When you join, the program begins for YOU.

When you join, you will get access to our inspiring Member’s Area, which is a private membership website, home to all of the Monthly Creative Adventures; mindset videos, practical video demonstration “Studio Dates” (which are guided creative & painting projects), playsheets, audio recordings, meditations, affirmations and more. To hold you in a safe, gentle and purposeful container through the program, we will be unrolling this content in an easy-to-follow process, so you don’t get overwhelmed.

You’ll have access to the art materials videos, as well as our much-loved “Quick Start Guide” video series to ensure you approach the year with mindsets to support you to truly flourish in your creative life.

Your Flourish membership also includes 12 Months of free membership in Nicola’s Creative Hearts Community. You will receive a link to join the community after you enrol in Flourish. The community is where you will find our Community Call events, Live Painting Workshops, Live Virtual Retreats, and where you can connect with fellow Creative Hearts.

After the 12 months of your membership, you can choose to continue as a paying member of the community for a low monthly fee. If you do decide to say, you will continue to have access to the community and all the new live events, community calls, virtual retreats, guest teacher sessions and workshops.

You will receive 12 monthly modules of content. As soon as you join, you will get the art materials videos and Quick Start guides to get set up for the year ahead, the Guest Teachers, and the first monthly module.

You will receive access to all the 12 Monthly Creative Adventures in the Member’s Website 30 days after you joined.

I’m so pleased you asked! You will have access to the private Members’ Area that houses all of the content from Flourish for many years to come. You can download all of the videos, audios, PDF playsheets and materials to your computer too – so you are welcome to keep revisiting the material again and again at your own pace.

Please note your Free Membership in the Creative Hearts Community will end 12 months after you join the group. After that, you can choose to continue as a member of the Creative Hearts Community for a low monthly fee. You will then continue to enjoy full participation in the community, access to live coaching calls, live workshops, live virtual creative retreats and new guest teachers.

The monthly Community Calls are usually held at 6pm Brisbane, Australia time on Tuesdays, the Live Virtual Retreats are held on Saturdays, and the Live Workshops are usually held at 6pm on Thursdays.

The community coaching calls will also be recorded in case you can’t attend them live, and you are welcome to send in your questions ahead of time (if you won’t be on the call or perhaps you are feeling shy), and you can listen to the recording in your own time.

It is also up to you as to how much you choose to engage with each aspect of the program. Some students find following along with the Studio Dates (which are the practical painting and creative projects) is what lights them up and serves them, others love the community aspect of the program and thrive with more interaction, connection and feeling like they have found a group with which they belong, and others dive in and out of the community if and when it feels supportive to them.

There is no pressure to be on any, or all, of the calls, however, if you are concerned you may miss out, you can rest assured each call will be recorded and you are welcome to pre-submit questions if you have something you would love to hear discussed.

Flourish: The Art of Creative Living is a predominantly self-paced program, so you can move through the materials according to your own rhythm and what calls to you. The Monthly Creative adventures are housed in a private membership website. These are rolled out beginning with the first module immediately released after you enrol, and the remaining 11 modules released 30 days after that. There are also so many exciting new community aspects to the program, which participants have been asking for and I’m very excited to deliver.

You will receive access to the private Members’ Area in immediately, where you will find a video guiding you through how to navigate around the membership site. You will also find the Quick Start video series, to help you settle in and cultivate supportive mindsets for creative living. When you join the Creative Hearts Community, it will begin your 12 months of free membership in that private online community.

There is a structured framework that will support us throughout the year, holding us as we move through each of the three phases in my creative living methodology: Creative Renewal, Creative Practices & Creative Maps. We will spend four months in each phase, and they will build on each other.

Each month, you will receive an email letting you know which Monthly Creative Adventure we are focused on inside the membership website. These Monthly Creative Adventures contain practical teaching videos in the form of Studio Dates where you will be guided through a wide variety of fun-filled creative projects with my step-by-step guidance. There are also videos where we explore supportive themes and teachings as they relate to creativity, from mindfulness to inspiration, originality to criticism, and creative projects to self-care. The Monthly Creative Adventures also include PDF playsheets, meditations, affirmations and Guest Teacher interview audios.

