#creative retreat

[artcentron]

Enjoy 'A Moment in the Mountains' in Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Experience the magic of A Moment in the Mountains in Gatlinburg and discover an unforgettable creative journey of art, culture, and the stunning Smoky Mountains.

Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, one of the sponsors of A Moment in the Mountains in Gatlinburg Experience the magic of A Moment in the Mountains in Gatlinburg and discover an unforgettable creative journey of art, culture, and the stunning Smoky Mountains. BY KAZEEM ADELEKE, ARTCENTRON GATLINBURG, TENNESSEE-The picturesque Appalachian town of Gatlinburg, Tennessee, is set to host a…

[artworkshopdharamshala]

Jumpstart Your Creativity: Strategies for Taking Effective Creative Breaks

Taking creative breaks in mountains is an excellent way to rejuvenate your mind and body, draw inspiration from nature, and find innovative solutions to real-life problems. But to make the most of your creative adventure and come back fresh and energized, you need to plan and execute your breaks strategically. Here are some strategies for taking effective creative breaks in mountains at Dharamkot Studio Dharamshala that will help you maximize your creativity, relaxation, and enjoyment.

Firstly, plan your trip in advance and choose the right time, location, and duration based on your preferences, goals, and physical fitness. Mountains offer a range of activities such as hiking, camping, skiing, and exploring, so identify what interests you and what you want to achieve during your break. Decide if you want to go solo or with a group, and if you need to hire a guide or rent equipment. Consider the weather, accommodation, and transportation options and make reservations accordingly. A well-planned trip ensures that you have everything you need to make the most of your time in the mountains.

Secondly, disconnect from technology and the outside world as much as possible during your break. Turn off your phone, emails, and social media notifications, and focus on the present moment and your surroundings. Unplugging from the digital world not only reduces stress and anxiety but also allows you to connect with nature, appreciate beauty, and boost your imagination. Bring a journal, sketchpad, or camera to record your thoughts, impressions, and observations, and use them as prompts to brainstorm ideas and create something new. A digital detox can help you declutter your mind and recharge your creative batteries.

Thirdly, engage in physical activities that challenge you and provide pleasure without exhausting you. Mountains offer plenty of opportunities to hike, bike, swim, climb, and ski, and each activity exposes you to different terrains, landscapes, and weather conditions. Choose an activity that suits your fitness level and interests, but also pushes you out of your comfort zone and encourages you to be present and mindful. Exercise releases endorphins, reduces tension, and clears your head, so it can help you unleash your creativity and solve problems with ease.

Fourthly, nourish your body and soul with healthy, local, and seasonal foods that provide energy, nutrients, and pleasure without overindulging. Mountain cuisine often features fresh dairy products, meats, grains, and berries, as well as herbal drinks, teas, and soups that reflect the local culture and traditions. Sample the regional specialties, but also try to incorporate fresh fruits, vegetables, and water into your diet to stay hydrated and prevent fatigue. Eating mindfully and savoring the flavors, aromas, and textures of food can enhance your sensory experience and fuel your creativity.

[gree3nt3am]

Creative Retreat in Joshua Tree!

[author-mandi-bean]

How to Start a New Writing Project

I'm feeling restless? Is it because Spring is almost here?

I’m feeling restless. Maybe my transitory lifestyle for the vast majority of the last two years has made a permanent alteration to my brain chemistry. But as I’m too broke to travel at the moment, I think I’m ready for my next writing project. I have a couple of ideas percolating, so as I try to narrow it down to a single focus, I thought I’d share some great tips on getting started that I found…

[caustinen]

clegan drabble — chance encounter, first meeting, modern au

By the third time the guy makes his way over to the bar, Gale has to really work on not throwing his Coke bottle to the liquor shelf and start breaking stuff.

”Seriously man, are you sure we don’t-” ”No, we have not met before,” he responds as politely as he can through his teeth, “and no, I do not need company. And no, I will not go home with you. Excuse me.”

