Phone: 083 208 5608
About Ashleigh
Ashleigh is passionate about creativity and artmaking. She believes that creativity is more than just art making … it is a way of life.
Ashleigh trained as an Astar facilitator under Lindy Solomon, founder of ASTAR and TAP. She completed the Art and Trauma course through Lafika, the Lalela Heart Map training, and the foundation year at the Centre for Creative Education. Ashleigh is an artist, Life Coach and a qualified Body Stress Release Practitioner.
Over the last 16 years, Ashleigh has facilitated a multitude of therapeutic Art Process workshops, courses and getaways in the Western Cape.
In addition, she has 6 years experience as a Visual Arts Teacher Trainer, training teachers throughout the Overberg in partnership with the Education Department in the Western Cape. During this time, she facilitated workshops for teenagers at Enlighten Education Trust in Hermanus and her learners from these at-risk communities won 6 gold medals in the yearly Overberg competitions. Over this period she also held regular art classes for home schooled child groups. Ashleigh has had several years experience facilitating therapeutic art sessions for special needs children and adults at Camphill School and Farm in Hermanus. Previous experience includes teaching art part time over 2 years for children in the Kusasa Project in Franschhoek, and working for the former NGO, Africa Trading, assisting adults from the townships to market their arts & crafts throughout South Africa.
Ashleigh is presently a practicing fine artist. She has 3 years experience working as a free-lance illustrator for a variety of publishing houses, and has published her own South African Mandala adult colouring range.
About The Heart Studio
The Heart Studio was established in 2009, offering Creative Process Workshops and Courses for Personal Growth & Wellbeing, Community Development, Business, and Retreats.
Regular workshops take place in Hermanus in the Western Cape, or on-site anywhere within the Western Cape according to requirements.
Tailor-made workshops can be designed according to your required theme.
Most art materials are provided except for optional speciality items.
No previous art experience needed. Beginners to advanced welcome.
About The Creative Process
Each workshop is carefully and skilfully guided in a step-by-step process within a 3-fold format.
The Inspiration exercise
A different inspiration exercise is specifically designed for each workshop to bypass the critical analytical mind, and to help lose the fear of art-making.
The Main Creative Processes
A different theme is explored in each workshop. The art materials vary from workshop to workshop according to the theme. The spontaneous, imaginative and intuitive way of creating encourages seeing and expressing from the heart in a non-judgemental atmosphere. A conversation with the art piece arises which can reveal surprising insights and encourage therapeutic experiences that are usually inaccessible through the logical, rational mind.
The Reflection
A unique, specifically designed reflection process and optional sharing complete the experience. Links are made between the art process and everyday life.
Rumi