Peace One Day 2021

Drrrrrumroll, please !

Introducing the artists of this year’s Peace Day Celebration !

Honored to be working with these super talented individuals and so excited to share their creations with you.

International Peace Day is September 21st and we will be performing in Atlanta, the weekend prior, bringing you music, dance, poetry, and more.

When : Saturday, September 18th

Time : 6:00 PM

Where : Aatma Dance Studio, Chamblee

UPDATE : IN-PERSON TICKETS ARE SOLD OUT !! But you can still grab your virtual ticket and enjoy the show livestreamed. $10 via Venmo : @Rene-Nesbit

All ticket sales go directly to supporting the global Peace One Day movement. 

Find out how YOU can get involved, here -->

☮️ www.peaceoneday.org ☮️

Udemy Art Therapy : Prompt 4

 * vision board *

These are the things that matter to me : art, love, community.

And these are the skills that I feel empowered by—the ability to make good decisions, to believe in a better future, and to create change and connection through creativity.

The 4th prompt from @udemy in my art therapy course, this task was a little intimidating ! (Ooo, a whole “vision” board. Right now ? Like, I have to tell you what I want ??? Yikes.)

Lol It took me forever to get started, but once I began plucking those words and images from the paper, I really started to relax. Like, ah yes. This is what I’m meant for. 

And the video lesson was great at reminding the viewers of just that—the process is just as important as what you make. That answering these big questions of “What is a happy life to you ?” and “What are your goals for the future ?” really brings the mind home to your core values and helps you settle feelings that might previously have felt like mishmash.

Sooo if you’re needing some comfort and clarity, I highly recommend this exercise. All you need is some scissors and a magazine !

Find yourself in your art. 

~RN

Greetings ! in ASL

I love to share the things that I love to do with other people and signing is one of those things.

I’ve been meeting with Ms. Jordan Gonzalez of Arts First Creative Studios, virtually for the past month, going over vocabulary and grammar, so that SHE can share it with her wonderful students—the Young Singers of the Palm Beaches, @young_singers_palm_beaches.

Jordan is the director of their awesome summer program this year and is giving the students a fantastic introduction into the arts—singing, theatre, dance, set design, and more.

I’m so happy that I could offer my ASL skills to her program and I can’t wait to see what these talented kiddos create with it. Find out more about their inspiring work at : www.yspb.org

And you can learn more about Jordan here : 😃👉
@artsfirstcreativestudios & @joybyjo_art

(Captions : “Hello ! My name is what ? René. (Sign name is an R on the heart.) I feel what ? So excited to be sharing ASL with you all. Thank you ! ILY. Bye.”)

West End Booth

👀 Here’s a few new elements added to our booth experience.

* Plastic sleeves for prints,
🖍 an interactive coloring table for artists of all ages,
[ ] and helpful signage !

Thankful for the support (and patience !) of my family on hot, sweaty days when set-up and breakdown seem to take as long as the event. (Not really. But yah. Phew. 😅)

And a big thank you to @cryptidcreatives and @westendpopups for hosting the artsy event on the 4th ! 

"The Device" at Art Is Motion

Epically proud of my students and the whole Art Is Motion team. You all rocked !

My modern dance piece, "The Device," premiered at our end of the year showcase, 

Midsummer Madness.

You can watch the live performance on YouTube, >here <.

The Producer

One of my favorite ways to connect with people is through producing a show. It's a great reason to bring people together--art, music, talent. It's a wonderful excuse to text someone and just say, "Hey, how are you doin ??! By the way, want to collaborate ?" It's bridged gaps between my friends in far places and helped create new forever friends right here in ATL, when they otherwise may not have met each other.

If you didn't already know it, I believe that art can change the world.

Join us, as we raise support and awareness for Peace One Day this fall, on September 18th.

This is an open call for dancers, singers, actors, poets, and painters--you name it. Share your story of why YOU think peace is valuable.

Submissions due by July 1st. 

Email canicolornowstudios@gmail.com

Much love,

René Nesbit

Founder of Can I Color Now Studios

Director of Cherish Dance

love is blind

You never realize how many letters are in a word until you have to stamp out every. single. one of them.

Here's a portion of my poem "love is blind" from 2020.

This was my first time using a stamp pad for actual fingerprints, but it's immediately what I thought of, after I finished the lettering.

ink on paper, 8.5 x 11

Original available. $10.

Diggers Antiques Art Fair

One of the best things about having a booth is getting to walk around and talk to the other vendors. I love my new earrings from @leatherunlimited and so enjoyed meeting their sweet family. 💞

We had a great time at Digger's Antiques Art Fair in Fayetteville and can't wait for the next event.

~RN

** Spring for Spring Dance Festival **

"Find the people who challenge and inspire you. Spend a lot of time with them and it will change your life." ~ Amy Poelher

A big hug and thank you to Loren McFalls for all of her time and dedication to my piece, "River." This was our debut performance together as Cherish Dance. 

We so enjoyed the beautiful weather and the chance to perform thanks to the Spring for Spring Dance Festival (a Fall for Fall Dance production).

You can check out the full recording, here : "River" at Spring for Spring

Udemy Art Therapy : Prompt 3

Ahhh..... mandalas.

I remember making these in my English class with my high school students as a way to investigate feelings and symbols. And they are so magical for that !

The 3rd prompt from Udemy in my art therapy course, this video lesson was great at explaining how to get started and they also provided a handy printable template. I found that I needed some more examples, however, for the specific doodles inside the circles, so I watched this YouTube video, as well (link below).

How to Draw Mandala Art for Beginners

Hope you get a chance to draw some soothing circles soon, too !!

