New Email Challenge! The Creative Weaver

As a young child, I was always drawn to fairytales. I would lose myself in faraway lands as I listened to my grandmother read magical stories to me. 📖📚

It's no surprise that I thread pieces of these tales throughout my work along with other magical elements. ✨

I'm so excited to announce a new 10-day email challenge that I am creating for you.

The Creative Weaver. 🌙

In The Creative Weaver, we will draw our inspiration from Fairytales, the Tarot, Mythology, Folklore, Archetypes, Personal Symbolism vs. Universal Symbolism, Journaling, and more. 💫🌛🥀🦄🐻🐰🦊🐺🔮⚔️

If you sign up for my newsletter you'll receive early access to sign up. You can also learn more here and on Instagram (@sharoncovertphotography) over the next couple of weeks. 🔮

Let's weave magic and enchantment throughout our imagery together!
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Turn Your Stories into Art

I haven’t been on social media much lately.

Life’s mishaps have decided 2020 is their year.

I recently wrapped up my latest round of Expressive Self Portraiture and I’m feeling grateful for the women it brought into my life.
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I spent some time writing today and putting into words what my class focus is on. It came down to this- I help teach women to process their emotions and life experiences through art and creativity so that they have a healing outlet through self-expression. 

I have a new appreciation for the story behind a self-portrait and what goes into it. How brave these women are to share pieces of themselves in this way. It’s so easy to quickly judge another person and what they choose to share with others. What we often forget is that we are multifaceted beings with layer upon layer of life on us.

We are each living our own version of a shared story.

A collective.

Learning to read self-portraiture is an art form. It’s such an intricate story no matter how the image may look on the outside. A person’s life experiences help shape and form each and every one.
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These are just my thoughts and ramblings for the day. Be kind to one another. Support each other. ♥️

“It Began in August” {Self-Portrait}

Carry the Light {Self-Portraits}

There have been several new faces around here recently so I thought I’d tell you a little about what I do. 🤗
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I’m a conceptual fine art self-portrait artist. I create the bulk of my outdoor work using only the natural light available to me right here in my backyard. My indoor work is made in a small spare room in my home with a window for my light source. My editing process consists primarily of Lightroom and Exposure Software and does not involve compositing.

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I created and teach a 4-week online class called Expressive Self Portraiture where I walk you through my process step by step. I guide and support you on your own self-portraiture journey. We dig deep to get to the core of why we feel drawn to creating this type of work. We learn and put into use many different techniques to allow us options in our self-expression. I go over my editing process. There are weekly lessons to read, assignments, editing videos, behind the scenes videos, and more.
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Our stories are what heals us and others. Our expression of our stories is our medicine. The process is cathartic. The outcome is freeing. Self-portraiture is an opportunity to tell your story, rewrite a new one, learn who you are, and are not. The camera is your tool that reveals your soul. This work strips you down to your core. It’s not easy, but the healing and self-discovery that comes out of this medium are profound and life-changing.
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If this sparks any curiosity or interest in you, feel free to email me with any questions. During our time together you will have my guidance and support, but you will have continued support long after the class has ended. You can learn more and read testimonials from past students by visiting 
https://www.sharoncovert.com/classes
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The Hermit

Art has taught me that it’s okay to be different.

Art had allowed me the freedom of self-expression.

I do things my own way.

I create from the inner guidance of my own voice.

I march to the beat of my own internal drum. 

Guided down my path by my own light and vision, I learn through my solitude that I can form connections with others through creating.

Recently, I have shared self-portraits that I made while teaching and being a student of my own class, Expressive Self-Portraiture. This is the first time I decided to be a student and do the work alongside my students. It really helped to keep my creative flow during these difficult times. I am so grateful for the amazing and brave women creatives who continue to join me!

🕯The Hermit {Self-Portrait} 🕯

Diana the Huntress {Self-Portrait}

My creativity has been ignited by the world’s recent events. It’s not a place I go to escape, but instead, go to be myself. I find freedom in creating. There’s solace in self-expression. I feel protective over the world I have created. I cannot turn my back on making art, for it would be turning my back on myself.