The good news is, you can always go back and revisit the materials again and again at your own pace. You can also download and save them on your computer or device (remember: you have access to ALL of these materials and the Membership Website for the lifetime of the program – which means, many years to come!).

You’ll also receive regular emails with encouragement and support from me during the month too, to keep you inspired and engaged with the material in the program.

Within that framework, you are entirely welcome to engage with the materials at your own pace. For example, you can choose when you listen to the Guest Teacher interviews and when you go through the creative projects in the Studio Dates.

Some members love to ensure they watch every video, listen to every audio and complete every creative project. However, most members tend to pick and choose the components that speak to them and light them up along the way. You will find lots of support to encourage you to engage with the program and materials in a way that feels good to YOU and supports your own personal rhythm.

There will be monthly Live Community Coaching Calls with Nicola and your fellow creative-hearts, four Live Workshops, plus four full-day Virtual Creative Retreats (hosted via Zoom). You will be able to RSVP for these events inside the Creative Hearts Community, and when you RSVP you will receive reminder emails about them too. You can also click a button to add them to your online calendar. You can join the calls via phone or web browser. Since we have members all around the world, not everyone will be able to connect on every call, and that’s perfectly fine. We record each and every call so you can listen in during your own time. You are also able to pre-submit your questions and have them answered (anonymously if you choose) on the live calls.

I absolutely love the Creative Hearts Community, which is not on social media. This is where you can pop in anytime you would like to share your creations, ask for and receive support, celebrate small steps or big creative milestones, and connect with your fellow Creative Hearts. I am very active in the Creative Hearts Community group too so you can be sure you will be seen, nurtured, celebrated and supported in this forum.

So as you can see, there are a wide variety of supportive components to Flourish: The Art of Creative Living. Largely, the program is self-paced. You will receive Monthly Creative Adventures, regular encouraging emails, access to a private online community which you can access and participate at any time, plus full-day Virtual Creative Retreats, Live Workshops and live Monthly Community Coaching Calls you can attend live or listen to whenever suits you.

Flourish: The Art of Creative Living has a very clear structure.

There are three phases of the program: Creative Renewal, Creative Practices, & Creative Maps. We spend four months exploring each phase.

Each month you will focus on a new Monthly Creative Adventure, these include practical teaching videos guiding you step-by-step through a variety of creative projects in what we call Studio Dates, video teachings exploring the more theoretical, mental and emotional side of creative living, audio recordings, Guest Teacher interviews, PDF playsheets, mediations, affirmations, recommended reading, art material suppliers and additional creative resources.

We also have a beautiful, private Creative Hearts Community group (which is not on social media – it has it’s own private platform) where you can interact and build connections with fellow Creative Hearts and Nicola too. This is a private forum where you can share your creations and paintings if you choose, receive encouragement, celebrate creative milestones, and be witnessed as you step into your personal expression of creative living.

We have Live Community Coaching Calls, where you can receive personal support, ask questions and request feedback on your work (if you choose) from Nicola. You can attend these Zoom calls via phone or web browser. And if you can’t make it live, you can easily pre-submit your questions (anonymously if you choose) ahead of time.

A very popular component of the program are the Live Workshops. During the Live Workshops we come together on Zoom and Nicola guides you through a creative project. These Live Workshops are a wonderful way to engage with the community, be inspired to try something new and ask me questions directly. Plus, they are loads of fun and a great way to intentionally carve out time for your creative expression amongst a supportive, fun-filled community environment (without having to leave home!).

There are also Virtual Creative Retreats. To celebrate having creative friends all around the globe, we will gather together for a full day in a virtual group on Zoom. You can choose to focus on any of the creative projects explored within the program, or something completely self-directed, and enjoy the momentum and sense of community coming together brings. Carving out time for art is easy when you do it with others.

You’ll also receive regular emails during the month with support, inspiration and encouragement to keep you connected with the program and inspired in your creative adventures.

You get to choose how much you do! I encourage you to follow your desires and interact with the different elements of the program in the way that feels most supportive to you. Some members love to go through everything, while others find they love to pick and choose what calls to them and lights them up. So how much you do is completely up to you!

