If we set out to draw a "perfect enso circle", we are missing the point. The act of painting an enso is a reflection of the artist's state at the moment of creation, just like a drop of water falling into a pond. It can't ever be recreated or duplicated. It's just what it is, neither perfect nor imperfect. Sort of like us. And that's a freeing thought - we don't have to live up to anyone's standards of perfection. Like an Enso, we just have to be us in the moment.

Creating an enso (and becoming a Resident) involves letting go of expectations and allowing the hand to move freely. The Residency encourages artists to let go of preconceived notions, embrace spontaneity, and explore new creative territories, fostering an environment of growth and discovery.

The circular form of the enso also symbolizes the cycle of life and the interconnectedness of all things. The Enso Circle residency embodies this through the strong bonds formed among the artists, the shared experiences, and the collective growth that occurs over the twelve weeks.

If you, like the Enso Circle itself, are a bit wobbly, imperfect, and full of surprises, this may be the place for you to  celebrate your uniqueness.

Applications to The Enso Circle Residency open on Wednesday, August 14 and close on Wednesday, August 28th.

Link to our Website

Link to the Application

Link to our Residents' Catalogs from previous terms

Artists usually profit from their time away from the studio. The members of the Enso Circle Artist Residency are no exception. Most of us seek ways to replenish the well for inspiration and ideas for new work to bring back to the studio.

Speaking of catalogs, The Residents and The Continuing Residents are proud to present their exemplary new work from the Spring term in The Enso Circle Exhibit Catalogs. We encourage you to grab a cool drink and enjoy a walk through our gallery. If you can see yourself in those pages, take a short trip to The Enso Circle Website where you will discover a new page created just for you. Bookmark the page to have all the details of dates, price, and application all in one place.

If you were to join us at the Residency Water Cooler this summer, you'd find a vibrant community of artists sharing vacation travel images, progress reports, and suggestions for new materials and processes to explore. We're not just a residency, we're a supportive community that continues to thrive even during the Residency vacation months.

Even if they are not part of the Enso Circle, which supports individuality in a caring community setting, artists can balance independence in their studio work with active participation in an artist's group by finding ways to nurture both their personal creative processes and their sense of community. Here are some strategies to achieve this balance:
 
 1. Scheduled Solo Time and Group Activities
   - Independent Studio Work: Dedicate specific times for uninterrupted solo work in the studio. This allows artists to focus deeply on their individual projects and creative exploration.
   - Group Meetings and Events: Participate in regular group meetings, workshops, and events organized by the artist's group. This fosters a sense of belonging and provides opportunities for collaboration and inspiration.
 
 2. Sharing and Feedback Sessions
   - Studio Independence: Work independently on personal projects and bring completed or in-progress works to group meetings.
   - Community Engagement: Share work with the group for constructive feedback. This helps artists gain new perspectives while still maintaining their individual artistic vision.
 
 3. Collaborative Projects
   - Independent Contributions: Contribute individual skills and perspectives to collaborative projects while working independently on assigned tasks.
   - Group Synergy: Combine efforts with other artists to create a unified piece, benefiting from the diverse skills and ideas within the group.
 
 4. Mentorship and Learning
   - Personal Growth: Pursue individual learning goals and techniques in the studio.
   - Group Learning: Engage in mentorship programs, workshops, and skill-sharing sessions within the artist’s group to learn from peers and mentors.
 
 5. Exhibitions and Shows
   - Solo Exhibitions: Host solo exhibitions to showcase personal work and unique artistic voice.
   - Group Exhibitions: Participate in group shows, where individual works contribute to a larger collective theme, fostering community recognition and support.
 
 6. Online Presence
   - Independent Sharing: Maintain personal social media accounts and websites to showcase individual work.
   - Group Platforms: Contribute to the artist group's online platforms, promoting the group’s activities and collaborative projects.
 
 7. Networking and Support
   - Self-Promotion: Independently network and promote personal work within broader art communities.
   - Community Support: Offer support and resources to fellow group members, creating a network of mutual assistance and encouragement.
 
