Episode 004: Off the Canvas with Jennifer Van de Vooren

Episode Transcript:

Jenn Van de Vooren 0:00
And that just opened up my mind to the way that art could be made from more of an intuitive place. That was really kind of when it really exploded that hey, this is way more than just paint on canvas. Art is not just a reflection of our essence but basically is our essence and our soul and our spirits coming out and expressing us in a different way.

Pam December 0:28
Hello, this is Pam December and this is the Mad for Purple Podcast. Your place for all things spirituality, self actualization, healing and Human Design. Keep listening to receive wisdom tips and tools as we journey into higher consciousness together.

Pam December 0:47
Hi everyone and welcome to another episode from Mad for Purple. Today you’ll hear me talking with Jennifer Van de Vooren. Prior to this call, Jenn was unaware that she is a 5/1 Emotional Projector with the 61/24 Channel of Awareness. I think you’ll get a real sense of the wonder and awe that she brings to her craft through this energy. Jenn is an artist creative guide who loves sharing the magic of art making with kids and the young at heart. Her creative curiosities include many mediums such as painting, pottery and photography. Her newest adventures, her podcast called “Off the Canvas with Jennifer Van de Vooren”, where she and her guests celebrate the benefits of art making and how it’s a gateway to more authenticity, self love and joy. And I can’t make this stuff up. Before each show I pull a card. Well, so did Jenn and get this, she pulled the same one. So we both pulled the 10 of Wands, so you know this episode is going to be magic. Stay tuned, and let’s dive in.

Pam December 1:50
Welcome, Jenn. So excited to have you here on the show. How are you?

Jenn Van de Vooren 1:57
I’m very good. Yeah, I’m happy to be here. Excited to talk with you.

Pam December 2:01
Yeah, so I’m not big on small talk. So if you’re happy to just dive right in. I just wanted to start off with when did your spiritual journey begin? And did it include art like right from the beginning?

Jenn Van de Vooren 2:14
Good questions. Art, yes, has always been right from the beginning. For me, when I was a little kid, I was always drawing and making stuff and very creative. So I think I was spiritual then too, but I didn’t realize it. Because I’ve come to know that art for me and spirituality are basically one in the same. So I think it was there when I was younger, the spiritual part. But I didn’t realize that. I was looking at art more as just a thing you make right and it made me happy. So yeah, it slowly grew on me that hey, there was more to art then art making than just the stuff, you know, the drawings or paintings or whatever. So probably in my mid to late 20s started sort of maybe doing more, and then I’m 47 now, but in the early 2000s, I took an abstract course online. And that just opened up my mind to the way that art could be made from more of an intuitive place. Because before then I was always making art, like with an end goal in mind, where it really turned more inner. And then that was really kind of when it really exploded that hey, this is way more than just paint on canvas or drawings or, you know, an end result that it’s way more about my inner world and, you know, connecting with the divine. And this is coming from a different place than just me. So I don’t think that part was really an exact like the spiritual, but I think it was building and then that one course in the early 2000s was opening part to it. Yes.

Pam December 3:49
Very cool. It’s very neat to see how people come to this place, right and, and it’s usually one of those big epiphany things, right? It’s like, boom, that’s why it’s called an awakening, right?

Jenn Van de Vooren 4:03
Yes, yes. And it’s almost, I found that it was more like, oh my gosh, there’s so much I don’t know, right? Where it’s, it’s an awakening, but it’s like this huge new world that needs more, like made me feel almost smaller, because there was so much more available and open that I didn’t know then where I was before. That makes sense.

Pam December 4:25
Mm hmm. Oh, I love that. So now I love that what you were saying about art being like your connection to the divine. Do you want to expand on that a little bit?

