Illuminated: Lezlie Laws

I see the conscious creation of daily existence as a fascinating combining of experiences that sometimes results in a “product” (a painting, an essay, a flower), but most often result is the effect or sensation of the experience itself.  That “experience” is our LifeArt!

~Lezlie Laws

This month I am honored to be featuring a woman whose creative spirit is passionate and bold! When I first heard her name, I imagined a famous or fictional character that I immediately wanted to know more about. Lezlie Laws does, in fact, have a larger-than-life presence. Her voice is strong and her writing style harmonizes lightness with a razor sharp edge that knows how to trim the fat to get to the truth. That's because she has been practicing her art for a long time. She retired from a 24 year teaching career (English and Creative Writing) at Rollins College to enter into the field of creative entrepreneurship with her business Life Art Studio located in Winter Park, Florida. Also a yoga teacher, her work includes teaching public outdoor garden yoga classes, facilitating group workshops and retreats as well as private coaching for people longing to connect to their "original and deep potential." I have been inspired by Lezlie's work for years--I can remember shortly after my son was born (almost 10 years ago!) I spent an afternoon in one of her writing workshops and left feeling like I could breathe again. I was reminded that my creative spirit was still, and always is, an important part of me. She has a true gift for leading people directly into the heart of what is most vital and alive. 

Here is my interview with this inspiring and wholly dedicated artist: 

How do you define and describe your art?

I am a writer, and recently have taken up drawing and painting; I see my garden as an expression of a kind of artfulness, a way of using design, color, and texture to create an experience.  But in truth, I am not talented in any arena of artistic expression, although for most of my life I have been interested in (well, consumed by!) so many forms of what people call “art.” 

But these days, I’m using a term that Einstein coined:  combinatorial play.  I see the conscious creation of daily existence as a fascinating combining of experiences that sometimes results in a “product” (a painting, an essay, a flower), but most often result is the effect or sensation of the experience itself.  That “experience” is our LifeArt!

Have you always been creative or is it something you have grown into?

I think we are hardwired for creativity.  But many of us have thought of creativity as a special or unique capacity that only a precious few are blessed with.  (How many times have we heard someone say, “I don’t have a creative bone in my body.”)  But in truth, we are all blessed with creativity.  The degree to which it expresses is up to us.   At LifeArt Studio, our mission is to examine, cultivate, and encourage the skills and habits of mind that allow us to express ourselves in unique, pleasing, and artful ways. So yes, I have definitely grown into whatever creative qualities I may currently exhibit. I work at it daily!

Do you have any daily practices or self care rituals that you rely on to support your craft?

Absolutely.  I call them my Foundational Practices.  They are the habits that assure that each day I will be rested, focused, alert, healthy, calm and yet energized.  These qualities, when developed regularly, allow our innate creative spirit to rise up and seek expression.

So, every night I get 8-9 hours of sleep.  Then, every morning (365 days a year), I meditate, make bulletproof coffee, read in one of the great wisdom traditions, record my gratitudes, and then I turn to my writing.  This ritual takes about two hours, which I know sounds like a lot of time to give first thing in the morning. But, this set of morning practices aligns me with the core beliefs of my life and opens my spirit to receive the blessings of the day.  They make everything better, happier, and more creative.

How, if at all, has your art making cultivated the conditions for healing in your life? Can you give an example?

hmmmm.  I don’t think I have an answer for this.  I can say this, though.  I truly believe that destructive or bad behavior (no matter how trivial or abhorrent) grows out of the stunting of our profound need to express the ideas and feelings that we were brought to this earth to express.  This is why teaching children to understand and cultivate their creative capacities is so vital to our vitality as a species and as a community.  Creativity leads us toward wholeness, awareness, and joy.

What effect do you most want your art to have on your audience?

On one level, I have no concern about the effect of my art on an audience.  I do it to save myself, not to please someone else.  As I said earlier, I’m actually not very good at any of the forms of artful expression I practice.  But I love doing them.  These days, I am so much more interested in seeking out experiences that intrigue, provoke, and bring me joy than I am in producing something for “publication” or effect.
But on the other hand, since I consider the shaping of my life as an artful act, I want my “art” to profoundly affect others.  I want to connect honestly and authentically with each person before me.  I want my life to be of benefit to myself and to those I have the privilege of meeting and knowing.

Who or what currently inspires you?

I am completely in love with and inspired by my clients here at LifeArt Studio.  This probably sounds corny, but truly, I am in love with them.  I have the honor of working with so many people who are committing themselves to living their lives fully, passionately, and authentically.  And they are working hard at it.   They are building the skills and habits of mind necessary to “show up, grow up, and wake up,” as philosopher Ken Wilber says.  They are demonstrating courage in facing their obstacles; they are building resilience to move forward with hope; they are cultivating confidence in their innate capacities to grow, change, flourish, and create the lives they want.  Ohmygod, they are simply amazing, and I learn from them and grow with them every single day.  They inspire me!

What questions are alive for you now? Toward what experience or idea do you feel called to explore next in your creative journey?

One of the principles of the LifeArt protocol is surrender.  It’s a complex concept and one I don’t present to clients until I’ve worked with them for a while.  I am learning about and practicing surrender more and more these days.  It’s not a static practice, but one that emerges as we step more fully into our lives and gain more understanding about our purpose here on this little blue planet.  The more we surrender, the more creative we become.

Finally, what wisdom or particular suggestion would you offer to someone who is seeking to be more creative in their own lives?

Get as still as you can as often as you can by whatever means you can.  Meditation, quiet reflection, walking in nature, intentional observation, writing—there are many ways to get still, all of them nurturing our creative seeds.  Practice quieting the mind and accepting the moment exactly as it presents itself to you, over, and over, and over again. Each moment has its own wisdom, its own insight, its own direction.  In silence, we can allow what wants to rise up in us emerge, and see how our life—and our creativity—begin to deepen.   My mantra these days is, “I trust in this moment.”

Thank you Lezlie! 

"Most people go all the way through their lives without ever having a clue about what their deep mission is…" You can see Lezlie in action here sharing her mission and passion for inspiring others to be their best selves.