Members in the program all begin in different stages of their creative journey. Some studied fine art at university but haven’t nurtured their creativity for many years, others are surprised to discover they even are creative after years of believing they weren’t, some are professional artists looking for a supportive, non-competitive community, and others are parents or busy folks wanting to carve out time to focus on their own self-care. Everyone starts at their own place and finishes at a different place. You will find encouragement and an over-arching philosophy from Nicola supporting you to go at the pace that is right for you.

How long you spend exploring is up to you! You can truly spend as little or as much time as you choose.

When we are learning something new, we usually get out of the experience what we put in. There is no correct way of going through the program, nor is there a requirement that you must follow a set timeframe. Every participant will have their own rhythm and you will be supported in following your own.

There are over 57+ videos within the program, which range from 5min – 30min each. You can return to them again and again when you are looking for fresh inspiration, as they contain plenty of ideas and different creative approaches to explore.

You will have ongoing access to all the materials, so you can explore them at a pace that fits in with your life and schedule. All the coaching calls and virtual retreats will be recorded, freeing you up to truly go at your own pace. And since it is a year-long program, your energy input will most likely fluctuate with your life circumstances — and we welcome that.

I’ve created the program so you can never ‘fall behind.’

You have access to our private membership website for the life of the program (meaning years to come) and can download all the content to your computer to refer back to whenever you choose. You are encouraged to do the activities at your own pace.

It is so easy to feel overwhelmed or behind, but it is just our mind telling us a story, and it really isn’t true.

We can consciously choose to empower ourselves by remembering we are right where we need to be (we can’t be anywhere else – it’s physically impossible!) The thought that we are ‘behind’ is a universal, stress-inducing thought-loop that pops up in our minds and grows when we don’t catch it. We can choose to redirect our focus and reassure ourselves we are safe, right where we are.

Developing your skills, playing with your materials, finding your style, all take time. It is a never-ending journey of expansion and development. Sometimes you will fly along with motivation and inspiration. Sometimes you will take things more slowly. Sometimes you will feel like you’re well on your way. And, other times, you want to scrap it all and start fresh (which is totally ok too!)

But please, know this, you are exactly where you need to be. There is no race, no competition, and no finish line in Flourish or in your creative life.

I will always be encouraging you to be gentle with yourself, bring your attention back to how you want to feel, why you want to nurture your creativity, and focusing on what next small step feels exciting or delightful for you.

You can’t do it wrong.

I totally understand! There are so many goodies inside Flourish! That’s because I want to gift you with every resource I can to support you on your creative journey, but the smorgasbord of goodies is there to be useful and fun, not a heavy slog to get through. I will gently remind you along our journey together to trust your pacing and remind you are never ‘behind’.

You will continue to have access to your Member’s Area housing all the materials of the program, for years to come. Plus, you can download all the materials to your computer to refer back to again and again. That includes all the videos, audios, resources, guest teacher interviews, meditations and affirmations. Which means they will be there for you, whenever you need them (yay!).

You can stay a member in the Creative Hearts Community after your 12 months free, if you choose. That is where you’ll have access to the live coaching calls, workshops, retreats, new guest teachers and more. If you chose to continue, it is a simple monthly subscription and great way to stay in community with fellow Creative Hearts and access Nicola’s coaching at an affordable monthly rate.

Yes! You will have access to the private Members’ Website that houses all of the content from Flourish: The Art of Creative Living for years ahead (for as many years as I am running Flourish, which I foresee will be many years). Plus, you can download all the content to your computer or device so you can return to it again and again and keep referring to it at you own pace.

Please note, you will have 12 months of Free Membership in my new Creative Hearts Community. After that 12 months, you may choose to continue as a member for a low monthly fee. This is how you can continue to access the live coaching calls, virtual retreats, workshops, new guest teacher interviews and our inspiring, big-hearted community.

Flourish is perfect for beginners. If you feel you’ve never been able to express your creativity, are looking to be creative with your children, or if you’d like to learn painting as a totally new skill, this course will be perfect for you. I understand when you’re starting out, or returning to art after a long time away, it can feel daunting. Which is why I take you right through the basics in a fun and engaging way, so you can get your confidence up making beautiful paintings right from the beginning of the program.