Jenn Van de Vooren 4:35
Yeah, I this is really more recent of like that, that very definite kind of connection. But yeah, I really feel like art, not just for me, but for everyone is really a not just a reflection of our essence, but basically is our essence and our soul and our Spirit coming out and expressing expressing us in a different way, right, where it’s not a physical body, it’s not voice, it’s, it’s this other kind of medium that is us, but not what we’re used to right like the physical body or that kind of thing. And then that part that comes out, like your art expression, I really feel like it does come from a higher power place, or, you know, it’s not just a physical like muscle movement to make marks on the canvas. And the ideas that I have that go along with my art, I feel like they’re, they come from somewhere else. Like, I read back some of the things that I write sometimes or ideas of how to bring art to life, and it just feels way bigger than, than my little self. So there’s, there’s that but I also, I was thinking about it, like, art making is sort of like a bow and arrow, where you’re co-creating with the universe and with the divine, where you show up, and you do your part, right, you have your intention of what you’re going to make you have your materials, you make something, but then you have to, like, let it go and let the universe take over part of it. Like, especially pottery is really obvious for me where I can do what I can do on the wheel. But in the kiln, you know, things change and the way things dry. And so it’s co-creating with the universe that makes the final product, like I can’t control the whole thing. So it’s like, you know, you build up in the bow and arrow, you build up the tension and the potential energy, and then you do your part and you let it go. And you don’t really know how it’s going to land. You don’t know how it’s going to end up, you don’t know how people are going to receive it, you put it out into the world. And it it is what it is. And it’s not all me, it’s me and the universe together creating the thing So

Pam December 6:47
I think that’s one of the things that I’ve always admired about people that do art as, even as a living is there’s so much trust, it seems that that has to go into it when you put it out there. Because you have no control over how it’s going to be received. Like with the pottery, it goes in the kiln it goes in one way that doesn’t mean that’s how it’s gonna come out.

Jenn Van de Vooren 7:07
No, never even want to have a plan like to make a mug or something. It’s, yeah, I can make a mug No, but the exact shape, right? I can’t replicate it. I’m not a factory where it’s exactly the same as the one before it. So even my intention and my will and wanting it to be exactly the same as this, you know, a paired set, it can happen. So yeah, there’s a lot of letting go and just being okay with that, like you say it’s trust, but at the same time, it’s almost like lack of trust too where it’s just okay, with whatever happens, right? It’s going with the flow. Really,

Pam December 7:42
Very cool. Yeah, I like that. So how do you approach your art, I understand it’s like a practice for you, like you have certain things that you do to set yourself up for creating.

Jenn Van de Vooren 7:54
Yeah, I tried and be very intentional, there’s certain things that I do, to try to call in that good space, that good energy and have a good co-creation relationship. But sometimes it doesn’t always happen. I mean, sometimes I can make some doodles at the kitchen table, and you know, the whole process doesn’t happen. But if I have time, and I really like to kind of really ground myself and give myself the space and time and intention to to create something so you know how my canvas I’ll maybe set light some candles, like really center myself and really focus that, okay, you know, cats fed kids are fine, I’m here, now I don’t have to be distracted by other things, you know, I’ll do a little meditation and really, I might burn some sage and kind of just, you know, cleanse and just sort of get ready for, for whatever’s going to be created. So yeah, and that’s the ideal situation, which does happen. And you know, depending on my mood music is really helpful for different things too. And then when I make pottery, this is especially when I’m almost embarrassed to say this, but the first time that I sat at the wheel and I had this ball of clay, just, you know, put it on the wheel. And my hands were on this clay, I was almost in tears, I just felt like the gravity of the world was in this little bit of clay like it was so primitive. And so So nothingness, right, like it’s just raw Earth there’s really nothing fancy about it. And so just the ability it’s almost a miracle to me that we’re able to take this raw material of clay which is like mud and you know, form it into something and then put it in fire and and you know, put these beautiful glazes and turn it into something that’s beautiful and functional. I was really overcome with the respect for for the earth in it and in respect for this whole process and that I was able to do this you know, like that I have freedom to create stuff like this. So now every time I go to the pottery wheel, and I put my hands on the clay I just I can’t help but think of that first time. And I sort of do like a little little prayer of gratitude for, you know, everything that goes into this and that I have the not just pleasure to do this, but the possibility and the privilege to make art like I do.

Pam December 10:12
I love that story. I’m so glad that you shared it. I know when we talked earlier, that was one thing that came up, and I just it’s just I could just feel that so deeply that experience that you had, putting your hands on that clay and just the enormity of it, which it’s amazing. Like you said, it’s just this piece of clay.

Jenn Van de Vooren 10:30
Yeah, I’m glad you get that. Because yeah, I was in this class, the first time showing up with a friend of mine, she’d been in the class before. And there’s like 10 other potters people in this class. And this isn’t a funeral or wedding. It’s a pottery class. So why, you know, I was surprised by myself, but getting like, so emotional, like I wasn’t just total tears, but I just was getting overwhelmed and feeling kind of Misty, about Holy, there’s so much more to this than just making a bowl or a cup just felt way more presence and Divinity of it all in it. And I’ve shared and taught pottery to a few people. And I really tried to instill that with them. I don’t know, it seems to be a really big part of pottery for me is that it’s way more than just making stuff. And there’s so many other life lessons, you know, about centering and grounding and patience and dealing with disappointment and failure. And so I’m never sure if it lands the same way, as it did with me. You know, like, I really tried to instill that, like, yes, we have to have reverence for this little piece of clay that really represents so much more than what we’re dealing with it this one moment, I think it’s important to, to bring that into teach that and to pass it on.