~RN

Art on the Green

☀️OUR FIRST BOOTH !!☀️

Wow, it was a beautiful day last Sunday. Thankful for all the staff and organizers at Woodstock Arts (formerly Elm Street Arts) for working so hard and putting together the Art on the Green event. 🙏🙏🙏

It was so nice just to see so many people walking around, smiling, and enjoying the festivities.

As an artist, I really loved speaking with other people about the joy of creating. Next time, we’ll definitely have an interactive table for kiddos to make art at. I wasn’t sure if I could handle both that and managing the booth, but now I think it’s doable. You never know until you try !

And if this looks like a solo endeavor, it’s not. I absolutely could not have done it without the patience and support of my husband, the feedback and helpful ideas from my friends, and the countless different ways that my family has encouraged me to continue to pursue my dreams. Much, much, MUCH love to you all. 🤟💙

** Artz 'N Park Festival **

It was a beautiful day to dance !! 

Thank you Mr. Paulo Manso de Sousa and everyone at Southern Arc Dance for the wonderful Artz 'N Park event. This year's gathering was especially meaningful. It was the first social event bringing people together in Newnan, GA after a long year of quarantine and a tornado that hit their lovely town.

You can find out more about the inspiring work they're doing, here: 

https://southernarcdance.org/community

A big thank you to Ms. Cathy and my dance family at Academy of Ballet for all of their support and for the rehearsal space that made this performance possible !

I'm looking forward to Cherish Dance bringing more love to Artz 'N Park next year !

The full video of "Joyful" is up on YouTube. --> 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvlfD2GRaqc

Udemy Art Therapy : Prompt 2

 ~ Zentangles ! ~

2nd prompt in my online Udemy course to become an art therapist.

I feel like I've drawn these on accident in some of my doodles, just enjoying a pattern in repetition or the feel of my pen on paper. I learned in the video that they actually have a few set rules (created on a 9 cm x 9 cm square tile, original "string" is in pencil, patterns are only in black ink, and tile has an internal border).

Creating a Zentangle may aid a patient in becoming more aware of how they're feeling. It may also allow a person to disconnect from any stress in their current state and relax into the abstract nature of the artwork. I definitely felt that as I made these !

~RN

Udemy Art Therapy : Prompt 1

One of my (many) long-term goals is to become an art therapist.

Udemy has allowed me to get a little jump start on that process with an online course that I can enjoy and work on at my own pace.

These two doodles are in response to the first prompt, becoming aware of the body state through watercolors. I can't help feeling that they both have purple pants on. Lol But seriously, both the first try with colored pencils, and the second, when I actually broke out a paint set, were really cool investigations and very calming to make.  

~RN

Doozy

 

pen on canvas, 9 x 12

Original available--$25.

Time-Lapse on YouTube

paint on canvas, 8 x 10

Here's a time-lapse I made at the spurring of my friend, Charmaine--she is wicked smart and super cool and also Associate Artistic Director of Smart Orchestra.

It's not exactly what I'd call a pretty painting ? But definitely something that needed to get out. All of the anxiety and stress caused by mask-wearing, hand sanitizing, social-distancing, and just lack of people contact.

I'm trying to remember to reach out to my friends in the ways that I can--through text and email, photograph and funny story--spanning that silence until we can actually hang out together again.

Hope you're having an okay weekend.

~RN

Link to Time Lapse of "These Are Just The Symptoms"

Peace Day 2021 Performance

Do you love to PERFORM ?? Are you an avid fan of great music ??

Would you love to see more peace in the world, but are not sure where to start ??

Here is your moment !

Join Can I Color Now Studios and Cherish Dance for Peace Day 2021, 

as we bring together artists from across the map and celebrate

the power of creativity and the human spirit.

International Peace Day is September 21st. 

How will YOU Do Your Peace ??

>>> *PEACE ONE DAY SIGN-UP FORM* <<<

www.peaceoneday.org

Through Deep Waters, 2.13.21

We raised $795 for charity:water with our ticket sales from Through Deep Waters !! WOW !!

Thank you to all of the virtual and in-person audience members who 

made this amazing donation possible !

And thank you to our diverse team of multi-talented, multi-genre, fabulous, 

big-hearted performers who shared their gifts with us and the world.

Look at the wonderful things we can do, when we come together.

CLEAN WATER CHANGES EVERYTHING

Charitywater | Through Deep Waters | United States (wixsite.com)

CHERISH DANCE Audition

Cherish Dance is coming to Atlanta--bringing its unique blend of modern dance, 

storytelling, and poetry to our vibrant performing community. 

We are holding an open audition at Academy of Ballet 

on Friday, March 5th, from 6:00-8:00 PM. 

Professional and pre-professional levels are welcome. 

A warm-up and snippet of choreography will be provided, 

to introduce everyone to the style of the group. 

Our goal and first performance opportunity will be 

in September for our 2021 Peace Day Celebration. 

This is Can I Color Now Studios' third year participating 

in the Peace One Day movement and we are excited 

to bring a whole new level of excellence 

to our show with this dance company.

We cherish art.

We cherish the people we make it with. 

Cherish Dance

Director: René Nesbit

Crowns

 

paint on canvas, 9 x 12

Original available--$25.

POD 2020 Donation

In the busyness of shows and rehearsals and holidays, I realized the other day 

that I forgot to share the donation we made from our Peace Day 2020 Celebration. 

The $50 we raised from virtual ticket sales went straight to Peace One Day 

and their fabulous organization. Thank you SO much

to all of the amazing family and friends who gave their time, 

energy, effort and enthusiasm.

$35.50 GBP = $50.65 USD

I hope you are all doing well and I look forward to collaborating for Peace Day 2021 !

You can watch the full video of our show at the link below. -->

Peace Day 2020 Celebration

~RN