Diana the Huntress {Self-Portrait}
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Strength

Strength shows up in different ways. It’s not always bold and overpowering. There’s strength in silence, solitude, patience, and stillness. Strength stands quietly by your side as you weather the storm whispering in your ear giving you the courage to endure.
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Strength {Self-Portrait}

Connecting Through Art

Self-portraiture gives me a sense of freedom and control. Turning to creativity and art during this distressing time has provided me with both an escape and a feeling of grounding.

Sharing and connecting through our art is more important now than ever before. How can I support you? Let’s support one another and hold space for each other. 

Our Stories are What Heals Us and Others

Our stories are what heals us and others. Our expression of our stories is our medicine. The process is cathartic. The outcome is freeing. 

I had no idea what I was doing the very first time I turned my camera around onto myself. Self-portraiture was a foreign concept, another language. My need for self-expression was so strong that it outweighed my fears of making bad art and using myself as the subject.

It taught me that it’s better to begin rather than spending your time planning and researching. You have to come with an open mind and be willing to mess up....a lot. You’ll find pieces of yourself you didn’t know existed in the mistakes and mishaps. You’ll see glimmers of hope and wonder in yourself.

Self-portraiture is an opportunity to tell your story, rewrite a new one, learn who you are, and are not. The camera is your tool that reveals your soul. This work strips you down to your core. It’s not easy, but the healing and self-discovery that comes out of this medium are profound and life-changing.

I am a better person than when I began this journey of self-expression. This is why I wrote and teach Expressive Self Portraiture. I know what it can do for a person, and I wanted to be able to share this experience with others.

It’s so easy to be critical and judgmental of yourself when you’re the subject. Let’s leave our judgement of ourselves and others at the door. Let’s support each other and hold a light for one another. I will guide you through the process. You just need to take the first step. Registration opens in April!

Art is My Voice

“If we but look at the shadows we cast, we see that they are not two-legged human shadows but the lovely shapes of a something free and wild.” - Clarissa Pinkola Estes

As an introvert and someone who suffers from social anxiety, I tend to go within and isolate myself for long periods. While this may feel safe, it can also lead to feelings of loneliness and being overlooked.

Self-expression is so vital to being and feeling alive. I used to think that having a voice meant I had to verbalize my thoughts, feelings, and opinions.

Art is my voice.

What is your preferred form of self-expression?

The Wolf

Unleash your creativity.

Play.

Make mistakes.

Make a lot of mistakes.

Learn from them.

Get dirty.

Let go of perfectionism.

Experiment.

Share with others so they may be inspired to act on their creative sparks.

Think you’re not creative enough?

Think again.
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Expressive Self Portraiture - Registration Opening Soon

“Whenever a fairy tale is told, it becomes night. No matter where the dwelling, no matter the time, no matter the season, the telling of tales causes a starry sky and a white moon to creep from the eaves and hover over the heads of the listeners. Sometimes, by the end of the tale, the chamber is filled with daybreak, other times a star shard is left behind, sometimes a ragged thread of storm sky. And whatever is left behind is our bounty to work with, to use toward soul-making.” - Clarissa Pinkola Estes
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What does your story you long to share look like? Come join me in Expressive Self Portraiture! Registration is opening soon.

Who is this class for? Some photographers may feel intimidated or turned off by the conceptual feel to my work, but that is not what this class is about. It’s about you as an individual. It’s about us as a collective group of photographers learning about ourselves and from each other.
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This class is for all levels. I’ve had students who have just begun learning how to shoot in manual all the way to advanced photographers looking to try something new or push themselves even further. Some are terrified at the idea of being the subject of their work, while others have done it for years.
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What I’ve witnessed over and over again is a group of diverse artists coming together and forming a common thread. We laugh. We learn. We play. We create. We cry. We heal. We love. We grow. Together.
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Whether you are feeling a small pull or a burning fire, now is the time! You can read testimonials HERE and feel free to email me with any questions. sharoncovertphotography@gmail.com

Who Are You?