Pam December 11:38
Yeah, and I love that reference. That’s one of my favorite words. And because it’s such a deep meaning and feeling through it, so yeah, I love that not a gift to be able to even whether it lands for them at the moment or not like what a gift to be able to give to people

Jenn Van de Vooren 11:55
I hope so.

Pam December 11:56
Yeah. So is pottery workshops, your main workshops, I know you mentioned working with children, in workshops?

Jenn Van de Vooren 12:03
Teaching pottery is not my main thing. I’m still quite new at pottery, and there’s like, you’re always learning, right? There’s so much to it, but a few people and friends have been interested in it. And I have my own wheel. So you know, I’ve shown them and yeah, and some kids, I’ve shown them but I really I have way more workshops, mainly with painting and, and not just painting with kids and with adults, but it’s more whatever’s behind the painting. Like I had one workshop where we were using watercolor to create our own affirmation cards. So it really wasn’t so much about the artwork, like I showed them how to use watercolors, but it was more about what do you need from these cards? And what do you want to bring to your life, right and the intention, and so you know, and just being able to create your own deck, there’s something to it, that instead of just buying a deck, right, it’s very personal. And people came up with words that were meaningful to them, or quotes, or, you know, even just people, some of the people in the class wrote down other people that were important to them and inspired them and, you know, had loving energy with them. So I talked about how to decorate or design the front of the card with the words instead of just the back and it was all sort of watercolor. And so people worked on, you know, symbols that were important or meant something to them, or, you know, if they’re, they really relate with nature or flowers, and it really wasn’t about creating exact replicas of of anything, it was more just tuning into your own heart and what you need and what you want it to bring. And, you know, the art, it’s kind of a, it’s sort of just a nice tool, but it’s really not the main thing is what I really always want to bring to my art workshops or people that I have that I work with, and, and I always look at it, where I’m not a teacher in like the traditional sense, I like to think of myself as an art partner, where I’m a provider of possibilities, and there’s things that I can share with you. And here’s some different materials, but everybody brings their own, whether they’re an artist or not, or kids, they know their own art, like they are the expert of their own art. And it’s it’s not up to me to tell them that they did it right or wrong, or, you know, there’s no judgment and the end result, it’s more about just the creating and what they get out of that process for themselves. So I love that part of it just opening up worlds for people to find their own meaning in it and, and there own connection to spirituality and divine and their own world, whatever that means.

Pam December 14:32
Oh, I love that. Because that’s the thing. Yeah, like, his whole spiritual journey. Like it is so personal. And it’s so different for each person, but to be able yeah open up to other people to the possibilities of what is there like what a gift?

Jenn Van de Vooren 14:46
I think so I know that art has been amazing for me in so many different ways. And I hope Yeah, that I can do that for other people, not teach them you know, specific techniques, but really just show them a new way to get to know them themselves better and yeah, like you say, connect with their own spiritual journey on a different way than maybe they been used to so

Pam December 15:06
Once you create your own materials and things like that, like it just brings a whole different essence to your practice, right?

Jenn Van de Vooren 15:14
Yeah, absolutely. It’s not just pictures to decorate your house where I have that too. I mean, there’s nothing wrong with that. Right? There’s, yeah, like doodles and pretty pictures are fine. But yeah, there’s, there’s a lot more. It can be as deep as you want it to be for sure.

Pam December 15:29
Yeah, well, just like going into your, your practice of creativity. Sometimes it’s just on a whim. So you don’t have to full for the cards and the self care that goes with it. But you’re still gaining so much just expressing yourself. So

Jenn Van de Vooren 15:44
Yeah, exactly. And there’s no pressure either, right? It’s not like you have to sit down every time and create a masterpiece out of it. So it can be, you know, just fun and doodles and just trying experimenting without some grand, you know, expectation from it. So I love Yeah, that spectrum of, you know, it really can be meditative and introspection, and a, you know, dedicated spiritual practice, or it can be just something fun, you know, that you kind of just sort of, yeah, pass the time and have a little bit of enjoyment with too

Pam December 16:15
The thing so much of our lives are like, are goal oriented, or there needs to be like this end thing. And with practices, that’s, that’s the intention. It’s just the practice, right? It’s not just the end thing and just having that container, but it being open to possibility like, I love that

Jenn Van de Vooren 16:34
Yes, yes, exactly. It’s not about the masterpiece. It’s everything that you know, goes before then it’s really not about the end result at all.

