Is there a prerequisite for joining a study group? Only that you have attended at least one Painting Experience workshop or class.

How many people will be in a group? It varies, but you can expect the groups to be smaller than a normal workshop. As we are in the beginning stages of forming the study group process, groups will most likely be between 4 and 12 people.

What will be required of me during the three-month study group period? The purpose of the study group is to explore the issues that arise from making an ongoing commitment to your creative process. You will agree to focus upon some form of creativity for a certain number of hours each week. There will be weekly email contact with the group, as well as both email and phone contact with a Painting Experience facilitator. The intimate nature of the study group and the periodic contact with the facilitator and other members will stimulate a dialog exploring the issues that arise when attempting to initiate a sustained creative practice in the midst of a busy life.

"The study group seems to be an extension of the painting itself: an attempt to be real and present
and expressive on an ongoing basis. It feels like a container for all this inner exploration.
Thanks to everyone who has contributed."

Do I have to paint at home to participate? Your inquiry may take forms other than painting. The essential thing is that you are ready to explore the priorities you make for yourself around creativity, the degree to which you practice internal self-care and the value you place upon maintaining an ongoing conversation with the mystery.

What if I am unavailable for part of the time due to travel or other commitments? The integration of the creative process into daily life is indepedent of circumstances. Your inquiry into the nature of your experience can be carried on wherever you are and later shared with the group.

How do I arrange to have my paintings viewed by the facilitator? During each study group you will have the opportunity for two one-half hour consultations with the facilitator, which may involve emailing your paintings ahead of time for discussion. This will require a digital camera, and our office will assist you in the process of transfering photos over the web.

"Reading everyone's responses reassures me that I am not alone in my desire to live this deeper,
more resonant life. And having to articulate my experience in my responses to everyone else has
made me ponder what it is I really think and feel."

Will there be an option to get together and paint with other members of the group if we live near each other? Our office will help you contact nearby group members and organize local painting groups.

Can someone join a study group in the middle? This will depend upon the consensus within the group and will be decided on an individual basis.

Which study group should I chose? If you have experience with any of the facilitators from a prior workshop, you may want to continue working with that person. Or, if you would like to be inphysical proximity to the facilitator and other group members, that may influence your decision. Scheduling may also be a deciding factor.

"The value of the study group for me has been that it supports painting on my own and keeps the
connection with the facilitator and the group. I loved painting in a group and the workshops,
but I had never painted on my own before the study group. I look forward to the suggestions each
week and I like to hear how everyone is doing."

How do I use the $100 credit that is part of the study group fee? You may apply the $100 workshop credit to any Painting Experience workshop except those held at retreat centers that do their own registration (Esalen, Omega, Hollyhock and Cavallo Point).

Will I be able to receive CE credits for atending study group? Each three-month study group will be worth 18 CEU units for participation after completion of a written statement. The CE credits will be awarded to you as part of your follow up workshop.