It takes courage to break away from the norm and to be different than what’s expected of you. It can show up in different areas of your life. Art is just one way.
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Being different and unique is being yourself. In what ways and areas of your life does is show up strongest for you? For me, it’s in my self-expression. Being able to create freely without expectations and exceptions is so important to me. Once I began to overcome this hurdle, my artistic vision grew wildly.
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Being different can feel like an outsider looking in, but it’s also an opportunity to create your own world and how you see it. Do you dare to be different in a world where fitting in is so valued? 🎭
***Registration for my class, Expressive Self Portraiture, is opening soon! DM me with any questions.***

Expressive Self Portraiture Coming Soon

I’ve always felt different and like an outsider looking in. Creating my art has given me community and support. Some of you have watched my journey unfold for years in this space. You’ve seen me fail and witnessed me succeed. You’ve watched my story unfold and my vision develop and change over time. I’ve gone from being silent to having a voice.
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Creating art has given me my voice and provided me with healing. Now, I’d love nothing more than to help guide and support you on your own personal journey with this medium.
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Self Portraiture demands so much from us. It forces us to see things we’d rather not at times. With the right tools in hand, we can reap the many positive benefits of this type of inner work.
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I’m opening up my class, Expressive Self Portraiture, soon. I’m not going to lie, I’m scared! This is my first time teaching it on my own and not through a school. I’m so ready though.
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Stay tuned for details and if you have any questions at all, email me. I’m an open book 📖 sharoncovertphotography@gmail.com

Justice

Sometimes all we need is permission. Permission to change our minds. To create what we want. To change our careers. To call ourselves artists. To write the book. To tell the truth. To share our truth. Permission to heal. To let go of our guilt. To forgive ourselves. To do the thing that scares us most.
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This is me giving you permission.
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I’m going to be opening up registration for my class, Expressive Self Portraiture, soon. I’ve made some updates to it and it will have a new price as well. If you’re looking for a place where you can fully be YOU and find new ways and tools to express yourself, look no further. I will be there to guide and support you every step of the way for 4 weeks. After that, we will continue our journey together and support each other in a private forum. I’m so excited!
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Justice {Self-Portrait}

The High Priestess

I’ve been staying small lately and it leaves me feeling unsettled. I’ve never liked change before and I’ve been faced with my fair share recently. I’m questioning my worth, my abilities, my intuition and judgement.

Self-portraiture has been my lifeline, my remedy to what ails me for several years now. When my Expressive Self Portraiture class was just a dream there weren’t many artists who focused on self-portraits. I was told there wasn’t enough need for it. The audience wasn’t large enough.

The thing is, I’m not looking for a large audience. What I do needs to be in a small space that’s safe. That’s where the magic takes place. That’s where wounds are opened and tended to in order to begin the healing process. It’s where we fall apart and unravel only to pick ourselves up whole again. Stronger. We walk the creative path together as equals.

I will soon be offering new ways to connect with me and to be a part of my updated class. Oftentimes, change is good. I will embrace the unknown and continue to create and use my voice to advocate for this type of self-expression in art. Thank you to each and every one of you who has stood by me and shown your support.

The High Priestess 🌛🌝🌜

The Moon

The Moon 🌙 
She’s about darkness and illumination and finding that balance. She’s about enchantment and reality and the in-between. She’s about uncovering what was right there in front of her the whole time. She’s about learning to see both here and now, and in her dreams. She’s learning to lean in and trust her intuitive nature. It’s always been there. She doesn’t realize the true depth of the power she holds, but that will come in time. She ebbs and flows and dances to the rhythm of her own heart. ♥️

Artists Supporting Artists

Do you ever feel lost in a sea of other creatives just like you? The
truth is, it’s all been said, done, and created before, but not by you in
your unique voice and in your authentic way that only you can do. We should
feel comfortable in creating and sharing the art and images that call to our souls!
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I wholeheartedly believe in artists supporting artists. I want to thank each and every one of you for your support. It truly means so much to me. I am in awe of the people who take the time to leave comments, DM me, and email me. It never goes unnoticed or unappreciated.
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What are some ways you’d like to see artists supporting artists? The more we share with each other, the better.

Breaking Through Blocks: Choosing to Move Forward in the Face of Fear

Feral. Wild. Untamed.

