Feel like a weekend away staying in my private artists studio?

I'm now opening my private artist's retreat for weekend stays. This unique space is ideal for a creatively-minded single or a couple wanting an artist's retreat experience, holiday, or short term business trip.  It's a beautiful sun-filled one bedroom apartment close to the bay in the heart of Balmain. In a secluded location surrounded by palm trees, it is a minute walk to the ferry to get into the city or Cockatoo Island, and a minute to Darling St: the main shopping street full of wonderful boutiques, bars, art galleries and restaurants. For more photographs & information, please click here. 

Bookings made through Patreon receive special additions, so please check out the rewards on my Patreon page and join the creative collective....

Vivent Les Artistes!

With love, 

Pia xx

My Artist's Retreat in the making, ready to take bookings...

...my artist's impression of of my artist's hideaway in Balmain.  

For those who follow me on instagram, you'd know that a few weeks ago I embarked on a new, wonderful adventure, sharing with you a bare space in the midst of being transformed into my artist's retreat. It's a one bedroom apartment in the heart of Balmain: a minute walk to the ferry to get into the city, and a minute to Darling St, the main shopping street.

It's something I wasn't planning to do at all, but as happens with following my heart, things don't make sense in the moment, but I now see it was leading to this sweet abode all the while...

I had been looking at artist studio spaces over the last couple of years- spaces that were part of large artist communities, and as much as I loved the idea of sharing an artists space and being among other artists, it never felt right for me - I couldn't imagine myself in any of the spaces, no matter how much I loved them or the artists I'd be working alongside. 

Then, just out of the blue, with no clear reasoning whatsoever, I got a feeling to look at some one bedroom apartments in the area. I looked at three, and this one - this one, had it.  Housed in a humble 1980's white brick building, tucked away from the street, with a tiny galley kitchen and bathroom off the bedroom tiled in slate, it simply sang to me. The energy of the space is beautiful and serene and so open to creative flow. I felt the magic of it coarse through my veins and couldn't stop feeling all it will be - to me, to my work, to my new mentoring clients and their work.

So over the past couple of weeks, I've been hanging out there when I can, spending time listening, observing, and feeling, letting the ideas flow, and in the next couple of weeks I'll be shaping it into a fully immersive, multi-disciplined creative space...

Two ESSENTIALS that I had to claim for the new space from Drunk on the Moon, my go-to vintage treasure stop in Newtown: an artist's stool and an anchor. The significance of the anchor will be explained in time :)

Gathering flora (and weeds!) from around the neighbourhood, as I get to know the surrounds and bring nature in to inspire... 

The space in its beginning phase. 

And, with only a couple of weeks away from being ready,  it's with absolute delight that I am now taking bookings for my personal artist’s hideaway in Sydney!

This is a truly unique opportunity to step into my world; into the world of My Heart Wanders. 

Spend two nights fully immersed in your creative genius, with all access to my multi-disciplined space, as well as one-on-one mentoring sessions with me throughout your stay.

My mentoring clients around the world are currently writing books they never knew they could, making art they never thought they would, and most importantly they are doing so ignited by their own fire, which, through my unique approach, they’ve learnt how to feed and cherish, never wanting to let it turn to ash again.

Please note: As many of you know, I don’t muck around. Once you book your time with me, you open the doorway to your creative calling. And I need to make this clear: This is not creativity as a hobby. This is not creativity as a side project; this is creativity as your calling.

As a prolific author, photographer and visual storyteller, my work has been featured in dozens of magazines and books across the globe over the last decade. I am an artist and I’ve never been starving. Every day I make room to ripen; every day I’m in an alchemical state.

And, now and then, my creativity erupts to make something wonderful that resonates with thousands of people across the globe. 

I live the creative life, the heart-led life. I am the real deal. I go against the grain. I’ve stood in front of my fears, time and time again and moved through those fears, time and time again. I am an artist, I play by my own rules. I am authentic. Passionate. And I’m living it – there is no pretence. There is no bullshit. My work is tangible. I am visible. I live my truth.

And when we work together, you & your authentic work will come through quickly and become visible too, so you need to be ready & willing: it's simply how powerful our connection is, and when you're open, it will flow. 

Bookings are now open for November and December. There are limited spots, and it's by application only. UPDATE 26/11/2017: Bookings now closed for 2017. Bookings from March 2018 now open, please click here to find out more. 

Two magical choices:

1.     I welcome you into my artist's hideaway, and then leave you to your creative self to finish off a project you’ve urgently needed to – providing a nurturing and artistically supportive space, plus access to me when you get stuck!

2.     I mentor you 1-1 during your stay in my space – this is powerful, transformative work; identifying your creative calling and showing your how to make it a reality!

