Tell
us a little about yourself and what you do.
Hi Everyone. My name is Wanda Grein and I am an Art Consultant in
my own business. My background is teaching, 35 years and counting! I teach
three days per week in my Art Studio where I conduct art classes for 87
students ranging in ages from 5 to 75 years of age. I teach all of the arts not
just painting!
I also do contract work for
various schools across Sydney and the Illawarra where community art projects
are required. Behind the work scene I am also an artist where I paint
commissions for various groups, and I am just starting to become a bit
‘famous’! I will be showing my artwork in my own very first Art Exhibition in
August this year. What a wonderful opportunity this is for me.
I also read Tarot cards and participate in various Psychic
Festivals such as the Mind Body Spirit Festival.When I have time I also teach
the Art of Tarot on the weekends.
I am a mother who enjoys family life, spending time with my very
cute granddaughter, and watching my adult children become wonderful awesome
people. I am so lucky to have a husband
who is supportive of my work both as an artist and businesswoman.
Fantasia Inca
Who
(or what) inspires you to do what you love in your own creative business?
I have always loved ART. As a child I was always drawing,
colouring, painting! Art is in my nature! It is who I am! I am an intuitive
artist, so anything inspirational on a spiritual level is inspiring.
I am inspired by the fact that ART is an invisible doorway for
those who seek healing, stillness and personal self-expression. I see myself as
a conduit through the art forms for those who seek to know their true selves,
and gain an understanding of self through their own ART making. This is what
inspires me.
Where
do you get your inspiration from when you design/paint?
There are so many things that inspire me to paint or sculpt. I like
to paint spiritual images, and what helps me is the ability to use my
imagination to capture an idea and express it in many meaningful different
ways. My artwork reflects my inner desire to see a peace filled world of an
interfaith perspective. Before I paint, I have a general idea/ plan about what
Id like to paint, and then when I am in the process of painting more ideas
about colours and images to include come through. I surprise myself how a
painting turns out. Last year the monks at the Buddhist Temple where so
impressed with my interpretation of Buddha, that they have commissioned me to
paint images for the Buddhist University! This is very exciting for me, and
especially so that I am Christian not Buddhist. You may ask me why I paint
Buddha, and the answer is I love the energy of painting Buddha. It gives me
great satisfaction.
my granddaughter and myself
called'easter tree
I follow my intuition all the time even when I am consulting for
big Art projects. I listen to the clients about what they would like to see on
the walls or gardens, and I ask them questions about what they would like to
include in the artwork. Images and styles will come flooding through my mind
and the I see the whole design! I quickly draw it so I do not forget.
What
are the five words that people who know you would use to describe you?
Over the years I know past clients and bosses have stated this
about me and my work: Inspirational, motivating, enthusiastic, open, accepting,
free spirit.
Tell
us about your very first job and what path have you taken since then?
My very first job was working in a Delicatessen when I was 13 years
old. I used to mop the floors.I thought one day I am going to sell the lovely
cold meats and cheeses that was my goal! The first item I sold was a kilo of
pork sausages!
Silent Buddha
By the time I was 16 years old, I was running the business while
the boss went on holidays! I became a teacher and moved into the ARTS very soon
after. I also have a Masters Degree in Applied Sciences and I studied Art
Therapy. As an educator I saw the importance of the Arts as a vital component
to children’s development. They lead happier lives and there is depth and
tenderness in their character because they have been taught through the ARTS
(including dance drama & music) to express themselves without fear. They
gain confidence in how to relate to others, and understand themselves better.
When I left full time teaching, I worked as an Art Specialist running Arts
workshops for Teachers/Artistic Retreats/Spirituality Days for Staff
Development days for various schools and Various Hopsital staffs. I have worked
part time as a Visual Arts sessional lecturer/tutor at various Universities,
and along with a colleague, I co-authored some Arts oriented Educational
curriculum documents. I am involved annually in the judging and coordination of
specific Children’s art exhibitions, and I have organised several other
exhibitions for schools and small community groups.
Describe a typical day in your studio space?
My day begins with me making my very famous Balinese Ginger tea,
which I steep to infuse the flavours of the ginger, mint and lime. My adult
clients just love it! This is for morning tea.
In the studio
Then I go down stairs to the Studio to do some clearing of the
creative space. This includes always having fresh flowers next to a beautiful
statue of Buddha, and burning incense. I check that all equipment is prepared
on the tables, steam clean the floor, and have the artworks ready in the studio
on easels. Finally, I set an intention for a perfect day. I light scented
candles around the studio space, and turn on the CD player with some calming
music. The adult students arrive around 10am, and I will be on my feet until
1pm After they have left, I prepare for the afternoon class at 3:30pm.This will
include cleaning brushes, emptying dirty water bucket, sweeping floor, and the
washing up from morning tea. I eat my lunch, and then if I do not have any
business to attend to, I will spend a few hours ( if I am lucky) painting for
my exhibition. At 3pm I make cordial and prepare afternoon tea for my younger
students as some of them come to art class straight from school and they need a
carb hit! At 4:45pm my husband comes down with ice creams for the kids. This is
their time to stop painting, and have an artistic conversation with each other
about their artworks. I finish at around 6pm and I have tidied the studio space
ready for the next day!
As
an Artist, what is your biggest frustration?
My biggest frustration at the moment is finding the time to paint
for myself. I need to restructure a discipline where my painting time is
important. I am learning this skill, and I realise I need to be dedicated to
it. As an artist, I also need to spend quiet time away from the studio, to
defrag if you like, to renew my energies.
Simply Buddha
Tell
us about how you prioritise your work.
