{Hot Women to Watch is a monthly feature where I put the spotlight on one beautiful soul whose work I’m appreciating and cheering on because something tells me this is just the beginning} 

Therapeutic art-making. Mixed Media techniques. In nature. All in the name of creating your own expressive and authentic art.  Yes please!

This months Hot Woman to Watch is Chrissy Foreman, an artist, designer and teacher based here in Brisbane who currently runs awesome workshops to help people from all walks of life in expressing themselves authentically through art.

I had the great pleasure of enjoying your joyful presence and learning all about her journey,the work that she’s doing in the world and her big dreams when I met up with Chrissy in person a few months back.  The way she speaks about authentic expression through art and the process she guides people through will make you want to spend a whole season (if not every single day) doing nothing but making art.  And rightfully so.  I believe we could all do with a whole lot more of this is our lives.

Introducing Chrissy Foreman…oh, and not only do we share the same star-sign (Libra) we also same birthday as me (23rd October).

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{Lets go deep and meaningful}

From breakdown to breakthrough, what was this moment for you? The defining moment that changed e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g.

I feel like life is one beautiful, vast ocean of breakdowns, new beginnings and breakthroughs!
Still, I’d love to share one of my most challenging and treasured life moments with you here.

After becoming a Mumma in 2011, I experienced deep post-natal depression for the first year of my son’s life. From the onset of labour onwards, Motherhood relentlessly forced my vulnerabilities, strengths and challenges to the surface, over and over, in order to be seen, healed and transformed.

I no longer had my luxury of self-sufficiency and independence to hide my vulnerabilities. I felt completely frazzled as a new Mum, yet deeply needed by this tiny human. I realised I needed to let love in, both to heal myself and to care for my son, to a depth I’d never allowed myself before.

For the first time, I began to let my husband, family, friends and even strangers into my deeply vulnerable world. I felt raw and defenceless, right down to the tiny nerve endings within my body. But a deep knowing inside me knew that in order to heal, I needed to open to support and become deeply authentic in order to establish my needs as priorities too.

During this time, I went from painting the pretty, ‘acceptable’ pictures of my past, to creating richly emotional, expressive and vulnerable mixed media Artworks.
I let go of judgements and allowed each brush stroke to honour my inner feelings, hopes and dreams, in an effort to make sense of my feelings and new world I lived in.

I began speaking and writing more authentically on my blog, by sharing my triumphs as well as my challenges, with deep truth and integrity.

I was finally expressing the Real Me, not just the Me I thought others could love.

As a result, I’ve developed a whole new depth of focus in my Art and Life. I feel like I have been gifted with the perfect circumstances for my Artworks, Fabrics and ‘Authentically You’ Art Classes to truly shine and reach out to others now. Without my challenges, honesty and triumphs, I could not be who I am today, and I love who I’m becoming.

What role does creativity play in your life?

Creativity is a way of life for me, not something I do for a few hours a week. Being deeply creative enables me the flexibility to take risks, and trust I’ll come up with ways to problem-solve whatever the outcome may bring.

My energy is hugely intuitive and spontaneous, which can sometimes be a point of contention with my Husband, who is completely logical and deliberate … but we both have the capacity of helping each other out with a different point of view.

He helps pluck me down from the clouds when I need it, then I take him off for a joy flight!
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

It’s safe to express who you really are – warts and all – because true Authenticity is always a beautiful thing. In my experience, there’s nothing more rewarding than standing in your own skin and knowing you’re being Authentic towards yourself and the world. It’s powerful stuff.

What has been the most challenging thing to let go of so you could put yourself first (be it your health or your desires or your inner voice)?

Most definitely my biggest challenge is letting go of worry that I’m inconveniencing others, by choosing what’s best for me. I have to keep reminding myself that I’m worthy of nurturing too, not just everyone else! In fact, when I am kind to me, I feel I’m a better Mum, Wife, Artist and Human because of it.

What books are you always telling people to read?

Flora Bowley’s Brave Intuitive Painting
and
The Divided Heart {Art & Motherhood} by Rachel Power

When do you most feel like a Goddess?

When I’m on an afternoon or morning beach walk with my son, and the ocean is so calm, it mirrors the sky like a beautiful sheet of colour-filled glass. In that moment, I know I am loved.

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear: ART?

Expression, colour and opportunity for integrity to shine through.

{Now for the Short and sweet…}

I’m interested in… feeling real, vibrant and shitty when I need to.
I believe… Authentic Art heals.
In my experience… resisting hurts more than facing our fears.
2013 is… a year of depth, change and delights.

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Connect with Chrissy here.