Creative Flow Courses
~ Find Your Flow, Your Happiness, and Well-being
Upcoming Courses:
Meditation for the Artist
in Coja, Central Portugal
Dates and Location to be announced.
Meditation for the Artist is a free workshop followed by a seven week course, where we use meditation together with the creative process to wake ourselves up to our creative potential. We will learn to transcend the thinking mind, to see more clearly and to create with authenticity. By delving deep into our Flow, we sharpen our innate intelligence, going beyond the illusion of separation toward an experience of the sublime.
This seven week course will teach meditation and include contemplative art exercises (‘Art as Meditation’) to awaken both the creative and viewing processes. The first three weeks will focus on perceptual and awareness exercises, meditation, and expressive brush and ink painting that will assist you in experiencing the creative process with fresh eyes, heightened senses, and an open mind and heart.
During the second half of the course, we will incorporate object arrangement and exploratory painting exercises, using these methods as a practice of creative mindfulness that you can apply to any creative medium. In addition, you will learn simple, easy methods for accessing the creative Flow state, and discover how to direct emotions and to dissolve blocks using the creative process itself.
Douglas Paul Smith is the author of the book, ‘The Infinite Artist.’ He is the founder of The House of Flow, which empowers artists and creative people to find their true potential and authenticity, and to achieve their creative goals. Douglas’ passion for creativity coaching was born from a decade of teaching ‘Art As Meditation’ classes in the United States — his own version of the Eastern principles of creativity as taught by the late Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche in the 1970s and 80s. As well as being a professional visual artist and designer for over 25 years, Douglas also studied Yogic philosophy and meditation extensively in the traditions of Tibetan Gelugpa, Shambhala, and Soto Zen Buddhism, and is formally trained as a Contemplative Arts Instructor at Shambhala Art International, in Los Angeles, California.
Transform Resistance, Fear, and Anxiety
Using a Creative Practice
(Upcoming, Date and Time TBD)
As part of Inner Way LA’s Arts Program, Artist and author Douglas Paul Smith teaches this 4-week course / creativity workshop on how to use the creative process to liberate ourselves from resistance, fear, and the emotions that hold us back in life. Learn how to transform your fears and resistance into emotional stability, a sense of interconnectedness, and peace of mind. We will learn how to develop our own unique creative practice and easily drop into our flow. Not just for ‘creative’ types, this course will help anyone who wants to take a leap into their creative and spiritual potential.
Check back for Course dates, and
Stay tuned for more Courses like this…
Past Courses and Creativity Workshops Flyers…
more Workshop Testimonials
“I feel like we have been so fortunate to have you at this retreat – you are a natural teacher and I like the way you approached the topic of Creativity/Dharma Art. I feel like you triggered a felt sense in your class which I found extremely helpful – you made it so accessible, helping us to drop into that deeper awareness.
—Victoria, Z., Melbourne, Australia
“Thanks for the class last Saturday….Somehow in tapping into the emotions as instructed, prior to dipping our hands into the pools of paint, something deeper and more profound than just fingerpainting manifested, both in the heart and on the page.
I would do it again, anytime. Thank you for the intuitive teaching, and for your presence.
—Peter H., Los Angeles, CA
“Douglas guides the class in a gentle and compassionate way, bringing meditation and openness to the practice of intuitive ‘art.’ As a total novice I felt comfortable and the class left me peaceful and contemplative.
—Claire T., Los Angeles, CA
“Douglas gently lead our group through exploring our physicality, presence and full range of emotions through free artistic expression. Besides being fun, the experience was clarifying, liberating and empowering, giving me a deeper and more direct connection to my human experience and my creativity.
—Dmitriy Y., Los Angeles, CA
“Douglas is an exceptional teacher. He brought us to a place we could express ourselves openly in a way to better learn about ourselves and to just “let go” and be open.
—Laurie S., Los Angeles, CA
“I think this practice is an entertaining way to connect with yourself. For me, it wasn’t that much about creativity but rather tapping into your emotions. I enjoyed Douglas’ intuitive guidance. He really helped me to “stay out of my own way.” Thank you.
—Andrew P., Los Angeles, CA