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The following books and workshops have helped me tremendously, each in its own unique way, in overcoming my creative blocks and getting to know the creator within a lot better so I could begin to express myself more easily and more freely. I am not paid to say these things, my enthusiasm for these people's contribution is genuine, and my gratitude immense.

Recommended Books

Self-empowering books about reconnecting with the artist within through the gentle opening of ourselves to a renewed creatorship:

• The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron
  This is a classic. How to get in touch with your inner-artist: A must read for any "blocked" artist, but also all others, artists and non-artists alike, as it will reconnect you with a sense of fun and freedom around any form of creativity in your life.
  
  
• Point Zero by Michele Cassou
  Very highly recommended! Fast and easy read which will teach you how to overcome your multi-headed dragon of fear, and more... It is geared towards painting but this process of self-inquiry can be applied to all areas of life.
  
  
• Your Heart's Desire by Sonia Choquette
  This is about finding the inspiration and support to start creating your own reality from your true heart's desires. Fun and engaging with playful and practical exercises.
  
  
• What Color Is Your Parachute by Dick Bolles
  Brilliant! Very useful for self-assessment and gaining self-knowledge, and not just for job-hunting. Yes, this is another classic but it has not aged! If you are ready for a life and career change this is the book to read - or re-read. And it's available in most libraries.
  
  

Follows a short list of the only "technical" books that I found digestible and simple enough to inspire me to draw better:

• The Natural Way to Draw by Kimon Nicolaides
  Even if you only ever read the first chapter. I stopped at page 35, but I think the rest is just as good and necessary if you are keen on acquiring impeccable drawing skills in a relatively short amount of time.
  
  
• Mandala by Judith Cornell
  A little bit of color and light theory mixed with channeling your own spirituality via drawing mandalas with color pencils: a great combination!
  She has also written 'Drawing the Light from Within' which is just as good.
  
  
• Drawing as a Sacred Activity by Heather Williams
  Very fun and light, with easy inspiring little exercises.
  
  

A long time ago, I read and collected a zillion books about painting and color techniques, especially watercolors, but no one stands out at this moment. Books are becoming better and better all the time, more and more fun to read and to look at. So just trust your feelings and tastes! Nowadays, I particularly enjoy owning books about painters that inspire me, especially the ones that come with the opening of a world wide exhibition because of the high quality of their color reproduction.

Two books for Women that also had a profound effect on me and my life:

• Red Moon by Miranda Gray
  A fantastic book about understanding and using the gift of the menstrual cycle to reconnect with the flow of your creative power and live in harmony with it. She has a rich and beautiful website:
  www.mirandagray.co.uk
  
  Miranda has written a more recent book about the same subject: 'The Optimized Woman' (I have not read it, as it is not available yet at the time of this writing). She offers online coaching as well. See her other site:
  www.optimizedwoman.com
  
  
  
• Honoring Menstruation: A time of Self-Renewal by Lara Owen
  "Each time a woman menstruates, she has the opportunity to develop greater self-knowledge and spiritual awareness." Very beautiful wisdom in this book!

If women were able to transmit this knowledge and wisdom to other women and men, I believe we would be that much closer to experiencing the Earth as the Paradise that it is meant to be inside ourselves and as a result outside too. A place of much love, nurturing and beauty.

 

Another easy to read and inspiring book I read recently:

• Catching the Big Fish, by David Lynch.
  Meditation, consciousness, and creativity

Recommended Workshops

There are 3 workshops that have influenced me more than any others up to this time (but I am sure there are many others that are well worth attending!):

• Robert Burridge's Workshops: An absolute must for re energizing the painter inside by loosening up. Very hands-on, and full of ideas. This man is amazing! Fun, funny, alive, and an excellent artist. He will inspire you and bring you right where your passion is waiting to be unleashed.
  www.robertburridge.com
  
  
• The Talmapa Institute sometimes offer weekend workshops that mix dance/movement, speaking, drawing and writing.
  www.tamalpa.org
  
  
• The Painting Experience with Stewart Cubley and Annie Danberg. Stewart is Michele Cassou's ex-husband, and his teaching follows a very similar philosophy (see above in the recommended book section: "Point Zero" by Michele Cassou).
  www.processarts.com
  
  
• I have never attended a workshop by Michele Cassou herself, but I am quite confident that they are excellent since she is the originator of the philosophy behind "The Painting Experience", a self-inquiring way of approaching painting and unblocking our creative potential:
  www.michelecassou.com