I am in love with the mystical and wondrous Hebrew alef bet by knowing they are much more than just letters to study for your bar or bat mitzvah, they are gifts to empower and guide you. Each letter formation, according to our ancient mystics, is an expression of how the entire universe was created, and can be seen in nature, for example. (see The Hebrew Letter Shin painting below).

So, what’s Jewish about stream drawing?

Stream Drawing with Hebrew Letters Workshop: In this unique workshop, you will engage in a two-part creative, spiritual exploration. You’ll recapture creative freedom, much the way you abundantly expressed when very young, using a drawing method that is easy, fun and at times profound. You’ll develop artistic-intuitive insight through this meditative (but light hearted!) process and realign with your inner creative genius. By sharpening your individual sense of perception, gazing into the drawn lines and forms, you’ll strengthen intuitive intelligence and artistic vision, trusting your impressions. Discovering and connecting abstract imagery to deeper meaning with the same kind of mystical depth the ancient rabbis and scholars delved in, using the aleph bet (which, they taught are the linear expressions that the entire universe is made of). Choosing your favorite Hebrew letter, you will explore the linear expression of the letter and connect with it through inner strength, drawing forth resilience and adaptability, self assertion and open-heartedness. This workshop supports a genuine love of Judaism and the ability to find solutions to life themes and experiences through creative, contemplative focus.

Small and large groups via Zoom and in-person, individualized for your needs (price ranges from one-on-one @ $125 an hour to $300 plus supplies for larger groups). Contact me at elaineclaytonreadings@gmail.com for more information. (To learn more about stream drawing, see MAKING MARKS: Discover the Art of Intuitive Drawing/Elaine Clayton/Simon and Schuster-Beyond Words)

Pomegranate Garden

Elijah

Elijah is part of a series on Jewish themes of Torah inspired spiritual transcendence. This one is particularly mystical for me in the way it came about. I had no idea what I would be painting and only knew I’d dedicate this one (30″x40″ mixed media on linen) to Elijah. I wrote “Elijah” on the back of the linen before starting to paint. The painting was curious, action-filled and strange in that I was not at all sure where it was going and the structure was not typical for me in abstracts I have previously created. After working on it in a very physical way for a while, I knew it was finished. I decided I should read about Elijah. The very first sentence I saw surprised me. I had not recalled this particular expression about Elijah. It read, “Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.” This astounded me in a powerful way–now the image made sense! The entire painting is a whirlwind. I felt strongly that Elijah had become a part of this painting once I dedicated to him.

Bestow

This painting (20″x40″ mixed media on linen) is inspired by my Kabbalah rabbi ancestors and my own personal experience of being drawn to Kabbalah studies since my early twenties around 1983. In Kabbalah, it is understood that we are continually in a position to choose to bestow chesed (mercy, kindness) or not. We are easily inclined to choose ego in our humanness. All the parts of the Tree of Life are an excellent guide for gaining wisdom (chokmah) via using strength (gevurah) in a constructive way. Having time to develop this in life is a gift (and it takes time).

Miter

Mitzar (detail–mixed media 30″x40″ on linen) is a visual meditation on the escape from that which enslaves us and refers to the Israelites enslavement in Egypt. Mitzrayim describes the uncomfortable small space we get into in our thinking or feeling when we are in need of transforming whatever limits us.

Simchat Torah

(Photo by Ilene Kent) A picture from Simchat Torah this year at the historical Temple Israel in Columbus, Georgia, we joined together in the sacred celebration of rolling out the Torah to start anew (at the beginning again). It is said that the letters written in the Torah are that which, in our created world, is visible to us. And the page they are inscribed upon is the “white fire” of that which we cannot see. There is much to see, do and perceive that is obvious to work with in life–our basic structures we dwell within, but what about the mysterious aspects of life we cannot perceive? Often we wait until clarity comes and often we may never quite “see” or understand.