Tanaz Assefi Workshops

The Art of Expression Workshops

Motherhood was challenging for me, being away from my family as well as facing a difficult pregnancy which took me to through an emergency C section eight and a half weeks early. My baby was not ready for this world, he was tiny and couldn’t breathe properly. The doctors kept reminding me that they weren’t sure how well he would develop as blood flow to him was severely restricted for a number of weeks.

I stopped my work, my art and my life. I poured all of me into my tiny precious baby. All I had, all I was became him. I was numb, not sure who I was other than Nima’s mum!

Nima was highly sensitive, very unsettled and completely attached to me for the first four years of his life. He would not stay away from me as if I was oxygen to his weak lungs. He survived and was growing beautifully and I was grateful for it all. There was no time for drawing, painting or sketching… my joy, my passion, my soul. I started to believe this was the trade-off for my son’s health.

Four years after becoming a mother I lost my beloved father. I was not with him when he passed away and my whole world crashed. My heart was broken beyond repair, I could not breathe, eat or sleep properly. The pain was so severe that I could not even cry. I was numb I went into shut down. The only thing I wanted to do was to paint... I could not stop drawing in my little sketch book. I read poetry and drew... slowly, slowly the tears came, the dreams came and I started to grieve.

Art saved me from deep depression. Art became a tool for my healing. Art became my hero once again.

It became obvious to me that I had to share this tool with all mothers. It’s my passion to help them the most challenging and glorious experience that no one prepares you for. Motherhood is a highly creative process. Through these workshops I would like the participants to trust the process of creativity and allow themselves to explore this tool as a space to express how they feel, be it happy, sad, frustrated, angry or simply tired and confused.

Together we have created a safe and sacred space. We come together for solace, we laugh, we support each other and we explore our emotional state through colour, specially acrylic ink and charcoal.

 The sessions are very relaxed and laid back, we work around the children in the room and as we go on I see how each one of them is opening up to their creativity, I can see they come in for a bit of solace and joy like their little ones who come to play. I truly take pleasure in facilitating these workshops and see the positive influence in their daily lives. Two of my participants are now working on their own personal projects at home.

 We have had our first exhibition which was highly successful a true celebration of the process of creativity rather than producing a work of art.

6-WEEK COURSE
THE ART OF SELF EXPRESSION
WORKSHOP FOR MUMS AND PREGNANT WOMEN IN THE GREENWICH BOROUGH

Discover the power of your creativity
Realise the potential of your imagination
Enhance your capacity for mindfulness

We will gather weekly at Waterways Children Centre, Thamesmead, SE28 8EZ
Starting on Wednesday, 6th November at 10:30 pm to 13:00 pm
This is a collaboration between myself, @mums_aid and @peabodyldn and @thamesmeadnow

So many of us believe in the power of creativity and how it can bring people together, allow them to express what in their hearts and on their minds. These sessions are designed by me to allow you to have fun, make new bonds of friendship, meet like minded people of your community and practice your own way being creative on paper..

No skills or prior experience in drawing required. You will have your little one with you in the room. All you need to do is register with me (tanaz@mums-aid.org) and be willing to try something new.
These workshops are free to attend as Peabody Thamesmead Community Hub have kindly funded me to run these Art Sessions in collaboration with MumsAid.

To find out more information contact me: tanaz@mums-aid.org

Drawing on the Divine Feminine

A NEW WORKSHOP EXPLORING THE GODDESS ARCHETYPES AND THE DIVINE FEMININE THROUGH SHAMANIC JOURNEYING AND DRAWING

I am over the moon to be co-creating this new two-day online workshop with shamanic practitioner and psychotherapist Michele Costa Lukis of Shamanic Space to celebrate the Divine Feminine and the energy of the Goddess within.

We will Journey to enhance our understanding of the archetypical Goddesses from the ancient world to the present day and playfully express this connection through words, form, colours and drawing. Michele and I will work together to guide you through shamanic journeys and exercises to enable you to release your creativity and bring your visions onto paper.

The exploration of the feminine archetypes allows us to envision our own personal Goddesses and awaken their qualities within ourselves; compassion, joy, freedom, courage, empathy, integrity, strength, power, creation and wisdom. 

Together, as a circle, we will welcome and rejoice in the empowerment of the Goddesses and step forth into our own sacred Divine Feminine. 

To find out more information visit Shamanic Space

I WAS INVITED TO RUN AN ONLINE WORKSHOP AS PART OF THE SHSM PROGRAMME FOR PIERRE ELLIOTT TRUDEAU HIGH SCHOOL IN TORONTO, CANADA.

They had created a programme specifically to celebrate International Women’s Day with the aim of empowering women. The first part of the programme was dedicated to Juliet’s Place, a shelter for women who face domestic abuse. It is important to understand what domestic abuse means and understanding that it is not always about the physical abuse that is obvious to all. It can go much deeper and effectively destroy a person’s confidence and livelihood.

The second part was about Art as Therapy and The Art of Self Expression which is where my workshop came in. Read more by visiting my blog

If you would like me to hold a workshop for your company or organisation please do get in touch.