As a businesswoman of an Art Studio, and art consultant I am
constantly prioritising my work. I am learning to network with other business
people to see how they organise their books, finances, organise their mail outs
and so on. One thing I do, as a number one rule is that every call I get to the
Art Studio is a potential client. I always return calls and emails. My business
acumen is a ‘a work in progress’.
Can
you please tell us about how do you connect with other artists, and your
customers (i.e. how do you network)?
I connect with people in different ways and I find people come to
art classes for so many different reasons. I find that some of my adult
students are stuck in thinking that their artwork must be ‘perfect’. I find the
idea of ‘perfect’ interferes with creativity. So I suggest to them to explore
and play with the paint! That changes everything!
I start where the client
wants to start.
Everyone is on his or her
own individual program.
I keep my clients informed about the Art Studio and events via a
printed newsletter and emails.
I keep in contact with other artists through other art exhibitions.
I am just getting to know some of the artists in the Illawarra.
St Francis Xavier Mosaic
What
advice can you offer other creative people who are just starting out and
following their passions?
To me the most important advice I would give someone who wants to
follow his or her passions is to ‘just do it’. There is no time than the
‘present moment’. We live in a world of financial security and there is fear of
‘not having enough’. I have been there, watching my pennies as a single mum.
But I always got by. Always.
In 2008 after a health scare ( what was Spirit trying to tell
me???) I stopped working full time to follow my dream of having my own art
studio and teaching Art how I wanted to. We moved from Sydney to Kiama, and
thought we’ll give it one year to see how it all goes, and we have not ever looked
back. It was meant to be! We are certainly not rich financially but we are rich
with where we live in beautiful Kiama, I love living by the sea. I have a
gorgeous Art Studio. My art students are just wonderful, and I feel we are
truly blessed. So Why wait? What are you
waiting for?
What
dreams do you still want to achieve or fulfil in your life?
It has always been my dream to have my own Art studio, tick! My
next dream is to open a retail art supply shop so my students and other artists
can have easy access to supplies. I am slowly working towards this.
My ultimate dream would be
to teach art to communities in third
world countries. That would be a gift!
Universal Buddha
What
is your proudest moment so far?
I have had so many proud moments in my life. But my proudest moment
was when in 2004 I conducted a State wide Children’s Peacelink Project, where
33,000 children stopped at 12 noon with their teachers, and meditated and
prayed for World Peace for 10 minutes. I was very kindly acknowledged by Mr
Nelson Mandela (Via Email from South Africa) and his Holiness the Dalai Lama
(through his contact in Canberra) who both endorsed and supported the project!
Mr James Twyman (World Peace Troubadour, musician and author of book ‘Emissary
of Light’), the Director of Catholic Schools Brother Kelvin, and the Archbishop
of Sydney, Archbishop Pell, also endorsed the project. It was a fabulous!
Who
do you most want to meet and why?
I would love to shake hands with Mr Nelson Mandela. For me he
epitomises ‘Peace’. He is a living example of the ‘Buddha’ in us all who we can
aspire to be. I have met the Dalai Lama, and that was wonderful to be in his
space even if it was for a few minutes.
What
is the most important lesson in life that you have learned?
Wow! this is a powerful
question. My greatest lesson in my life was learning to TRUST myself at every
level of my being.
Quan Yin- The goddess of mercy
What
book are you reading right now, and do you have a book you would like to
recommend?
I tend to read a few books at the same time. I am reading a book on
Buddhist teachings called “ Being Good:
Buddhist Ethics for Everyday Life” by Venerable Master Hsing Yun. Venerable
Maio Yong at the Buddhist Temple in Berkeley, NSW, kindly gave this book to me.
I am also reading ‘The Magician’s Way’ by William Whitecloud. This
is a great book about personal transformation, and recognising the master
within. Finally I am reading ‘The 4 Hour Work Week’ by Timothy Ferris, a very
informative approach to retirement and living your dream!
A book that I would
recommend for a great read is a book called ‘The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari” by
Robin Sharma, a fiction story about following your dreams and finding your
destiny.
Where
do we find you and your products?
You will find me at ‘The Art Studio @ Kiama’ is in Coachwood Street
Kiama. The studio is open Tuesdays through to Thursdays, and on some specific
Saturday’s where I run art courses for small groups.
- Adult classes are in the
mornings from 10am to 12:30pm.
- Children and teenage art classes run from 3:30pm
to 5:30pm.
- Three hour art classes and small group Saturday Art classes are
available upon request.
Mosaics- St Francis, St Chris
I work in Sydney Monday and Fridays as a Mosaic Artist creating
mosaics for schools and community spaces.
My artwork exhibition of Buddhist Art will be shown in August 2013
at the Nantien Buddhist Temple in Berkeley. Check the Nan tien Temple Website
for further information about this Exhibition. My current artwork ‘ Simply
Buddha’ is on Exhibition as of the 29th March through to 10th
May for the Buddha’s Birthday Education Project.
I am planning to get a web
designer to help me create an awesome website that I can manage myself. Any
advise here would be greatly appreciated.
Do
you have a Special offer for
ArtSHINE community?
My special offer to the Art SHINE Community would be the following.
If you are visiting Kiama, you are welcome to come to the Studio
and enjoy the first Art lesson for half price.
That’s a savings of $ 12.50.
Alternatively, you can have one 30-minute Tarot Reading for $30, a savings of
$20.
Finally if the ArtSHINE community that would like artistic
consultation for a mural or mosaic, meditation garden or indoor painting, I
offer the first artistic consultation half price. That’s a savings of $250.