The guy’s drunken gaze falls to his lips as he talks, making Gale suspect he has not heard a single word he has said all night despite repeating himself over and over. The glassy eyes eventually turn back to his, and the man licks his lips as his expression morphs into a what he surely thinks is a seductive smirk.

”Come on, baby. Humor me a bit. Let my buy you a drink.” Gale exhales in frustration. The ick he gets from this man is ridiculous. ”I told you already, I don’t need a drink, I’d really just like to-”

He stops abruptly when the man takes a tight hold of his bicep. ”Hey, could you-” ”This hard-to-get act is getting old now, gorgeous.” ”I’m not-” The grip gets tighter, another hand reaches for his thigh, and Gale is about to get violent despite not wanting to get in trouble at their frequent spot when-

”Hi Buck, there you are! I’m real sorry I left you here all by yourself for so long, the queue to the toilet was insane.” A pleasant, carefree voice comes up from behind him. He turns to find a gorgeous smile on a gorgeous face he doesn’t recognize. The man’s smile is tense on a futher look, though, and his eyes are questioning as he lays a careful hand on Gale’s shoulder, clearly ready to pull back immediately if he gets any indication that the action is unwanted.

Gale exhales quietly again before covering the hand now on his shoulder with his own, immediately catching on. ”It’s okay.” It’s easy to slide away from the icky man’s grasp now, his surprise making him loosen his hold on Gale. Gale tries to avoid looking at him and accidentally leans closer towards the other man, his aura calming despite towering over Gale’s propotions in every direction. The man doesn’t seem to mind, still smiling from under his curls. ”Ready to go home, doll?”

Gale nods immediately. The drunk dude has been looking between them for a bit before his eyes land on the taller man. ”I’m real sorry mate, I didn’t realize he was-” The man’s face changes immediately when he looks away from Gale to the other guy, the youthful happiness turning into coldness that makes him look mature and strick. ”Yeah, whatever. Go home, sober up and learn some fucking manners, you fucking jackass.” With that, he’s gently leading Gale to the door.

He doesn’t let go until they are out of the other guy’s view, but he does drop his hand immediately as the door closes behind them. It’s probably the chill of the autumn evening and not the departure of the solid body against him that’s making Gale feel cold suddenly but it’s still unpleasent. ”Sorry,” the man says almost frantically, ”I didn’t mean to intrude but you were looking pretty miserable before he even showed up and when he got his hands on you-” The man sighs and shakes his head. ”Didn’t look like you were happy with it, somehow, so I just wanted to check on you. No clue where the fake boyfriend thing came from though, I’m so sorry if I-”

”Don’t be,” Gale says firmly, and the man immediately relaxes again, ”I don’t know why I froze like that, it was nice someone else de-escalated it like that. My friend went to argue with his boyfriend on the phone like 30 minutes ago and never showed up again so I was pretty pissed anyway.” The man nods, and the warmth Gale feels under his intense gaze shouldn’t feel this exciting, surely.

”Well then…” The guy lifts his arm and scratches the back of his neck, ”I don’t wanna take more of you’re time, I hope you’re oka-” Gale doesn’t think, in an unusual manner to him, when he interrupts him. ”I, eh, actually… I’d love to thank you somehow? Maybe buy you some late night dinner?” The man’s face lights up again, and Gale feels silly in a way he doesn’t often do.

”I’d love that. I’ll go tell my friends I’m leaving and meet you up here after?” ”Sounds good.” They stare at each other for a beat despite the words, and Gale swears he’s not blushing when he sticks his hand out jerkily. ”Gale Cleven.” The man smirks, his eyes turning to lines as it overcomes his face. ”John Egan,” he introduces himself as he reaches to shake his hand, ”but you can call me Bucky.”