The great news is, no. You don’t have to have any art experience. I have had the great honour of teaching and guiding doctors, lawyers, accountants, yogis, parents, grandparents, public servants, retirees, children under five, veterinary surgeons and town planners to learn how to paint and express their innate creativity.

You don’t have to have any art experience to do this program.

In fact, I’ll teach you how to tap into the creativity you may never have realised you had!

As a fellow creative, I know what it’s like to look for fresh inspiration. We can all learn from each other and I promise to share with you a whole collection of techniques I’ve developed over the years to keep me engaged with my career and artistic process. I’ve never been one to keep painting in the same style for decades, and have instead tried a broad range of styles, techniques and processes which I share freely in the course. If you’re looking for fresh inspiration, you’re in the right place.

The other aspect of Flourish: The Art of Creative Living I’m very excited to share with you are my mindsets, tools and ‘nurturing’ routines that help me stay in the flow, not wear myself out and instead use my creativity as a form of nourishing self-care. It can be so easy as a professional artist to push yourself until the well of inspiration is dry, and in this course, I share what I’ve found helpful to keep myself inspired and in love with the process of creating.

I believe nurturing our children’s creativity is SO important, so I’ve made an entire bonus called “Creating with Children: Guide to Playdates” in which I show you my best tips for how to set up successful Children’s Creativity Play-Dates you can do at home. You’ll be able to impart the skills you develop in the program directly to children; practical painting skills, confidence to try new things, and mindsets that nurture the innate creativity inherent in all young people.

Whether you’re an aunt or uncle, parent or grand-parent, these hands-on projects are designed to light you up and inspire you to have rewarding, fun and creative play dates with the children in your life. While the exercises and Studio Dates in the Modules are designed for you to dive into on your own, there will be plenty of activities you may like to get your children involved with.

My aim with Flourish: The Art of Creative Living is to offer you a broad range of painting styles, and not just teach you one way to paint. So rather than having you follow me with a ‘paint by numbers’ approach where you copy each of my brush strokes, I’ll give you demonstrations of painting techniques and provide you with processes you can play with in your own ‘studio dates’ to develop your skills and explore your unique creative expression.

We’ll be exploring everything from abstract painting, painting outdoors, painting from photographs, collage, writing, photography and mindfulness to help you unlock your own creative potential and discover what lights you up. You can download all the modules and high definition videos to your computer, which means you can return to the course after you’ve explored a particular style and try a different technique, giving you practical inspiration in your painting and creative life for years to come.

Plus, we will be playing together for a full year! The community aspect of the program is next level — with monthly Live Coaching Calls, quarterly Live Workshops, quarterly Virtual Creative Retreats, our super supportive private Facebook group and Guest Teacher interviews. I’m so, so thrilled to offer this more interactive part of the program for the fourth time this year, and can’t wait to dive in. I absolutely love building relationships with members over the full course of the year and the thought of getting to know and support you in your creative life in 2022 fills my heart to the brim with joy.

If you already paint you will likely already have many of the materials you’ll need.

In the first Monthly Creative Adventure in January you will receive two videos guiding you through the materials we use in the program. You’ll also receive a handy PDF outlining the specific art materials we’ll be playing with during the year and where you can get them — with a list of art suppliers at different price points from budget to professional ranges — from all around the globe.

My approach is to suggest you focus on giving yourself a sense of abundance with materials, rather than buying the most expensive brands, so you feel free to experiment and relax. The idea is to loosen up, play, have fun and enjoy the process without fear of ‘wasting materials.’ You will be able to get materials from online suppliers, your local art supply shop or even a department store or discount shop.

How much you choose to invest in materials is truly up to you. I have had members go through the program and spend less than $100 on materials, where others have had the means and the desire to invest in much more. You can add to your collection of materials throughout the year, spreading the investment as you go (we won’t be diving into oil paints, for example, until mid year).

You will be able to achieve great results and have lots of success (and fun!) with a simple set of art materials and can build your collection over time. Simple is often best.

I offer encouragement in droves, practical advice when requested and enthusiasm from here to the hills and back.

One of my core values in Flourish: The Art of Creative Living, however, is we don’t offer a critique of each other’s work unless it is specifically requested, and then, only in the spirit of encouragement, generosity and inclusion. My aim is to help you to listen to your own inner guidance as you refine your taste, preferences and style.