There are going to be lots of wonderful, personal touches to this experience - this is not simply booking a couple of nights accomodation in Sydney, this is opening yourself to YOU. It is a transformative experience that is completely unique and exclusive... 

For more information, please click here. 

Vivent Les Artistes mes amis, Vivent Les Artistes! 

xx

The Alchemy of Assemblage Workshops 2017

Last year I held my first ever workshop, in the beautiful antique & restoration warehouse, Elements I Love, located here in my neighbourhood in Sydney. It was a collaborative workshop with owner Brooke, who shared her fabulous expertise on woodwork finishing while I guided participants to connecting with their unique creative flow as they each made their own assemblage boards. It was great fun,  and the energy in the room was magnetic.

After some wonderful feedback and several consultations with a workshop specialist over the past months, I have designed & redefined The Alchemy of Assemblage into something delightfully unique & I cannot wait to share it with you! So without further delay, I am thrilled to announce  I have two exclusive & intimate workshops to be held at Elements I Love next month (and two to be held in Amsterdam in September, which I'll share the details of in a moment!).

The first one coming up is a weekend workshop, spread over 2 days - from 11-4pm on August 26 & 27, 2017. Join me for a rare opportunity to spend 10 hours together learning how to connect with your intuition to unlock your own unique style and journey toward finding the beauty & magic in your everyday.  With a limit of just 6 participants so I can genuinely connect to each person, this unique workshop is a life-enriching experience that reaches heart & soul. 

On Day One, you’ll acquire the knowledge to create your own distinctive piece of personal art on wood using a collection of elements you love. Through the process of creating your own assemblage board (collage on wood), I will guide you on how to recognise and follow your intuition, allowing your creative spirit to flow freely - a technique you’ll be able to practice and strengthen over time. I will help you discover how to approach a creative project by guiding you through making your own beautiful and evocative collage: it will be like learning to bring to life one of the pages from My Heart Wanders but even more wonderful - this will be your very own. 

We'll enjoy a delicious & nourishing French-inspired lunch with champagne surrounded by incredible antiques from all over the world and have the chance to talk in more depth about creative blocks and how to work through them. 

On Day Two, you'll have the opportunity to practice what you've learnt from Day One and take it one step further by creating your own styled vignette with selected objects from the beautiful Elements I Love collection. Through the styling of your own vignette in a supportive, nurturing and captivating environment, learn how to get in touch with your intuition and work with your creativity to find beauty in the everyday.

This is where you'll learn my creative principles which I apply to styling & photographing for clients as well as magazine and publishing shoots.

After another delicious lunch together and more time to deepen your intuitive connection, you'll be ready to head home feeling empowered, nurtured and with joy in your heart.  You'll have gained confidence in your creative abilities and be inspired to nurture and grow your heart connection in a new and magical way. 

Here are the dates and details for the Sydney Weekend Workshop:

Date: Saturday and Sunday, August 26 & 27, 2017

Time: 11-4pm on Saturday August 26 & 11-4pm on Sunday August 27. 

Location: Elements I Love, 124 James St Leichhardt.

Price: $800

Learn: how to approach a creative concept and learn skills that will enable you to craft other assemblages.  Gain insight & knowledge into the thought process behind creative and artistic projects whilst learning the stylist’s trade techniques that make it happen.

Bring: (optional) one or two mementos from home that represent a moment, a place, a time, a memory or a person you love. For example: a photograph, a scrap of fabric, a piece of leather or similar, an old letter or card, a ticket etc. 

Supplied: boards and materials, beautiful organic teas & coffee, lunch (please inform us if you have any dietary requirements), champagne and afternoon tea. 

......................................................................

The second Sydney workshop is a single day workshop, incorporating everything from Day One of the weekend workshop, here are the details:

Date: Saturday July 22, 2017

Time: 11-4pm 

Location: Elements I Love, 124 James St, Leichhardt, Sydney, Australia

Price: $400

Learn: how to approach a creative concept and learn skills that will enable you to craft other assemblages.  Gain insight & knowledge into the thought process behind creative and artistic projects.

Bring: (optional) one or two mementos from home that represent a moment, a place, a time, a memory or a person you love. For example: a photograph, a scrap of fabric, a piece of leather or similar, an old letter or card, a ticket etc. 

Supplied: boards and materials, beautiful organic teas & coffee, lunch (please inform us if you have any dietary requirements), champagne and afternoon tea. 

There are only 6 places available for each, you can click on the link below to learn more and book your place...

Now for the details about Amsterdam...

Yes! Very excited to share with you my friend Leslie's incredible studio in Amsterdam for these workshops. All the details are as above, but they will be held at Swarm: Leslie Oschmann's wonderful world of making. Being an artist hermit (like myself, we are alike in that way :), this is definitely a rare opportunity! Here are the details...