Pam December 16:42
Mm hmm. Well, and too like, even the process, like, I know, we’ve talked about a little bit how my own struggle with creativity and thinking of myself as creative, which we’ll be talking about on Jenn’s podcast, and we’ll be sure to link that in the in the show notes. when that comes out just how Yeah, you even helped me in relation to my own creativity and, and seeing how I am being creative, even if it’s not in the traditional artistic sense.

Jenn Van de Vooren 17:15
Hmm, that makes my heart so happy that you that you are feeling that and say that, and, yeah, I think lots of people are very similar, like, like, we’ve talked before, and feeling kind of like, I’m not an artist, like there’s some kind of pedestal definition of what an artist is, and that that’s not us, right? That’s on normal people. That’s those other people that make grand things where I don’t see it like that, I think everybody’s an artist, it’s basically you can make stuff and your heart. It’s heartwork. It’s not, it’s not brain work, you know, it’s hard work. So and, and Pam, you mentioned my podcast that’s coming out, it’s basically talking about these exact things, it’s called Off the Canvas. So it’s about art, but it’s not really about the art, per se, the end results of art or technique, or, you know, crafts, it’s about art making, and how everyone can do and make their own art and that the definition of art is really broad. And it’s, you know, it’s up to everyone to bring themselves to it. And there’s no authority on how anyone can show up at their own canvas. So the real benefits show up off the canvas. That’s why I called it that it’s all these things that surround the art and that it’s a reflection of your life. And you know, it’s kind of like a built in personal coach, like your own soul coach, because how you show up at the canvas. And when I say canvas, like I mean a broad range of art, it doesn’t have to be traditional, a gardening or cooking or my dad restores old cars, or, or you have so many different spiritual art kind of practices, right. So it’s really broad. It’s basically what, what you show up for, and the intention you show up for it, but kind of like we were talking about the pottery where there’s so much in art about, you know, grounding, and it’s meditative. And you can you know, if you have fear with art, what does that mean? And does that show up in other places in your life? And, you know, sometimes we have to have courage to go to a blank canvas, and how do you start it or, you know, to push a painting past, you know, if you sort of like it, but you know, it’s not what you want it to be, like, take the courage to really change it and make it maybe something awesome, or it could fall flat. And then, you know, you’re dealing with disappointment, and is there, you know, failure in that and I don’t think that we have failure in art, I think we should kind of strive for failure, because it’s not really failure. It’s just, you know, an obstacle or you can I think we need to celebrate failure more so people feel that, you know, it’s something that is normal. It’s not like a reflection of our self worth, but it’s that a reflection that you’re trying and you know, you’re actually showing up for your life and yeah, so what my podcast is going to be about and having guests like you and others that it’s about Yeah, making your life your Art, right your life is your work of art. So it’s

Pam December 20:04
Yeah, and it should be in finding, finding the beauty. And sometimes it’s the Moon game, right? I love that as a way of processing emotions too, right? Because we’re not supposed to be emotional, there’s a lot of the societal supposed to right that, really, really hold us back, we might not even be aware of right until we find a way to start processing them. And why do we do that now by showing up for yourself? In this way.

Jenn Van de Vooren 20:34
Exactly. And it’s, it’s a really safe way to be vulnerable, if that makes sense. Where, you know, you’re not going to do error, irreparable damage, you’re not it’s not a risk to your life, or, you know, you’re not going to get hurt making art, it’s maybe fearful, or, you know, touches on some self worth or self criticism. But, you know, it’s, it’s a way to express yourself without words or expectations of what it means for others. So there’s lots of fun enjoyment making art. But yeah, you’re definitely right about, it has a lot of healing properties too, because it, it does go beyond kind of what words can convey, or, you know, it’s there’s so much more in color, and shapes and layers, and even just how you show up with what energy at the canvas or pottery or wherever, yeah, it’s a way to process things. So it’s not always pretty, and I hope people realize that, too, that this isn’t just, you know, show up and make some nice things, it’s, I’ve made some things that would definitely not be called pretty and my mom passed away a few years ago. And, you know, I really, I made a bunch of art that was, you know, kind of grieving art and in her honor, so it was a, it was a mix of, you know, honoring her, but at the same time, like feeling that grief. So it’s it wasn’t, you know, it’s not always pretty to put on your wall and, you know, share with others. And that’s fine. You know, it’s, it doesn’t have to be It’s whatever you want to bring to it and make is totally acceptable, and just want people to feel okay with making stuff. And then it can be just for them. And that you can take baby steps, you know, take a pen and just start some doodles, and that’s the workshops that I really want to share with people is just the holding space for them, to allow themselves and their essence their soul to come out and, and create and make their own heartwork.