From my experience as a creative mentor, painting teacher, and also a highly sensitive soul, I have found criticism and feedback are not nearly as useful as encouragement, inspiration, discussion and open-hearted curiosity. We will focus our attention on cheering one another on and forming a community of support, inclusion and understanding.

Each of us is beginning our creative journey at a different place — some of us have years of experience under our belt, some of us are brand new, and others are returning to art after years away — all are welcome, celebrated and recognised within our community. It is a safe place for all levels and experience.

If you are feeling stuck on a piece, are looking for guidance on a creative project or would love to hear other people’s thoughts on your work, you are welcome to clearly ask for what you desire. I am active in the Creative Hearts Community group and of course on our Live Community Calls. Our rich community of creative-hearts is a place where friendships have been formed and creative support found.

The beauty of painting & creativity is you don’t need to have a lot of space to play. I’ve made entire exhibitions on my kitchen table — in fact, these days, my studio is the size of the saloon on our boat. (Ahem, that’s pretty tiny!)

The exercises I teach in Flourish are totally doable no matter whether you have a spare room, the luxury of your own studio space or are simply using the kitchen table or a wall in your garage.

We explore practical solutions to make your available space more user-friendly and nurturing — from tweaking lighting, storage and organisation — to decorating and arranging your space so it feels inspiring, uplifting and joyful. Many members say this Creative Adventure helps them feel inspired to arrange and enjoy the rest of their home too!

I honestly can’t tell you how many people will be in Flourish 2022, until we close registration!

In the past, when we’ve run Flourish, we have had around 25 members. So it is usually an intimate group with lots of personal support. I desire to make this experience accessible to as many folks as possible and I have planned the infrastructure to ensure each person receives the support they deserve and need during our journey together, even if that number increases in 2022.

Regardless of how many people join, I am committed to creating a supportive, inspiring and engaging experience inside Flourish. If you show up, your questions will be answered and your creative process will be celebrated.

Our beautiful Creative Hearts Community is a wonderful place to be heard, seen and witnessed as you journey through Flourish. We have a beautiful community of fellow creative-hearts. I am very active in there too, so you will see my smiling face popping up regularly, cheering you on every step of the way!

Plus, you can email your questions ahead of time and you can ask questions live on our monthly Community Coaching Calls, and you can join in the Virtual Creative Retreats and Live Workshops (via a free platform called Zoom). I’m so excited to be your creative mentor and teacher, and I know you will discover loads during our year together.

Keep in mind though, Flourish: The Art of Creative Living is a group program, not private coaching. If you would love my support and undivided attention, you may consider the program + private mentoring with me. I love to coach individuals and in that forum, you’ll receive my undivided attention and support, plus private feedback on your paintings.

As a fellow introvert, I know how nourishing it can be to be part of a group, while still maintaining your autonomy and space. You are so very welcome in this community of creative-hearts. You can engage as much, or as little, as you like.

I’ll do everything I can to make sure you feel as safe and comfortable as possible within the program. You’re welcome to sit back and watch. Listen. Observe. Take it all in. You can choose to keep your creations to yourself or share them with the group. It is entirely up to you.

Throughout the program, I trust you will listen to your heart and do what is best for you. And of course, I am always here if you need help or support along the way.

Oh, extravert – what a gift you are! I imagine extraverts are the biggest contributors to our Creative Hearts Community with exciting new posts and photos, sharing and stories. I welcome your interaction and contribution – thank you.

You will have 24/7 access to the Creative Hearts Community, Monthly Group Coaching Calls, Live Workshops and the Quarterly Virtual Creative Retreats where you can speak up, share your creations, and get your questions answered. It will be great fun!

I’m super excited to announce we no longer host our community on social media. Over the past year, in particular, I’ve heard more and more clients share how they are not enjoying social media. So I’ve built a beautiful, new interactive community for us on a completely private, separate platform call Mighty Networks.

I chose this platform because I experienced using it as a member and was blown away with the user-friendly and content rich way it connects members. The new Creative Hearts Community has:

• Events Section: I list important dates to ensure you don’t miss a single event. Plus, they’re shown in your own time zone and there is an Add to Calendar button so you can add events to your personal calendar.