[arealtrashact]

Hi! I know this message is a bit out of the blue, but I just want to say that I was very surprised to see that you followed me back! I don't know if you meant it or if it was a mistake, but either way, it doesn't matter because whenever I see you in my notifications I always go "omg, that's arealtrashact!!!" and it makes me a lil bit happy because you're one of my favourite artists here!

I've talked about how much I love your art in the tags before, but what really strikes me about your work is how you seem to have a very keen eye when it comes to your subjects, so when you translate your interpretations into illustrations they're always so meaningful and vivid; it's like they're bursting at the seams with the subject's essence. It always leaves me in awe. I've got to admit that I think a lot about your Elvis in the Army and Elvis in Las Vegas pieces. But I also adore all your other work of other musicians, Homelander and even things I'm not familiar with! I'm not an artist myself, so I feel like my vocabulary is falling short of what makes your art so great to me, but it's just *so* striking! And the way you use colour and the fluidity of your character's body and mannerisms are just superb.

Anyway, sorry for the lengthy message! All this to say that you're one of my favourite bloggers, and whether you're sharing your art or posting about the things you love, it's always a pleasure seeing you on my dashboard. You make this place brighter! Thanks, and I hope you have a wonderful day! 💕⚡️

Th........ank....y....youuuu

This is such a beautiful, sweet message. It's taken me twice as long to answer it because I keep scrolling back up to reread it. I never know how to respond to stuff like this beyond blubbering my thanks and it never ever feels like enough. It means so much to me. . . More than I can put into words.

My following you wasn't a mistake. I thought you seemed cool and clearly I was right. Thank you for taking the time to write out this lovely message. I'm treasuring it like a precious stone.

[keithsandwich]

Will you tell us more about Maeve's time as a priestess? <3

It's definitely in the plans!! I really want to work on a longfic about them both and ofc that's a great part of Maeve's story. I just need to find strength lol 🫠

But this is something I really really wanna do!

[nr1-logo-design-inspiration]

Meditation logo design for yoga project ♡

[oliolioxenfreewrites]

An excerpt from the horror story series I’ll be posting tomorrow morning!

The Retreat

8 months ago…

It was supposed to be a celebratory hike. David had just landed a major distributor for his athleisure wear brand, and they decided to mark the occasion with a challenging trail they had been meaning to try. The weather in Maryland was perfect this time of year—cool and crisp, with a median level heat ideal for a long excursion.

They set out early, with the morning mist still clinging to the mountains. Monique felt on top of the world, hand in hand with David, their laughter echoing through the trees.

About two hours in, they reached a fork in the trail. The left path was well-maintained and led to a popular viewpoint. The right fork was overgrown and marked with a faded sign warning of unstable terrain.

"Let's take the next right," Monique suggested eagerly.

She began to stretch and lifted the back of her coily red-brown hair, which shimmered in the sunlight and tied it into a messy bun, preparing for the next segment of the trail. Her husband's face was filled with nothing, but apprehension.

David gazed skeptically at the ominous path ahead and asked, “Are you sure about this?”

“Oh, c'mon! Where's your sense of adventure, baby?” she teased, a mischievous glint in her eye.

David hesitated. “I don't know, Momo. That sign looks pretty serious.”

But Monique was insistent. “Trust me, it'll be fine. We're experienced hikers. Plus, imagine the view without all the tourists.”

Reluctantly, David agreed, knowing it would make Monique happy. And for the first mile, everything seemed fine; the path was rough but manageable. Then—they reached the cliffside portion...

The trail narrowed dramatically, hugging a sheer rock face with a dizzying drop to the right. Monique led the way with steady, confident strides, her resolve unwavering despite the precarious path. She glanced back periodically to check on David, noticing his forehead crinkle in that way she found endearingly adorable. It always amused her that this 6’2” muscular Italian, so strong and charismatic, could be unnerved by heights.

A twinge of remorse washed over her as she remembered how she had convinced him to come along on this adventure, despite his apprehension. She hoped the stunning views and sense of victory would eventually outrank his current anxiety.

