Susan Ashbrook’s Dream Studio Vision Board

Susan Ashbrook with her Vision Board Summer 2010

A Closer Look At Susan Ashbrook's Vision Board Summer 2010

Susan Ashbrook's Vision Board with Cat, Plans & Texts Summer 2010

Susan Ashbrook's Vision Board with Butterfly & Stars Summer 2010

There’s nothing that makes me prouder than sharing the work of my students.  This week I’m happy to spotlight another student from my summer 2010 “Visioning Your Life” workshop held at the Crichton Cultural Community Centre (CCCC).  As you may recall, four enthusiastic souls gathered to collage their dreams into a vision board – a tangible touchstone they could draw inspiration from to make their dreams a reality.

Like many artists, Susan Ashbrook’s dream is of further expanding her art business.  Although she already has a cozy workspace, Rosecliffe Studio, on the banks of the beautiful Ottawa River in Cumberland, Susan envisioned having a much larger one.  In her dream studio she hopes to continue to practice her art, give classes and have the opportunity to host shows.  Nestled within a peaceful community setting, her vision is one many artists can relate to.  I love that in the early autumn of her life, Susan’s ambitions for her career are as strong as ever; I really admire her ability to dream BIG!

Susan’s passion for creating a vision board got her collecting materials well before the class.  By the time it rolled around; she had dozens of pieces of magazines, flyers, her own artwork and other whimsical sources with which to compose her vision.  The image of her dream studio was so clear in her mind’s eye that she even included architectural plans for it!  Adding layers of inspirational words, phrases and a favourite quotation, she greatly enhanced the power of her vision board.  I loved all the small details she included to personalize it further – making it her own space… children studying art outdoors, photos of her three cats, a fluttering butterfly, a secret garden and, my favourite, glittery star stickers!  A thoroughly dynamic vision board, it was a space that really compelled me to travel through it to discover the many elements of her dreamscape.  I truly hope she will find the means to make her dream studio a reality one day.  And I know that she is working hard to make it so.  In creating her vision board she is already one small step closer to achieving that goal. 

Here’s what Susan had to say about the process:   

Susan Ashbrook is Program Director of the CCCC.  A versatile art professional, she teaches acrylic painting, mixed media art, colour theory and art business courses in the Ottawa, Ontario area.  Having benefited from a number of her classes, I highly recommend them.  It was great to guide Susan through this stage of her journey.  Not so long ago she was responsible for sowing the seeds to help me achieve my own dream of starting an art business.  Amazing vision board Susan!  You go girl!