need some paint! Unfortunately my work space is a bit limited and I’m asking for inspiration on just where to place them to work on them. I’m really excited to see what might emerge onto these canvases! Painting large like this and even larger is one of my dreams.

 

 

Can you tell us a little bit about your Art Journals?

A little bit is all I can tell you because I just only recently started Art Journaling! So far I love that the “canvas” is right there, ready for my creations, I just have to turn the page. I also think I will like pushing the edge with them, in other words, how much can I do with them? Adding fragrance is fun… I’ve been wondering about adding sounds, and of course making the pages three dimensional. I also love the expanse of techniques and materials in Art Journaling. There are so many possibilities to mix and match.

 

Who has inspired you?

Pat B Allen’s book “Art is a Way of Knowing” was the beginning of my journey into intuitive drawing and painting. Michele Cassou’s book “Life, Paint and Passion” came next. Both were a huge inspiration and have influenced me tremendously.

Several years ago, I watched a DVD of Picasso painting and what has stuck with me was one line he said. At one point he wanted to change the way he was painting because he said something like ‘I’m not taking enough risk’. Up until that point, I’m not sure I had associated risk-taking with art. Or if I had, it hadn’t really gotten my attention. It is so important to be comfortable with taking risks as we deepen and expand our creativity.

Jill Badonsky, my creativity coaching teacher and mentor is an inspiration. (www.themuseisin.com ) I love her irreverent humor, her gentleness and her fun artwork. I need her reminders to not take things so seriously. Her Kaizen-Muse Creativity Coaching™ model has helped me tremendously in my own creativity, to get past my blocks and keep me moving forward. Now as a certified coach I have the joy of sharing that knowledge to help others.

Connie Hozvicka (www.dirtyfootprints-studio.com) has inspired me with her FEARLESS Painting classes and the creative women I’ve met in her classes are still inspiring me. Connie’s energy and enthusiasm are infectious!

21 Secrets is inspiring me as well! What an amazing group of soulful and talented artists and teachers!

Come to think of it, anyone who is doing what their soul is calling them to do inspires me.

 

 

What is your favorite inspirational quote?

 

Here are a few:

Inspiration comes to us slowly and quietly…prime it with a little solitude. ~Brenda Ueland

Now I see the secret of making the best person: it is to grow in the open air and to eat and sleep with the earth.  – Walt Whitman

Don’t try to force anything.  Let life be a deep let-go.  See God opening millions of flowers everyday without forcing the buds. – Osho

Is the life I’m living the life that wants to live in me? – Parker Palmer

Don’t ask what the world needs.  Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it.  Because what the world needs is people who have come alive. – Howard Thurman

I wish I could show you when you are lonely or in darkness the astonishing light of your own being. ~Hafiz

 

Are there any tips to living a creative life that you’d like to share?

 

Get quiet and listen. Play, play, play and don’t take life so seriously! Revel in your senses. Pay attention to and appreciate the small wonders of life. Say hello to trees. Remember that mistakes are opportunities and necessary to the process. Keep in mind that risks and experiments can make things fun in your art and in your life. To soften your days and inspire you, spend time in nature. (and pay attention to what notices you while you are there!) Breathe. Stretch. Dance wild. Love. Ask for help when you need it. To create magic within and without, nurture the connection with your Higher Self and engage the spiritual energy of the Universe in your life in as many ways as feels comfortable. Follow your heart. Do what energizes you.

 

 

Where can people find you and your work?

 

To receive a gift of a pdf document outlining things I do to cultivate, deepen and expand my creativity: http://www.WildCreativeHeart.com/create/index.htm I wanted to make it one page and beautiful so you would want to hang it up for a reminder. To limit overwhelm, choose just one item for each day or each week. Feedback is welcome!

 

Website: http://www.WildCreativeHeart.com

Blog: http://WildCreativeHeart.blogspot.com

Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/WildCreativeHeart

 

Workshops: I’m having many ideas for upcoming online workshops and classes.

~The 9 Modern Day Muses and a Bodyguard (really fun personified creativity principles – the work of one of my mentors, Jill Badonsky)

~Deepening Creativity – based on the items I listed in the pdf document (link to it above)

~Beginning Drawing

~Intuitive/Spontaneous Drawing and Painting

~Natural Facial/Body Care using herbs and essential oils – My love of herbs and all things natural has me wanting to do this.

 

Be sure to get your gift, (link above) which places you on my mailing list, or follow my blog to find out about these as I create them. Let me know if any of these particularly call to you! Email: Lisa AT WildCreativeHeart DOT com

 

With Joy,

Lisa

Thank you so much for sharing your HEART with us Lisa.  You truly have inspired me with your words.


Click button to view past interviews.

“Inspiring Artists” is an ongoing artist interview series at JoyfulArtsStudio.com.  Join me Mondays for a weekly dose of creative inspiration.

The series will continue as long as there are artists wishing to participate.  If you are an artist and would like to share your story, please contact me at jhutchins@joyfulartsstudio.com.  I’d love to hear from you.  Thank you!!!

Love & Blessings,
Jeniffer

7 Comments

  1. lisadieken
    June 27, 2011

    Jeniffer! Thank you so much for having me! It’s fun that it worked out to share interviews on the same day!

    I’m excited about the possibilities for you and your new website and online community! ♥

    Reply
    1. Jeniffer
      June 27, 2011

      What fun indeed!!! It’s a pleasure to have you here.

      Reply
  2. ChristineB
    June 28, 2011

    Lisa I have loved reading about your creativity and what inspires you. I think of you each time I open my journal and smell that fragrance that you have introduced into my art. Its been lovely to get to know you better. Such lovely art.. in particular I love that peaceful photo with the horses – it reminds me of a field I pass on one of my routine walks. Early in the morning when the dew still sparkles through the grass and the mist softens nature’s contours – that field is transformed into some mystical place and I just love to watch the horses grazing there – so part of that magical landscape – it takes my breath away.
    Thanks for bringing Lisa here this morning Jeniffer – a lovely start to my day.

    Reply
    1. lisadieken
      June 28, 2011

      Thank you, Christine. What a gorgeous and peaceful scene you paint with your words. It was a joy to participate in Jeniffer’s interview and share a little bit about myself! ♥

      Reply
  3. Diane
    June 28, 2011

    I wholeheartedly agree that this has been such a fabulous way to start my day and, I got to learn even more about Lisa, one of my very favorite friends and people who inspire me! Thank you Jenniffer and Lisa, I really loved this interview and am so grateful for your helping start my day on such a beautiful note, thank you so much!!

    Reply
  4. Natasha
    June 28, 2011

    Jeniffer SUCH a fabulous interview with Lisa…as always this series is stellar!! And Lisa!! LOVE that sun, love your work, SOOO want to take your courses AND I deeply admire the way you connect with your Spirit….you make me want to go deeper and listen …I love learning from you!! BIG cartwheeling hugs and love to you both!!

    Reply
  5. Mandy Collins
    June 29, 2011

    Wow thanks for introducing us to a new spirited artist always nice to be new personalities with inspiration to share

    Reply

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