 8. Balance and Boundaries
   - Personal Boundaries: Set clear boundaries to protect personal studio time and creative space.
   - Community Participation: Commit to regular but balanced participation in group activities, ensuring neither aspect is neglected.
 
By strategically blending solo work with community involvement, artists can enrich their personal practice while benefiting from the support, inspiration, and opportunities that come from being part of an artist's group. This dual approach enhances both individual and collective artistic growth.

To learn more about how we blend independence with community, see how The Enso Circle might be the right place for you!

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Michelle and I are enjoying a few weeks off this summer for travel and studio work before we begin plans for our Fall Enso Circle term. We love to take a break to play and refresh our creative batteries.

One of my favorite mind-stretching games is thinking of color names. My personal palette in the work that I do is very limited, as you may know, and I have always enjoyed the fascinating nuances between neutral colors, natural pigments, and shades of pale fiber and paper. (Sometimes we have these kinds of conversations in The Enso Circle - it's fun)

Giving these “non-colors” their own names is almost like writing poetry because it sharpens the verbal/visualization process. Imagine the difference between the color “ivory” and the color “eggshell.” Can you see those in your mind?

Michelle and I are always saying that once you are in The Enso Circle, you can't help but think like an artist - and while some of what we talk about might be serious stuff, there is a lot of play and out-of-the-box conversation. What color is the smell of peppermint? How many names for purple can you think of?

Have some summer fun - we will be back soon to talk about the new fall term at The Enso Circle. If you are already thinking about applying, here's a LINK that will tell you all about it.

Who are the Continuing Residents of the Enso Circle? This extraordinary group of artists have found that the structure of the Enso's twelve-week cycle resonate with them like a long heartbeat, and that the authentic success of the others in the CR community is integral to their own success.  They mark each term with new goals which are grounded in past experiences and new discoveries. They work within the structure, but also know that the Circle never closes. It is an Open Circle. Here are the Continuing Residency guidelines:

The premise of the Open Circle is that you are setting out on a journey of Trust in the Process, and Self-Confidence. Your goal is to understand yourself better and become more grateful, resilient, confident and productive in your studio practice as you create three pieces of artwork, anything that your heart desires.

What you know as you start are these six things:

• you are embarking on a circular twelve-week quest of creativity and discovery
• you are starting from home and will return home, never getting lost
• you will write your own map as you go, day by day, week by week
• you will pay attention the signs of serendipity pointing to the next steps
• you will record and learn from unexpected lessons on the path
• you will return home with possibly flawed but authentically soulful work based on your good instinct and intuition

We've come to the conclusion of another term for this extraordinary group. Most will continue with with the Continuing Residents, some may go elsewhere to explore on their own, and some of the current New Residents may choose to join their Continuing colleagues.

Michelle and I are in awe of these Enso Circle Continuing Residents. We all gathered for a look at their final Exhibition Catalog yesterday - what a joy it is! Thanks to each one of them, and special thanks to Wally Lafaiete, graphic designer, and his editorial team, Sarah Treanor, Sue Conner, and Heather Tinkham for this gorgeous publication which can also be ordered as a print version.

We are proud to share this Exhibition Catalog with you, and are prouder still of these amazing CRs!

Have you ever observed the intricate workings of a beehive? It serves as a captivating metaphor for how artists, much like bees, can engage in group dynamics to inspire, influence, and support one another without resorting to imitation.
Imagine yourself as a member of The Enso Circle, which is akin to a creative beehive. Each artist possesses a unique style and perspective, analogous to the varied roles of worker bees. However, the real beauty emerges when we interact, exchange ideas, and collaborate. Here's how this synergy unfolds:

1. Influence, Not Replication: Much like bees cross-pollinate flowers, artists share inspiration and insights. Rather than mimicking one another, we incorporate novel viewpoints into our own work. This process of cross-pollination can be instrumental in nurturing artistic growth.
2. Nurturing Ideas and Providing Feedback: Similar to bees in a hive, we extend our support to fellow artists. We lend our expertise, offer constructive feedback, and engage in collective brainstorming. In moments of creative impasse, the collective wisdom of our artistic hive can be invaluable.
3. Continual Evolution: Bees adapt their honey-making process according to the seasons and the available nectar sources. Likewise, our art evolves as we assimilate fresh concepts and techniques from our peers. We do not stagnate; we thrive through adaptation.
4. Celebrating Diversity: Just as a beehive benefits from a variety of blooming flowers, our Enso Circle thrives on the diverse talents and styles of its members. Embracing these differences enriches our collective creative journey.