• Topics Section: You can browse and post in a range of exciting, organised topics including mindfulness, painting, photography, books, gardening, writing, art materials, self-compassion and self-care and more!

• Organised Information: Navigate using a helpful menu, or type in a search term, to see the latest conversations, videos, events, popular topics – all at your fingertips. A search will return ALL the information you’re looking for.

• Connect with Members: You can easily find and connect with other members who share your interests.

• Mobile App: The app makes it really easy to use on the go with all the features.

And of course, it is entirely up to you what you choose to share and what you keep private. I have seen beautiful support and even friendships grow within our community, so I encourage you to ask questions, post photos and interact with your fellow creative hearts, because I would love you to get the most value from the program and experience.

I understand community isn’t for everyone. The wonderful thing is, even if you decide not to participate in that component of Flourish: The Art of Creative Living, you will still receive tremendous value and support.

You will still have:

• Complete access to the private Membership Website – home to all the Monthly Creative Adventures (HD videos, audios, PDFs, mediations, resources, affirmations and more).

• Regular emails from me, full of inspiration and fostering a sense of being part of a creative community.

• Access to email me any questions you have along the way.

What feels best to you, IS what is best for you! So if that means staying off of Community groups, do that. But that doesn’t mean you won’t LOVE Flourish, or can’t participate in the program.

Some folks adore the community aspect of Flourish and find it fuels their inner spark. Some people prefer to watch and learn from other people’s posts, and maybe join in later when they feel comfortable. Others are happy to go through the materials quietly on their own, at their own pace. Each and every way of interacting is perfect and welcome. You know how to use the program in the way that best supports YOU. Do that. 🙂

There are two options to enrol. You can choose the payment plan, or to pay up front.

Payment plan option*: You can choose to pay $180AUD x 12 months. These payments are in Australian dollars, will be charged 30 days apart and currently equate to approximately USD $135 month.

One Off Payment*: You can choose one payment of $2000 and save $160AUD. No more to pay. This equates to approximately USD $1500.

You can easily convert the price into your currency HERE.

*If you are an Australian resident, the payment will be plus GST.

We do offer a limited number of partial scholarship spots for each intake. If you would like one of our scholarship spots for our next intake, please fill out this form.

No, Flourish isn’t a membership. You won’t be able to cancel at any time. If you choose the payment plan option, you will be committed to the full 12 monthly payments.

Unlike a gym or magazine subscription, Flourish is a product which unfolds over a full year. If you choose to pay in full, you will only be charged once, however, if you choose the payment option, you are committing to the full year’s duration with twelve monthly payments.

If you decide to enrol with the monthly payment option, your payments will begin immediately. Our payment system will automatically charge your account 30 days after your initial payment, and will continue until all 12 monthly payments have been made.

So, if you enrol during the early bird window, say, on the 19th of November, you will be charged again around the 19th of December and each month following, until 12 payments have been made. If you enrol during the January registration period, say on the 25th, you will be charged then and then your second payment will be around the 25th February, until all 12 payments have been made.

Yes! I want you to be completely happy with where you choose to put your money. Which is why I offer a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.

If you enrol during the January registration period, you have until February 28th 2022 to participate fully in the program, and if you find that this is not what you signed up for, I’ll gladly refund your money (less a $50 administration fee). In order to receive a refund, you will need to submit proof of completing the module (photos of your creative process may be requested) and your worksheets within this period. This is to ensure people don’t sign up and request a refund purely for a change of mind. I’m committed to making this experience a safe container for all members, and that’s why I expect a level of commitment to the process from everyone who enrols. However, I truly want you to be delighted with your investment, which is why I offer this 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.

If you enrol during the Early Bird registration window, you will have until December 31st to participate in the program, and dive into the early bird bonuses. If you decide you aren’t completely happy with Flourish, I’ll gladly refund your money (less a $50 administration fee). In order to receive a refund, you will need to submit proof of using the bonus components within this period for assessment.

Once these periods have passed, there will be no refunds issued and no cancellations permitted.

Thank you! I’m so excited to spend the year with you!