Pam December 22:20
It we’ll probably come up on your podcast a little bit more is going through the school system and how even art classes in school, like there’s a certain outcome that you’re trying to reproduce. And that in itself hampers creativity. Right? So I love that you are bringing people back to the essence of what art should have been all along. Right. The when you’re two and three years old, and coloring with our crayons and just playing right,

Jenn Van de Vooren 22:48
Yeah, absolutely. That’s a whole other the whole school system and expectations, right from having authorities telling us how to do things. And I know lots of schools treat art the same as math or science where there’s one right kind of right answer a way to do it and kids get graded on, you know, how they can reproduce that thing or how well they can realistically, you know, draw something which there’s so many different kinds of art. And that’s why I love abstract art. Because it really is no one that can tell you it’s wrong. It’s a little bit easier for people to access their own expertise in it, rather than comparing it to, you know, the known outcome of, say making a portrait, well, it should look like this. So people feel that they’ve maybe failed if they don’t have it exactly like that, or compared to others. So a little bit of unlearning, I think with with art. That’s what I’m trying to do as well.

Pam December 23:41
Unlearning. I like that. That all sounds wonderful. I love that. Yeah, you’re expanding this with with workshops. So if our listeners want to go find you, where might they find you?

Jenn Van de Vooren 23:52
So I love Instagram, because obviously art is quite visual. You know, I think there’s music and other things that aren’t, but I’m on Instagram at Jenn Van de Vooren. J.E.N.N.V.A.N.D.E.V.O.O.R.E.N. I’m sure you’ll have a link there.

Pam December 24:06
I’ll definitely have it in the notes. Yeah,

Jenn Van de Vooren 24:08
Yeah, and my website is jvandevooren.com. So there’s that spot. And I would love to share with your listeners, I have a free little gift if if we want to go get it. So because like I was saying that I find art there’s more to it. And it’s more about the energy and you know, the intention and what goes with it. So I’ve made using my art, there’s six downloadable images with quotes and sort of affirmations that people can put on the background of their phone, so their phone wallpapers that you can kind of get a little good vibes me up if you put that as your wallpaper throughout the day. So it’s my art and my good vibes. And maybe we’ll link that below that it’ll be on my website and it’s on my Instagram as well so people can find that there. So hope you enjoy that.

Pam December 24:57
I know It’s great I use phone backgrounds quite often because it’s a device that we all tend to be on quite a bit and why not pick it up? See a nice message, right? So I totally have a link for that down in the show notes for listeners to check out. So

Jenn Van de Vooren 25:14
If people want other affirmations to you know that they would like more for their, for their wallpapers. I’m open to the ideas too

Pam December 25:21
Yes, please. Yes, reach out to Jenn. So, thank you so much for being here. It’s a real pleasure. And I just love this conversation and like, I can’t wait to continue on your podcast.

Jenn Van de Vooren 25:33
Yeah, me too. Pam, thank you so much. You create such an open space. Like for me, I feel very safe sharing all the heartwork with you. So I hope all the best for you and your podcasts and all the work you’re doing. It’s wonderful. You’re a gift to the world.

Pam December 25:47
Ah, thank you. Take care.

Jenn Van de Vooren 25:50
You too.

Pam December 25:52
Wow, that was just so good. And I really hope that all of that goodness translated on your end of the podcast some key takeaways from what you just listened to one, you don’t have to know what you’re doing to create art or be creative two art is a practice of co-creation and connection with the universe three, you are the expert of your own art. Four have the courage to strive for failure. And last but not least number five, your life is your heartwork.

Pam December 26:23
Be sure to subscribe if you’re listening on iTunes or hit the Follow button on Spotify, and head over to my website madforpurple.com To get your free advanced human design chart. Thanks so much for listening. And I’ll see you in the next episode.