Gideonslight year-end message and competition anouncement!

Jipeee! The day that I have been waiting for has finally come! My online art school is finally published and my first two courses are activated and ready for student enrollment! It has been a two year journey up until this point, and the amount of personal effort and learning I had to put in to make this a reality was immense, but it was all worth it in the end, and the pay off is so rewarding!

So, if you still haven't checked out my online art school, here is another opportunity! I'm all about creating opportunities! 😁

Click here to visit my online school right now!

Then second thing on my anouncement agenda today, is the lucky draw for my SUPPORT ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND WIN BIG COMPETITION that has been running since October. I have to say one thing about this competition, I realised again that people do not read, or they certainly  don't read to understand, they scan to get it over with, because not a single person who entered the competition completed all the required steps! The one step that was a requirement to successfully get your name in the lucky draw, was to READ AND ANSWER THE BLOG QUESTION OF ALL THREE MONTHS OF THE RUNNING COMPETITION! All of the entrants only answered the one question of the month they entered. Bummer! 😕

There was also a number of entrants who didn't add their name to their answer when they entered the competition, so unfortunately I have no idea who you are, as I received an email notification that simply read that an "unknown person" has just commented on your blog! Bummer! 😣

But I have decided to reward those who did manage to complete most steps of the competition! So without further ado, here are the three LUCKY WINNERS who will receive a FREE HAIR SPA TREATMENT VALUED AT R550!

DRUM ROLL PLEASE!

1. KAITLYN BUCHEL
2. MARNÉ JACOBS
3. SUNNI BOLLYWOOD

CONGRATULATIONS! 😁🤗🏆🎉

*Your prize voucher is on its way to you via Whatsapp! Your voucher is valid for 3 months and will expire on 15 March 2019! You will need 1 hour to fully enjoy your spa treatment! All the usual terms and conditions of Gideonslight Hair Art and Soul applies! This voucher is not transferable nor can it be exhanged for cash or used as discount.

My 3rd anouncement is that my website is undergoing an upgrade and will include pages about my online school plus a virtual art galary! This is all still under construction,  but do take the time to check it out. My blog which is now hosted on blogspot, will also find a new home on my website hosted by wordpress! So this will be my final blog post on blogspot!

Click here to visit my new webpage!

My last anouncement for 2018 is that I  am fully booked up and until I take my feastive leave from the 23rd of December until the 2nd of January 2019! My first week in January is also fully booked already with clients that didn't find space with me before Xmas. So if you are still looking to get your hair done, send me a WhatsApp today to schedule your next appointment! More and more clients are getting into the habbit of scheduling their next appointment before they leave, to ensure they get the spot that best suits them. I strongly suggest you get into this habbit too if you haven't begun to do so already!

Lastly, I want to take this time to thank each of you for your support throughout 2018! Without you my business would not have grown the way that it has. I am so grateful! My wish and prayer for you over this festive season is:

"May you and all sentient beings everywhere be happy,
May you and all sentient beings everywhere be healthy, 
May you and all sentient beings everywhere be free from danger,
May you and all sentient beings everywhere be free from suffering!
May all beings achieve enlightenment & live in peace!

See you soon!

Gideonslight. 

What is holding you back?

What is holding you back? You've read the emails, you saw the YouTube videos, and you have probably heard me talking about it… but you haven't signed up for the course yet? Why not? You have mentioned that you are interested, and I know that you have entertained the idea to learn how to paint with watercolour,  but something is preventing you from clicking on the link and to go for it…


Allow me to share in short some of the things that held me back to get started on my journey, and maybe you can relate to it. Then I will also share some facts about my courses in a Q&A fashion.



First off, as you might have gathered from my launch campaign,  one of the first things that kept me back from engaging with my dream to become an artist was opportunity. Like I have explained before, up until 10 years ago, opportunities like online learning, at affordable fees was unheard of, in fact it didn’t exists. Now courses like mine are available on various platforms like Teachable and Udemy.



The second thing that held me back was financial resources. Most premium art courses cost a lot of money, and most teachers online charge in US Dollars. If it weren't for friends and family who responded to my plea for support to enable me to enrol in an online program like mine, I would still have only dreamed of becoming an artist.



This is exactly the story of my first course on Udemy! I remember seeing the very first advertisement about an online course in art therapy, and the normal fee for the course was around US $800. The course was on a special, and was available for a huge discount at only $110! I didn't have that kind of money available at the time,  but something inside me said ASK! So I did. The special offer was about to end and the deal would be off the table within 48 hours. So I  decided to share it on my Facebook timeline and ask if any of my friends would be willing to sponsor me. I left it in the hands of the universe. My intention and desire to educate myself was clear. To my surprise,  a client of mine saw my post of my plea for support and contacted me. She transferred the money (nearly R1500) into my bank account and as soon as the funds became available,  I transferred the money to my husband's credit card to purchase the course. I didn’t even have a credit card at the time to make the payment possible! So thanks to these two people who came to my aid, I was just in time to enrol in my very first online course in Art Therapy. Today since that time I hold four certificates in the field of Art Therapy, and the education and training I have at my disposal is helping clients who come to me for counselling and therapy!