Amsterdam Weekend Workshop:

Date: Saturday and Sunday, September 9 & 10, 2017

Time: 11-4pm on Saturday September 9 & 11-4pm on Sunday September 10.

Location: Swarm, Vereniging De Loods, Zeeburgereiland, Amsterdam

Price: $885AUS (600 euros)

Learn: how to approach a creative concept and learn skills that will enable you to craft other assemblages.  Gain insight & knowledge into the thought process behind creative and artistic projects whilst learning the stylist’s trade techniques that make it happen.

Bring: (optional) one or two mementos from home that represent a moment, a place, a time, a memory or a person you love. For example: a photograph, a scrap of fabric, a piece of leather or similar, an old letter or card, a ticket etc. 

Supplied: boards and materials, beautiful organic teas & coffee, lunch (please inform us if you have any dietary requirements), champagne and afternoon tea. 

......................................................................

Amsterdam Single Day Workshop:

Date: Friday, September 8, 2017

Time: 11-4pm

Location: Swarm, Vereniging De Loods, Zeeburgereiland, Amsterdam

Price: $445AUS (300 euros)

Learn: how to approach a creative concept and learn skills that will enable you to craft other assemblages.  Gain insight & knowledge into the thought process behind creative and artistic projects.

Bring: (optional) one or two mementos from home that represent a moment, a place, a time, a memory or a person you love. For example: a photograph, a scrap of fabric, a piece of leather or similar, an old letter or card, a ticket etc. 

Supplied: boards and materials, beautiful organic teas & coffee, lunch (please inform us if you have any dietary requirements), champagne and afternoon tea. 

For more info, follow the link below...

If you have any questions at all, please send me an email.

With love, 

Pia xx

workshop news: the alchemy of assemblage...

I'm thrilled to make official here the announcement of my first workshop for the season: The Alchemy of Assemblage, to be held at the incredible Elements I Love rambling warehouse in Sydney, just a stones throw from where I live. Owner Brooke and I have been planning this for months and it's wonderful to see it come together. In a flooded market of workshops, I wanted to create and offer something really special and unique, that incorporates many elements that you can take with you to use in your everyday creativity. More than an event, I aim to propel you forward in your creative life, in one of the most beautiful settings in the city. Every time I walk into Elements I Love I am transported to Europe to a gorgeous antique boutique, a place I want to linger for hours. Brooke and her husband Tim have created such a special place over the past 10 years, it's an honour to be invited to host a creative workshop here..

...behind a series of linen curtains and closed doors lies the restoration workspace, the alchemist's lair. 

The idea of the workshop came from thinking about the art of layering and collage. In my travel memoir My Heart Wanders, I designed each double page spread to be a work of art in itself so that you can not only read the book from cover to cover but flip it open anytime to be transported to that moment through a rich layering of visuals and words. For this workshop, we will be exploring the technique of assemblage by creating a collage on wood - while enjoying champagne and nibbles, you’ll acquire the knowledge to create your own piece of personal art using a collection of elements you love.  It will be like bringing to life a page from My Heart Wanders but from your very own experiences and elements...

Through the process of creating your own assemblage board, I'll guide you on how to recognise and follow your intuition, allowing your creative spirit to flow freely - a technique you’ll be able to practice and strengthen over time. I'll be talking about creative flow, and how to manage and move through self-doubt in your style and art, the "I'm not good enough" self talk that so many of us have. 

Using your own small found objects as well as a selection of collected materials, I'm looking forward to helping you to discover how to approach a creative project by guiding you through making your own beautiful and evocative collage. To accompany the items you bring with you (think: old postcard, photograph, ticket stubs, buttons, wrapping, fabric - anything that evokes a particular moment for you: a place or loved one) there’ll be a selection of materials that I'll be sharing with you to add to your board including cloth, paper, tacks, string, feathers, shells, and ink: all collected over time and amongst my own personal stash. Along with learning how to finish your board professionally with sanding and beeswax with expert help from the team at Elements I Love , you’ll gain the necessary know-how to make more assemblages at home to adorn walls or give as gifts.

There is only one workshop date available for this (Saturday, August 27, 2016)  and limited numbers so that I can make the time to personally chat with everyone during the workshop, so please don't hesitate to book before the word spreads over the coming week.  For more details about the workshop, please click here. 

I hope to see you there!

With Love, Pia 

PS Completely off topic but... I'm addicted to Outlander. I just had to tell you. I can barely think of anything else at the moment.  I only just discovered it the other day and am still in season 1 so don't tell me a thing if you're already ahead and if you're not, I cannot recommend it enough - it's the perfect story to escape into this winter season. Yes, I'm planning to immerse myself even further by reading the books. X