“Momo, we seriously should turn back,” David called out, lagging behind his enthusiastic wife.

“Don’t worry, babe, we’re almost through,” Monique replied, seeing the clearing just a few steps ahead. “Just a little further.”

Those four words would haunt her forever.

A few steps later, she heard a sickening crumble, a sound that now echoes in her mind whenever she closes her eyes or feels anxious. The next thirty seconds shattered her world; the path beneath David's feet gave way. As Monique spun around in horror, she couldn’t even process the scene before her.

“David!” she shouted, reaching out desperately, but she was too far ahead. Their fingertips brushed, and their eyes locked for a split second before her husband plummeted into the abyss. It was the last time she touched or saw her college sweetheart.

The world seemed to slow down as Monique watched David disappear into the void. Her scream echoed through the mountains, a sound of pure anguish that was swallowed by the vast, indifferent wilderness. She fell to her knees, the weight of what had just happened crashing down on her. She could barely breathe, her chest tightening with a mix of shock and terror.

Minutes felt like hours as she scrambled to the edge, hoping against hope to see David clinging to something, anything. But there was nothing—just the sheer drop and the distant sound of rocks tumbling into the chasm below. The reality of the situation began to sink in, and with it came a flood of guilt and regret.

“Why had I convinced him to take this path? How could I have been so careless?!”

The next hours were a blur of frantic calls for help, rescue helicopters, and devastating news. Monique sat there, feeling detached from her body as they asked her all their typical questions; all she could hear was static. Despite the best efforts of the rescue teams, the news came that David hadn't survived the fall. Friends and family were notified, and the reality of the loss began to sink in as everyone tried to come to terms with the sudden tragedy.

In the days and weeks following the funeral, Monique was overwhelmed not only by all-consuming grief but also by a crippling sense of guilt. She found herself trapped in a storm of emotions, unable to escape the constant reminders of his loss and the nagging voice in her head that kept repeating, “If only I had listened to David, if only I had been more cautious, if only I could have saved him.”

Every moment without him felt like a lifetime, and the burden of her guilt grew heavier with each passing day. She often found herself either lost in a bottle of whatever she could find in their extensive stash to avoid leaving the house or endlessly, hopelessly, scrolling through ten years of memories in the darkness of their shared apartment in downtown Maryland. Her photos app mocked her every time she picked up her phone, thanks to the new and taunting 'Featured' section that adorns our technology today. She hadn’t worked or touched her art in months. Unless her twin brother Marcus, or her best friend Ashleigh brought her food—she wouldn’t even eat. She was constantly surrounded by the hall of fame of their love. The awards he won for the prosperity of his athleisure wear business, which she signed over to his family out of respect, still adorned the shelves. His clothes hung in the closet, and his shoes sat by the door as if waiting for him to come home.

It took Ashleigh planning this trip to wake her from her grief-ridden daze; she owed her friend her entire future.

Now, lying in bed in the dark cabin, Monique felt the weight of her actions more acutely than ever. She had come here seeking healing but was now confronting her deepest regrets in the most terrifying way possible. The shadows of the room seemed to press in around her, and the sounds of the forest outside took on an eerie, almost whispering quality.

She closed her eyes, trying to steady her breathing. The image of David’s fall played over and over in her mind, a relentless loop of her greatest nightmare. She clutched the blanket tightly, as if it could shield her from the torment within her own mind.

As dawn began to break, the faint light filtering through the curtains, Monique made a decision. She would confront whatever was taunting her—whether it was the memory of David, her own guilt, or something more sinister lurking in the woods. She needed to face it, to find some semblance of peace.

She owed David that much.

Monique opened her eyes with a deep breath and stared at the ceiling, feeling the first rays of sunlight touch her face. The journey ahead was still uncertain, but she felt a spark of determination for the first time in a long while. The path to healing would be painfully difficult, but she was finally ready to take the first step.