I’m just over here trying to break through blocks and create new paths.

Change is on the horizon, and with change comes fear. If I’ve learned anything from this artistic process, it’s that if you’re not scared, you haven’t even begun to scratch the surface. You’re not going deep enough.

Chose to take a step forward each day and make it in the opposite direction of the comparison train. Measurable actions come in all different sizes, but as long as you’re pushing yourself and moving forward, you’re headed in the right direction.

Feel the fear.

Sit with it.

Let it pass through you.

And then take action.

This is me making my move forward and working through my fear. Has something been holding you back? Let’s support each other and discuss in the comments below!

Do the Work: 10 Reminders for Artists and Creators

Do the work
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Don’t give up when things get hard or don’t go as you planned.
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Learn when enough is enough and it’s time to move on.
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Support others instead of comparing.
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Failures = learning lessons/experiences.
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Share your failures so that others may learn as well.
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Show up every damn day in some way no matter how small.
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Be gentle and kind to yourself as well as others.
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Forgive.
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Lead by example.
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Trust your intuition.
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Just dropping these reminders right here...For me. I’m still learning...every day. Sometimes the answers to my life’s burning questions are right there in front of my face the whole time. I just need to open my eyes. What reminders do you find most helpful in your life right now?

Answering the Call: Acting on Your Call for Creativity and Self-Expression

A couple of weeks ago, I shared a quote and wrote about the importance of making time for yourself and your creativity. (You can find that post here.)

" I've seen women insist on cleaning everything in the house before they could sit down to write...and you know it's a funny thing about housecleaning...it never comes to an end. Perfect way to stop a woman. A woman must be careful to not allow over-responsibility (or over-respectability) to steal her necessary creative rests, riffs, and raptures. She simply must put her foot down and say no to half of what she believes she "should" be doing. Art is not meant to be created in stolen moments only." - Clarissa Pinkola Estes

While I wholeheartedly believe in this practice, I also believe in the stolen moments. If I'm honest, many of my self-portraits have been created in those very brief moments over the years. When inspiration hits me, I have an undeniable urge to act. I've never been known for my patience. Along with many of my ideas or visions for self-portraits comes a great sense of urgency.

I understand that acting on this urgency and rushing through creating something with limited time can lead to sloppiness. It could limit me and hold me back from producing my best work. Or maybe I thrive in that type of setting?

Working in these stolen moments has given me an abundant amount of experience over the years. It has allowed me to work in all types of lighting and weather situations during various times of the day. It has helped me find ways to make the best use of small and limited spaces. It has required me to both think and act fast. Have I set myself up for failure this way? I've definitely had my fair share of failed attempts at bringing a vision to life. But more times than not, I have learned something new and created something unexpected out of each brief experience.

My needs for the process of creation and self-expression strongly outweigh the desired outcome. It is with this open mind-frame that I find my best work. For example, by closing myself off to the ideas of creating in harsh light or in the late evening when the sunlight has faded, I would be limiting myself and my creative process. Creating gives me a sense of freedom and to put limitations on that seems detrimental to me.

I was able to shoot this self-portrait in under 15 minutes over the weekend. That even included the time for me to go back and forth in my mind, questioning if I could pull it off. By sneaking in this creative moment, I was able to appease the sense of urgency and fill my creativity cup. The most challenging thing about this was waiting until Monday to share it!

So while I 100% believe in making time for yourself, I also hold a high value on the stolen moments. It's those 15 minutes before the school bus is due to arrive, the 10 minutes while you're waiting for that pot of water to boil, the moments right before the rain approaches. You'd be surprised at what you can accomplish in such a restricted and limited time.

How do you prefer to create? Do you time out and plan for that perfect moment? Or do you do it more on a whim?

The next time inspiration hits you, act on it. Don't wait!

** Sharon Covert is a teacher and mentor at The Define School. Sharon's courses, Expressive Self Portraiture and The Art of Authenticity are both available through The Define School. For more information email Sharon at sharoncovertphotography@gmail.com or visit The Define School by clicking this link. You can sign up for Sharon’s newsletter HERE to stay up to date and receive a bonus black and white editing video.