Flourish: The Art of Creative Living is where I pour my heart and creativity, and you will get loads of support and attention from me — within time limitations and reason. If you are active in the program, you will be witnessed, supported, mentored and celebrated.

You will have monthly 1 hour live calls with me, where you can speak on the calls and share your artwork if you choose, or you can submit your questions beforehand and I will endeavour to answer them on the call. If you wish, you can ask me to keep your name anonymous, or if you are shy and you want to stay in the background, you can email your questions to me ahead of time.

We will also have four Virtual Creative Retreats, where you will be able to speak on the calls and interact with your fellow Flourishers, as we journey through creative projects together. It will be similar to an in-person creative workshop/retreat, but via Zoom, so we can gather around the world in community and support. I will facilitate the container and structure of the retreat, and there will be plenty of time for questions, sharing and stories, during each quarter of the program (that’s a total of FOUR Virtual Creative Retreats during the year).

In a similar vein to the Live Retreats, we also have the four Live Workshops throughout the year and they are so much fun! You’ll be able to ask me questions and follow along in real time with the creative projects we are focused on in each workshop.

I’m also active within the Creative Hearts Community group, so if you want tips, feedback, celebration or sharing, you are invited to post there. You are welcome to tag me if you specifically want my input or advice.

I am so honoured to get to support you in your creative life. I love to cheer you on, offer guidance, tools and inspiration along the way. If you would love additional, personal one-on-one support outside of the private Creative Hearts Community group and group Community Calls, you are welcome to enrol in the Program & later upgrade to a private mentoring option.

I offer private mentoring sessions for members of Flourish, simply email me to find out more.

The live Community Calls and Live Workshops will be held at 6pm Brisbane time on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The Live Virtual Retreats are held 10am-12noon and 2pm-4pm on Saturdays. The calls are also recorded so you can play them back later and you will be invited to submit questions ahead of time if you can’t make it live.

What a wonderful, insightful question!

There have been many studies that show creativity is proven to help with our health. In 2010, the American Journal of Public Health published a review titled, The Connection Between Art, Healing, and Public Health. The researchers found engaging in art forms led to:

• “Improved well being by decreasing negative emotions and increasing positive ones”

• “Improved medical outcomes, trends toward reduced depression”

• “Reductions in stress and anxiety; increases in positive emotions”

• “Reductions in distress and negative emotions”

• “Improvements in flow and spontaneity, expression of grief, positive identity, and social networks”

Creativity also supports us in our work. I have found I’m a more decisive and productive business owner as a result of expressing my creativity. Because I’ve built the muscle of trusting myself and my instincts in my creative pursuits, it’s strengthened my intuition and convictions when it comes to designing products, programs and a business that are in alignment with my values.

Creativity also increases satisfaction, delight, clarity, confidence and compassion as it brings us in touch with the wonder of daily life. I think you’ll be surprised by how many diverse and important areas of your life will flourish as a result of expressing your creativity.

Yes! Many members of Flourish are based overseas. From the USA to Europe, the UK to Asia, members are diverse and based all around the world.

When I teach about different art materials in the first Monthly Creative Adventure, I include links to art stores around the world. Other than that, you will find everything else is international-friendly.

Oh! And if you want to go through my online organic gardening courses (which I’m including as bonuses this year), you will have the option to click a link when you want to go through the course and it will begin for you immediately. So, if you are in spring in your part of the world, and you want to spend time in your garden and grow your own organic food, you can tailor your learning experience to fit in with your specific season.

Awesome! That tells me you are on the right track. So many past members have told me they felt unsure if they ‘could do it’ before they enrolled too. Jumping into something new often brings up all.the.fears. And our inner critic likes to help us feels safe, by keeping us in known territory.

I’ve been very intentional about layering the content in the program so you will have immediate ‘wins’ in your creative life and painting practice. The course is designed so you learn incrementally, and in that way, build your confidence as you go. I want you to feel excited, brave, and nurtured in your creative life, which is why you’ll find we cover the basics (in fun exercises and projects) to build your skills along the way. You can develop your own style and follow your heart in your creative life, by relaxing into my lovingly crafted container to hold you very closely at the beginning of your journey and ensure you develop the creative confidence you need to flourish.