@drchenquill @illarian-rambling @kaylinalexanderbooks @leahpardo-pa-potato @slenders1ckn3ss @somethingclevermahogony @inky-duchess @sassystyl @rotting-moon-writes @highlycosmic @avaseofpeonies @oc-atelier @ceph-the-ghost-writer @paeliae-occasionally @davycoquette @unforgettable-sensations @hissorrow22 @boredwritergirl @scorpiothesaint @thewrathoffemaleragem @spookyceph @enne-uni if interested in joining or being removed, just let me know! :)

[bunnyrafe]

being the poutiest girl in the world this morning… i’ll probably be more active later— enjoy your saturday, bunnies !!!

[siena-sevenwits]

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[artworkshopdharamshala]

Discover Your Inner Creativity with the Best Art Workshops in Dharamshala

Dharamshala, a beautiful hill station in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, is not only known for its stunning natural beauty and vibrant Tibetan culture but also for its thriving art scene. Here are some of the best art workshops in Dharamshala for those looking to discover their inner creativity:

Dharamkot Pottery Studio & Art Retreat: Dharamkot Pottery Studio & Art Retreat offers an idyllic and peaceful getaway for art enthusiasts, especially those interested in pottery. Situated in the picturesque town of Dharamkot within the Himalayan foothills, this studio provides sculpting classes by professional artists that instruct beginners and experts alike. The retreat helps visitors to surround themselves with natural beauty while creating unique and fulfilling pieces of art. The tranquil atmosphere allows folks to disconnect from their daily routine entirely, making it a perfect environment to tap into your creative side fully. Moreover, the staff at Dharamkot Pottery Studio & Art Retreat are gracious and helpful hosts who make sure guests leave with unforgettable memories and fantastic creations as a reminder of their retreat experience.

Tushita Art School: Tushita Art School is a well-known art school in Dharamshala that offers courses in painting, drawing, sculpture, and printmaking. The school is run by professional artists who teach various techniques and styles of art.

Norbulingka Institute: The Norbulingka Institute is a cultural and educational center that offers workshops in traditional Tibetan art forms such as thangka painting, wood carving, and metal sculpture. The institute also offers courses in contemporary art forms such as photography, painting, and ceramics.

Kangra Arts Promotion Society: The Kangra Arts Promotion Society is a non-profit organization that aims to promote traditional art forms of the Kangra region. The society offers workshops in Kangra miniature paintings, pottery, and embroidery.

Himalayan Film School: The Himalayan Film School offers courses in filmmaking, animation, and graphic design. The school is run by professionals in the field and offers hands-on experience in all aspects of filmmaking.

Potala Tibetan Art School: The Potala Tibetan Art School offers courses in traditional Tibetan art forms such as thangka painting, sculpture, and embroidery. The school is run by professional Tibetan artists who teach the techniques and styles of these traditional art forms.

Dharamshala is a hub for art and creativity, and these workshops offer a great opportunity for visitors to explore their inner artist and learn new skills from professionals in the field.

[muddlemore]

no fucking way im venting abt my friend overtaking my minecraft build. am i a toddler

[direwombat]

scene 1 of 4 now in its first draft and its clocking in at 3.9k....

[allylikethecat]

Okay y’all which fic would you like to see updated next (other than the Christmas Fic I need to emotionally recover from that chapter before plowing ahead myself lol) OR do you want a NEW fic (I have the Equestrian AU first chapter finished, and I can *probably* finish the Vampire 75 AU first chapter by Tuesday if I tried really hard) I’m not going to guarantee that is the fic I’m going to update, but as I stare at my collection of Google docs I am open to input (please give me input I’m a people pleaser) 😊 Thank you!! (If no one answers I will be quietly deleting this post and we will pretend it never happened)

[crippledgiraff]

Hey! Are you a filthy fantasy/ sci-fi nerd? Do you want to develop the skills necessary to use your squishy human brain to bring your imagination to life? Well I've got good news! My friend is running an online weekend writing workshop! You need to sign up!