In summary, Resident artists can collaborate effectively without sacrificing their individuality. Within the confines of a hive, bees remain distinct, yet collectively create something extraordinary. In The Enso Circle, we draw inspiration from our surroundings, support one another, and evolve as artists, much like our industrious bee counterparts. Together, we can produce artistic honey – our latest catalog is the sweet proof!

There is a link to the Catalog below these images. The pictures show how cross-pollination happens in The Enso Circle. Lyn created an encaustic design called "Irish Paper" while she and Michelle were teaching in Ireland this past summer. Vanessa, a Continuing Resident, used the idea of square sections in her altar composition to the bees.

I am not sure how I alighted upon The Enso Residency program. I am beyond grateful I did. I
had been circling around my art before accepting the invitation - briefly touching down and
engaging but without the needed discipline necessary to advance my artistic growth. This was
because life had wedged itself between my ambitions and reality.

There is a certain kind of judgement and pathology ascribed to the self-described artist who doesn’t ‘art’ (or art ‘enough’). Are quantity, hours and output realistic indices of one’s status as an artist? I came to Enso in the stuck place - that frozen landscape where one’s feet seem trapped in ice and inspiration feels forced and inauthentic.I had been pushing a Sisyphean boulder (an art-based thesis about Trauma and Expressive Arts Therapy) up this icy hill. If the opposite of trauma’s freeze response is flow, then does persisting with art heal as a kind of icebreaker? Can it elicit flow when forced, when one is truly frozen? Where is our ability to heal in the space between stuck and unstuck? What exactly is inspiration? These are the questions I ask myself every week as I engage with Enso. Being lost in the process is artful, it is authentic. It is engaging with the divine.

Jacob’s Ladder appeared in my work the first term. I wasn’t expecting this imagery and
had to look up its significance. The Divine, flow - connection to forces beyond our
comprehension. This is art. Dr. Paolo Knill, father of expressive arts therapy, spoke about the
“Holy, wholly other”. The art lives beyond our hands, as its own spirit. It tells its own truths. By
engaging with these works, by staying on the surface and not analysing or interpreting, we may
hear the insights the art offers. Persistence begets flow and flow need not be fast, it can move
like molasses.

Enso is a moving circle, it is living community. Connection and community shifts
one into dialogue. This term has been beset with health issues and I am tethered to the circle by
a golden thread. Enso is the thin rivulet of water that bores through ice. Enso, therefore, is hope and offers that frame in which to persist, to chase flow, however slow. Enso holds this space.

Sometimes it is invisible but we persist with the faith of knowing Winter’s ice yields to Spring’s
thaw.

Nadine Rusinek-Bloomfield 2023 #ourensocircle #theensocircle

     When I was growing up my mom encouraged me to give myself permission to do what’s right, what’s helpful to others, and what’s beneficial to me in terms of self-care and life balance. I learned to truly listen to my inner voice and follow my intuition as often as I could.

     A most radical recent opportunity to do just that came in the form of the Enso Circle, an online artist residency that attracts artists from around the world and was created by award-winning creatives Lyn Belisle and Michelle Belto.

     I was aware of Lyn’s spirit dolls and knew I wanted to create my own. I sought out tips from Lyn and took her how to classes. I gave myself permission to play with fabrics, sticks, and clay. And I had a blast! So, I took the biggest leap ever and applied for membership in the Enso Circle. I was not an artist. I was a life coach and therapist.

     As soon as I hit ‘send’ on my Enso Circle application I gave myself permission to pretend that I was an artist. I gave myself permission to know that if I were accepted my life would change tremendously. And I gave myself permission to wonder what that could look like. Would I retire from the day job to pursue doll making full time? Would I discover other mediums for artistic expression and dabble with a variety of them for fun and learning? Could it be possible that I would learn more about creativity and develop my own sacred studio practice to fuel my creative endeavors?

