Painting with Feelings: A Workshop with Anastasia Tasou

On a very wet day last weekend, I attended a workshop by Anastasia Tasou. It was called Painting with Feelings. I wasn't really sure exactly what we'd be doing, but having looked at her Instagram feed, and seen lots of lettering (with positive affirmations and phrases about her thoughts and feelings), I figured that if nothing else, I would be able to write (if not paint!).

When we arrived, she said hello to us all and gave us each a hug. A good start! We opened up little bags full of goodies, and inside found a notebook, a prompts sheet, an affirmations book and a sticker.

Firstly we took part in some fun drawing exercises. This was lots of fun as we had to draw each other. It certainly broke the ice as we showed each other our pictures that had been drawn using our non-dominant hands (like the one below), by using a continuous line, or without looking at the paper.

Using the prompts sheet, we started to journal in our notebooks. It was a case of just going with the flow and not thinking too hard about what you were writing.

We were then given blank postcards, pens and watercolour paints and told to use what we had written in our notebooks as inspiration. Some people had come prepared with ideas for designs, but I hadn't, so my first thoughts were to get some rainbow backgrounds done. Colour and rainbows are definitely my default setting!

Once they were dry, I added words and phrases. It was lovely just spending time doing something for myself for a few hours rather than snatching time between doing family and work things.

Anastasia was absolutely lovely. A kind, caring and very wise individual. She spent time talking to all of us individually as we worked.

At the end of the workshop, we were able to look at everyone else's work. We did a little show and tell, and I really enjoyed hearing everyone's thoughts behind what they had produced.

If you ever get the opportunity to do a workshop with Anastasia then grab it with both hands. I left feeling like I'd been cleansed - I'd had a chance to really think about how I felt about myself and others and was able to express it through art.

Thank you Ana.

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Anastasia's Instagram

Anastasia's website