Example from Martin Erspamer, OSB in our class: *Deepening Your Art Through Daily Practice*

The theme in my classes this year, inspired by my students, is Deepen Your Art Through Daily Practice. I am developing short exercises for lettering, painting and writing that are both active and contemplative. These classes are for anyone who has an interest in making and contemplation– allowing being to inform your doing. What is important is that it is not only your doing (what you make) that changes, but also what you bring to your doing. The awareness that you carry into to your work is an invisible, unmeasurable, dimensional shift. This is what is required for your work to become your own.

For these classes I have also developed a "Greek inspired alphabet" that can be easily taught to beginners or advanced students. Below are some more examples from students:

Book detail from Noelle Gulden, using our "Greek" alphabet

Playing with poetry, book page from Noelle Gulden

We have also been playing with poetry. Here is a poem from Martin Erspamer that he created from phrases he cut out of the Ikea Catalog:

love has no borders
idea creates oasis, a dream wardrobe, space.
there's room for everyone
consider this your house now
are you ready to move?

L doctor Sketchbook: "Must forget 'I'm' and 'after', 'pearl' and 'goal' –poem by Margaret Gibson

I am committed to creating uninterrupted time and space, in a contemplative atmosphere. I love the work that arises from within, where the world cannot find you.. Anyone is qualified to come that is willing to enter the temenos, and brave enough to leave your responsibilities and electronics behind.

There is space left in the March 4-6 class in St Louis, as well as my classes this summer and fall in Germany (August) with Sabine Danielzig http://www.briefundsiegel.net/, Italy (September) and Ghost Ranch (October) with Barbara Griek http://www.lauriedoctor.com/new-events/ .

In 2018 I will teach in St Louis, St Meinrad, Taos, Sitka and Basalt. I will also return to Naropa University in Boulder, CO. Details will be posted soon.

Please come if you can! I'd love to hear from you.