     I would indeed as I was accepted into the residency! The Enso Circle has delivered a support circle of amazing men and women to move through life and art with. From sharing honest critiques to sharing souls on our regular Zoom meetings and in our Slack channel, the Enso Circle has opened my mind and my heart to more creativity, support, and accountability than I thought was possible. And it’s given me permission to think bigger about what my artistic voice might have to say. I am grateful for the Enso Circle members as we witness the creative spirit as it springs forth from each of us.

     If you are practicing permission giving in your own creative life, you would love the Enso Circle artist residency. Take your own leap and fill out the application today. I’ll look forward to meeting you in our circle.

One of the first things we ask in the application process is what the applicant wants to accomplish in a twelve-week residency. Implied in the question is the need for a goal. For many of us artists, the word itself is intimidating. Can I change my mind once the Residency starts? If I aim to complete three paintings during the Residency, do I have to work on only those paintings? What if I choose a goal that I won’t be able to accomplish?  
 
Our answer: Yes. No. Reshape the goal.

If you have questions, feel free to contact us directly or arrange to talk to one of our Residents about their experience in the Circle.  ([email protected], [email protected])

Note - this "Inside the Enso" post on sacred scents will be used by our Continuing Residents (a special group who have chosen to stay with the Circle after their 12-week initial term) as the inspiration for discussion questions.

 Scents and aromas have been part of sacred spaces for over 5000 years. Originally, perfumes were used in sacred shrines in conjunction with burnt offerings. People burned precious scents such as frankincense and myrrh on their altars. Soon, people began using these rare perfumes on their own bodies and associating scent with spiritual experiences.

Creating a sacred space with the assistance of essential oils, incense, and natural scents is a personal and customizable practice. The scents you choose, the rituals you incorporate, and the intentions you set all contribute to the unique and sacred atmosphere you want to create.

Here are some cross-cultural versions of sacred scents that have endured:

Copal Incense: Copal incense is a resin incense that has been used in Mesoamerican rituals for centuries. It is known for its strong, earthy, and slightly citrusy scent. Copal incense is typically burned on the altar to purify the space, create a welcoming atmosphere for the spirits, and to help lift the prayers and messages to the spirit world. The aromatic smoke is believed to be a bridge between the two realms, helping the spirits find their way.

Below is a very short video about how to burn Copal resin incense from Quetzalcoatl Music Guillermo Martinez.
Source for Copal

Lavender Essential Oil: Lavender's name traces back to the Latin verb "lavare," which means "to wash." This essential oil provides spiritual protection by metaphorically cleansing your spirit. Lavender essential oil has the potential to dispel feelings of depression and aids in regulating our emotional well-being. It is the go-to choice for meditation due to its calming and soothing properties. Lavender essential oil is a valuable tool for enhancing your meditative focus and achieving a deeper state of inner tranquility. Sprinkle one or two drops on your altar cloth or use a mist of 20 drops of lavender oil to 2 ounces of water as a purifying mist.

Source for Lavender Essential Oil

Hand-gathered Smudging Bundles for Purification of Spaces

Smudging with sage or cedar is a centuries-old ritual deeply rooted in Native American and Indigenous cultures. It involves burning bundles of dried sage or cedar leaves and using the fragrant smoke to cleanse and purify a space, object, or person. Sage is often associated with purification, clarity, and wisdom, while cedar is believed to offer protection and grounding energy. The ritual is typically performed by lighting the bundle and waving it gently, allowing the smoke to waft through the area while setting intentions for cleansing negative energy and promoting positive vibes. Smudging is not only a practical act but a spiritual one, fostering a sense of balance and reverence for the natural world.

You can make this even more meaningful by gathering your own plants for smudging bundles. You become part of the sacred process from beginning to end.  Here are directions that we wrote for you about how to make your own Smudge Bundles. They take about two weeks to dry, so practice mindfulness and patience.

More subtle than music, ephemeral in nature, scents enhance, inspire, cleanse and renew on the deepest level of human consciousness. We'd love to read your comments and observations about how you use scents as a creative enhancement in your own  work.