The important first step that was taken was mine to take. I had to take a step of faith, and make my needs known to the universe. One of the universal truths that I have learned on my life journey, is that you have to make the first move. When you move, the universe moves with you. It is never the other way around. The task of Life is to present us with the opportunity, it is up to us to take it. Unfortunately so many of us let opportunity slip us by because we believe that it is not the right time, or you don’t have what it takes in the moment… and then opportunities pass us by, never to be repeated again!



I believe that this is an opportunity that I  can now extend to you! This is the last two days that you are able to purchase my Orca in watercolour course at a ridiculously low fee of only R90! That's like $1,25! WHAT? Yes! And what's more is that you have a 30 day money back guarantee! If you’re not satisfied with the course content, you can get your money back no questions asked. Why is my course so cheap? It is my way of opening a door! Because from midnight on the 15th of December SAST the Orca course fee will go up to R180! (That’s about $2,50) This final opportunity will last until midnight on the 31st of December SAST after which this Orca course will be sold at its full value of R450. ($6,75) As the course gains in popularity, so the price will increase over time, so you can see how this is an amaxing offer, never to be repeated again!



So let me share some facts:
• WHAT WILL I LEARN IN THE ORCA WATERCOLOUR COURSE?  Well, you will have the opportunity to paint the subject in two different styles. First is a loose style that is fast and fresh, and then you will engage in the tight and realistic method. You will learn how to transfer the image to your watercolour paper, making it super easy to get started. You will get the opportunity to use various techniques that include; masking, salt, lifting and negative painting. The subject is both a landscape as well as a realistic animal painting.
• THE COURSE LOOKS DIFFICULT. WHAT SKILL LEVEL WILL BE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THIS PAINTING? This course is considered an Intermediate difficulty level because various techniques are used, but it is not impossible. Once the *introduction to watercolour basics course is completed, you should be able to tackle this course with a greatvdeal of success. Things that make this course easy is the clean lines and simple shape of the Orca, as well as the limited palette. The whole process is broken up in chapters that is easy to follow along. (* my introduction to watercolour basics course is available free of charge!)
• WHAT MAKES YOUR COURSE UNIQUE? I offer insight into the symbolism of the Orca, as I have found meaning in the medicine messages that animals provide through the ancient culture of the native Americans who believe that animals are messengers to us. I have included this information in the course, and if you are drawn to this course, it is likely that you will find this information relevant to your life right now.
• IS THERE A MONEY BACK GUARANTEE?  Yes, there is a 30 day money back guarantee.
• IS THERE A POSSIBILITY OF INTERACTION WITH THE INSTRUCTOR? Yes, at the end of each chapter you are able to post comments and ask questions. I will be able to respond and guide you further. You are also able to upload photographs of your work and progress,  that I will also be able to help guide you onwards.
• ARE THERE DEADLINES TO COMPLETE THIS COURSE? No, you can work at it at your own pace. There are no requirements except to enjoy it and to have fun whilst learning.
• DO YOU OFFER CERTIFICATION AFTER COMPLETION? Not for this course. But certification will be available at a later stage once this course becomes part of a bigger learning module as the Academy grows.
• HOW DO I KNOW WHICH MATERIALS I WILL NEED FOR THE COURSE? I provide a complete list of supplies at the beginning of the course. However I do suggest watching a few chapters first before going out to get supplies just to familiarize yourself with the content.
• IS THERE A PREVIEW AVAILABLE TO SEE IF THE COURSE IS FOR ME? Yes, one of the lectures are an open lecture that you can watch to see my teaching style as well as the quality of the video tutorials.
• IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO SHARE WITH US? Yes, please visit my YouTube channel, there are additional Orca painting tutorials available for you to enhance the learning experience and it is completely free of charge! Remember to subscribe and enjoy the course!


The YouTube channel link is here:
GIDEONSLIGHT YOUTUBE CHANNEL


Go to My Teachable Academy now to enrol for only R90 here:
GIDEONSLIGHT ACADEMY

So? What is holding you back? I am interested to hear your story! Simply reply to this communication and let me know what is preventing you from jumping in to make your artistic dreams a reality! Also, why not use this opportunity to let me know what other subject matter would interest you more in the future! Landscapes, still life, botanicals or space?


Visit my website and learn more about me there! Click here:
GIDEONSLIGHT WEBPAGE 

Happy painting!


Gideon.