I also want to reassure you the new added community components of the program are there to support you every step of the way too. So you can jump on a call with me each month and ask for support, you can share your challenges and your wins, you can use the community element to keep you inspired, connected and curious.

Every person begins the journey at a different place, and ends at a different place. You are right where you need to be right now (you can’t be anywhere else!) and as you continue to follow your heart, and the bread-crumbs of your curiosities, your creative path will unfold and reveal itself to you. Trust the process, listen to your intuitive nudges, and take action. Because clarity comes from taking action and seeing how that feels and what it leads to, much more than thinking about, pondering and evaluating ever can.

My advice would be to look at any real constraints that are stopping you, perhaps journal them out and look at what is real and what is just a story your mind is telling you. Then, jump in if you are still feeling a flutter of excitement. Those flutters are there for a reason (I find they are leading me home).

It can be tricky to equate the real ‘value’ of investing in our creativity because, by it’s very nature, we don’t know what the results will be — because we haven’t created them yet!

We haven’t experienced the sense of flow, nourishing of our well-being, ideas and energy that fuel our marketing or work, self-knowledge and self-leadership, re-invigorated relationships from processing our feelings, the inspiration to beautify our environment and home, sense of wonder at the world and its full spectrum of patterns, colours, textures and delights.

Those results are esoteric by nature. They can’t be described in a concrete formula: Creativity + You = Result. Or maybe they can… When have you felt most inspired, engaged, alive? When have you found the energy to make changes in your life that may have felt scary? When have you followed your heart and what was the result? What brings you joy, freedom, playfulness, peace and happiness?

Consuming other people’s creations? Sometimes, perhaps. Or is it playing an active role in your life and being the creator, the instigator, the alchemist? Trusting yourself, expressing your truth, listening to your heart, shaping your life with intention, playfulness and curiosity? Making things with your own hands?

On a practical level, I have two suggestions to help you to navigate this decision.

#1. Check in with yourself (always check in with yourself!) and use my favourite conscious money expert Bari Tessler’s framework for making conscious money decisions. Consider these five elements:

• The Numbers: Do you have enough money to cover the investment? Is there a way you could easily make the money (a few coffees here, simplifying there — it may be easier than you think!)

• The Timing: Is this the right time for you to do this? Does nurturing your creativity feel like something your heart is longing for now, in this season of your life?

• The Value: Is creativity something you value? How willing are you to invest in your creativity, if it aligns with your values?

• The Cost: What will it cost you to not do this? What will you miss out on by not choosing this path?

• The Intention: Are you making this decision from a place of love for yourself and care for your wellbeing, both present and future?

When you are clear on those elements, you can be sure everything is aligned for you to experience a wonderful return on your investment.

#2. Pull out a pen, or open a new document, and write down all your thoughts, feelings and ideas that come up around saying yes to this program.

What is holding you back? Are there real constraints? If it is something you really feel drawn to, are there any ways you can make it easier to say yes to yourself? Some past students have found looking at is as a Mother’s Day gift to themselves was all it took to dive in. Others have equated it to getting other self-care such as a massage or facial (with far-reaching effects — well beyond the time it takes to enjoy a day spa). See what comes up and is true for you.

So, settle in and take a deep breath. Check in with yourself. Look at your numbers. Listen to and follow your heart.

Is this your time? You have the information inside you to know.

I want to make sure you have all the resources you need to make a concious decision about stepping forward into your creative life. Here are some awesome & handy resources to help you find even more clarity:

You can check out my free Art of Creative Living: 7 Day Introductory Course. This series will give you a fantastic introduction to my work. If you’re new to me and my approach to creative living, this is the perfect place to begin.

You can check out my Creativity Starter Series. You’ll get to watch videos, read articles and get a feel for my style. Check out the Creativity Starter Series — for free — right here.

Finally, you are also invited to check out my free Creative Archetype Quiz and discover which type of creative you are. This may spark ideas and inspiration for how you can nurture your creativity during this season of your life, according to your creative archetype.

Above all, check in with your gut, see what feels right, and follow your heart.

And remember, I also offer a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee — so you can try the program and see for yourself if it lights you up from the inside.

I would love to play and paint with you! xx