Off the Canvas with Jenn Van de Vooren Jennifer Van de Vooren

Don’t Put Artists on a Pedestal. Episode 11 of Off the Canvas with Jenn Van de Vooren Does this statement about artists and pedestals give you some kind of reaction? About art and artists? Or about me? Or about yourself in relation to that statement? What do you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts about my thoughts on why we shouldn’t put artists on pedestals because it is t good for anyone! It just creates more separation and reinforcement of an old myth that artists (of any form or medium) are born as artists and then there’s everyone else. So not true! Everyone is an artist in their own unique, perfect way. The artists “we” turn into celebrities just have more people who enjoy their work than artists who have fewer followers, that’s all! And there are just as many (if not more) people who dislike their work. So, there really isn’t a clear answer or standard of which artists should be given the pedestal anyway. Sometimes artists aren’t even given much recognition until after they’re dead! So, their work was the same when they were alive but it’s just the amount of eyes on it that elevates it’s status. I am 100% in favour of encouraging, supporting, and appreciating artists and their art. Of course, I am! Art is magnificent in every way!! I just don’t support the idea of viewing artists as genius or superhuman or having answers on how others should live life and be successful. They are artists making art and sharing their beautiful gifts and ideas… please allow their art to touch your heart and resonate with you. Hopefully it inspires you to make your own art and be more of who you really are, rather than make you feel inferior because you don’t “measure up”. I also hope “successful” artists don’t make you want to abandon your own true art and copy theirs because you love it so much.

I would love to hear your thoughts or stories about this topic or any other art-related subject. Please drop me a line.

Thank you for joining me on this episode of Off the Canvas.
Onward, Beautiful Soul!
xoxo Jenn

Jenn Van de Vooren
Artist & Creative Guide
Jvandevooren.com
Instagram: @jennvandevooren

Your art is your soul taking a selfie. Episode 10 of Off the Canvas with Jenn Van de Vooren. To me, art and spirituality are inextricably linked. And just like everyone has an innate essence or personality, everyone is an artist and their art that is purely their own. Our art is like fingerprints - universal to everyone yet completely unique to each one of us. We don’t judge fingerprints as good or bad, they just exist as part of us. I think art is the same…. It’s part of us and beyond judgement.

Grief, Success, and Being the Artist of Your Life. Episode 9 of Off the Canvas with Jenn Van de Vooren.

Today's episode nearly didn't happen. I recorded this as a midweek bonus episode (a little "heart sprinkle") that was supposed to be an "extra" episode thanking everyone for their kindness after I lost my Mom. But then I got too scared to post it because of my emotion around remembering her and celebrating her quiet, love-filled life. I talk about how she defined success on her own terms and that she really was a true Artist of her life. 

Episode 8: Mindfulness and Miracles: The 5-Minute Miracle Art Practice to Rejuvenate and Fill Your Own Cup. Off the Canvas podcast with Jenn Van de Vooren.

In the last episode we dove into whether making art and being joyful are appropriate/helpful/respectful during times of struggle and suffering. There was a resounding, "YES! The world needs even more love, goodness and joy to help get through the tough times." But how do we actually do that? So many people are stretched so thin with life's demands and expectations that they're completely exhausted by the end of the day and have nothing left in the tank. Today I'm sharing an easy, low energy, no skill, art practice that I often use to help take a pause, get centred, check in, and rejuvenate in tiny increments. You can do this art practice intentionally during your day or when you find space and could use a little self care (think boring work meetings or waiting for an appointment...). All it takes is pen and a paper, or get as elaborate as you like with paints or other materials.

No matter what you create in that 5-minutes, I hope you commit the time and space for yourself as a non-negotiable self-care practice. You're worth it and deserve it, you beautiful soul!

Sending gratitude and joy,

Jenn

Jennifer Van de Vooren Artist & Creative Guide

jvandevooren.com Instagram: @jennvandevooren

Can Joy and Art Exist with Sadness and Turmoil? Episode 7. Off the Canvas with Jenn Van de Vooren

This episode has been tugging at my heart with the state of the world these days... so much polarity, sadness, grief, aggression, isolation, heaviness. I've been feeling like, "who am I to carry on with my happy life, making art, speaking freely, creating podcasts, sharing joy while so many are feeling oppressed, scared, sad, lonely, hopeless?"  Recording this episode and thinking of these polarities through the lens of art helped me reconcile if it's OK to make art and carry joy in my heart while also carrying sadness and grief. 

SPOILER ALERT: You probably guessed it but I landed on the conclusion that not only is it appropriate for us to share our joy, light, and art during hard times, but those things are needed more than ever. Creating light in the world does not add to the suffering, and oppositely, dimming our light and being mired in sadness and depression in solidarity with those who are suffering, does not help alleviate those situations. Leading with love is always the answer and our hearts are big enough to carry it all... empathy and inspired action for those who are suffering while we continue to share our gifts more than ever to flood the world with goodness. 

Onward beautiful soul. If you ever needed a reason to start creating art and shining your light, it's to help uplift the world. If not now, when?

Quotes that are resonating with me now:

"Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." - Howard Thurman

"Art has the power to render sorrow beautiful, make loneliness a shared experience, and transform despair into hope." - Brene Brown

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

"Art is a wound turned into light." - Georges Braque

"The arts empower. The arts give a voice to the voiceless." - Robert L. Lynch

"Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life." - Pablo Picasso

As always, I'm so grateful to share this space with you. Sending you light and love. Shine bright beautiful soul!

~ Jenn Van de Vooren

www.jvandevooren.com

@jennvandevooren

Episode 6 - February 21, 2022 - Guests on the Show and Guests in your Life.  Off the Canvas with Jenn Van de Vooren

Before I share the guest episodes and all the fabulous conversations I've been having behind the scenes, I want to give you some context about who they are, why I chose them, my inspirational hopes and some secret insights about how I find these magnificent individuals! I know they're going to blow your socks off and I want to set the stage for you.  Also, today's art prompt is an awesome combination of words and positivity. I hope you like it as much as I do. It's one I use often :)

As always, I'm grateful for your presence on earth and for listening to the show. Please go and create something and share your magnificence with others!

With gratitude & joy,

Jenn





Jennifer Van de Vooren

www.jvandevooren.com

Instagram: @jennvandevooren

Join the Off the Canvas party with the pod squad in our Facebook group