Creative Recovery Sampler Sessions: Tools for The Artist's Way

Beginning with The Artist's Way Tools

If you make art of any sort, chances are that you've heard of The Artist's Way, the renowned guide to unlocking your creativity by Julia Cameron. Maybe you've heard of morning pages or artist's dates? Maybe you’ve even tried morning pages or an artist date before but didn’t stick with it—or perhaps these practices have become part of your routine, and you're eager to connect with others to share your experience. Or maybe your creative mojo is out of whack?

These sampler sessions are for anyone wishing to reignite or sustain their artistic journey. Guided by Julia Cameron's esteemed framework known as The Artist's Way course, thousands of artists have transformed their relationship with creativity and creative practice, but it isn't an "easy" course to follow. Even Julia encourages artists to find a group to share in the journey.

That's why we've created this space!

Join us, Alysa Escobar & Elizabeth Shepley, repeat alumni of The Artist's Way course, for a nurturing space to reflect and share personal experiences about creative recovery starting from the foundational tools.

Whatever your current relationship is with creative recovery, this is your invitation to connect with like-valued individuals and rediscover your passion for creativity through our common thread- The Artist's Way.

All you need is your favorite journaling materials, a cozy set-up, maybe a warm cuppa and an openness and willingness to connect. We'll co-create the rest.

What We’ll Cover:

• Morning Pages: These three daily pages of longhand writing may seem daunting or frivolous at first, but as Julia Cameron explains, they are “a valid form of meditation that gives us insight and helps us affect change in our lives” (The Artist’s Way, p. 13–14). By practicing them, we develop “a strong and clear sense of self” (The Artist’s Way, p. 15). You'll learn how these pages help silence your inner critic, or "censor," and open the door to unfiltered creativity (The Artist’s Way, p. 12).
• Artist Dates: Often described as playful and restorative, these solo adventures are a chance to "restock the trout pond" of your creative energy (The Artist’s Way, p. 21). They may feel intimidating at first—spending time nurturing your inner artist can seem as vulnerable as tending to a child or lover (The Artist’s Way, p. 19)—but they are remarkably productive and essential for sustaining creativity.
• Creative Connection: Whether you're new to The Artist’s Way or have been practicing for years, you'll see in this session how these tools have impacted participants’ lives. What insights have been gained? What challenges have been faced? If you have been a student of The Artist’s Way, how have these practices shaped your creative journey?

Why Join?

These sessions for anyone curious about The Artist’s Way—whether you’re just starting out or looking to deepen your practice. You’ll leave with clarity about what the morning pages and artist dates are, why they work, and how they can help you unlock creativity in all areas of your life.

These foundational tools have created lasting and rippling impact on our creative lives and those of our creative recovery community. Come explore what these tools can create with you!

We are fellow creators and seasoned students of creative recovery who’ve felt alone, discouraged and beaten down by Censors and other well-meaning protective forces. We’ve also been buoyed, encouraged and inspired by deep connections and alliance with other artists in recovery, and so we started to cultivate spaces for more creative recovery conversations and connections.

Alysa is a seasoned performance artist and theater educator. She is an advocate of creative growth and for over three years has been a facilitator for creative clusters working through The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. With degrees in Theater Education, and Mental Health Counseling, she brings a unique blend of artistic insight and emotional guidance to her role as co-facilitator.

The Artist's Way has been an empowering experience for her, and she hopes to share it with others who feel disconnected from what they would like to be creating. Alysa is grateful to The Artist's Way process as it has helped her overcome creative obstacles that had kept her from a long time dream of writing a biographical show. This journey led her to create an original musical "Beautiful Broken Piece." With a passion for fostering creativity's intersection with mental well-being, Alysa’s intention is to inspire and guide fellow recovering artists on their path to artistic fulfillment.

Elizabeth is a writer & storyteller, creative living coach and healer supporting other helpers, healers and artists to restore a deeper relationship with their creative essence in order to show up more fully in their life and work.

Through private & small group coaching and healing sessions along with creative meetups and playshops, she helps creators move into a more honest committed relationship with their Creator Self and integrate their creative process into the rhythm of daily life.

Offering a loving, compassionate space, Elizabeth invites clients to get honest about what’s holding them back, so that they can move into a more committed relationship with their Creator Self. She offers private and small group coaching and healing sessions along with creativity meetups and expressive arts workshops to integrate the creative process into the rhythm of daily life. If it feels right, stop by any of these online spaces to receive a helping of genuine hospitality and soulful creative connection.

All you need is your favorite journaling materials, a cozy set-up, maybe a warm cup of comfort with an openness and willingness to connect. We'll co-create the rest.

• Welcome & Establish Community Guidelines
• Meet Alysa & Elizabeth - Our Stories of Creative Recovery
• Guided Grounding & Exploration* (with journaling & sharing)
• Creative Recovery Q&A
• Closing & Invitation for Further Connection

Event Venue

Online