What key factor determined Success vs. Failure in my art?

Up until a few years back, I was dreaming of painting beautiful paintings, and I always complained that I was too busy to put any effort into realising this dream. What I did not recognise at the time, was that I was playing the victim, I was giving my power away to less important things. Things like TV, people who I placed on pedestals of importance, business with work and of course always being tired, and having a thousand other excuses of why I could not spend any time making my dream as an artist to come true.

One of these excuses was that because I couldn't study art, I did not have the qualifications of an artist, and this in turn meant that I couldn't be an artist, "because only qualified artists know how to create beautiful art..." The other fear I entertained, was the fear of living in poverty, because society teach you by example that mosts artists are struggling to make a living because they are mediocre, and only the best artists make good money. I felt deep inside that would never achieve that status because it was too late for me!

Another belief that kept me firmly out of reach with my dream was that inspiration is really hard to come by. The feeling of inspiration was fleeting and I had to sacrifice everything just to hold on to that wisp of artistic flair that would occasionally pop up for me that would allow me just enough "juice" to produce something worth while to hang on my wall. But if I took on too big a project, I would eventually surrender to my self-sabotage and give up. The inspiration would fade away and my boredom and apathy would creep back in, resulting in paintings that I would never finish. Looking at the graveyard of unfinished works of art in my past, would only reinforce the ideas I already held and I would just slip back into old patterns of ignorance and defeat.  Let's face it, I simply was not an artist. It was just to hard!

But how did I come to my current success? Well, the first thing that changed for me was I had to recognise that I was giving my power away to a lot of limiting beliefs and self created situations. First I was forced to deal with all the areas in my life where I was living with a belief of self-entrapment. Life presented me through a series of events with the opportunities to choose differently. Was it easy? No. Was it impossible?  No! But here is the thing. If you desire something badly enough in your life, something possitive, something soul enriching, that desire IS the confirmation that the destination is there! And when you ask the universe, eventually you won't have a choice but to move your life into allignment with your dreams. This is what happened to me.

Once I dealt with all my excuses, fears and crutches that kept me from picking up the brush, a "correct thinker" and a "muse" entered my life. The muse was Whitney Freya, a self-taught artist from the United States who entered my life at the right stage who became my catalyst. It is said that when the student is ready, the teacher appears. This was the case for me. Whitney helped me to recognise and to embrace my artists within, through a daily practice of spending time with the things I love most: paint, brushes and the canvas. It became a porthole of wonder and self-realisation for me. Most important of all, is it was Whitney who proved to me that it is possible to be an amazing, unique artist without a formal art education. It was also her method of teaching that introduced me to on-line education, and with that a whole new world opened up to me.

At the same time that I embraced my own artist within,  a creative thinker, Elizabeth Gilbert and her amazing book called "Big magic - living a creative life beyond fear" entered my life. This amazing book helped me to recognize even more deeply, my artist spirit whithin. I learned that inspiration is always available, abundantly so, and that it becomes even more so, the more you open yourself up to it. It helped me to recognize that all the fears about being an artist was just "bullshit" that a fearful society projects out onto each other because it is "safe in a world where you don't have to be original", it is "safe to just blend in with the crowd". Well I finally had the courage to say: "to hell with that!"

I finally broke free from my own matrix of self-limitations and like Neo from the Matrix movie started to "bend my own space and time" to my own will and needs. Now I yield the power in my creative life. I decide what I do and when I do it. I get to decide how much time I spend on which activity! This is what it feels like to live with big magic. It is very powerful indeed!

So what is the secret to my success? DAILY PRACTICE. To dedicate time every day with my craft is the biggest factor that led to my current success. Getting rid of distractions like TV. Making sure that I include time in my daily schedule for my craft ensures I have the time available to engage with my art. So many people I know say they dream to paint like me, but they "don't have the time..." and I hear myself say: "that was me a few years ago... giving my power away to excuses. But not any more!" If you want to paint like me, you have to make time to go to the canvas and paint! Even if you were "a born artist" with the biggest talent on the planet you would still have to make the time in your life to paint!

Here is the biggest lie we believe and tell ourselves about art: THAT IT SHOULDN'T BE SO DIFFICULT... AND BECAUSE YOU FIND IT DIFFICULT IT MEANS YOU SHOULDN'T PERSUE AND PERSIST UNTIL YOU GET IT RIGHT! BECAUSE IF YOU WHERE AN ARTIST IT WOULD BE EASY FOR YOU! NONSENCE! Anything worth doing takes time and  practice, and simetimes a dash of hard headed persistence until we get it right, pays off big time! So the question we should be asking is not whether or not you CAN paint, but rather, how badly you wish to experience the joy of creating!

So, what has all this got to do with my online art school? Well, this is just another huge step for me in living my big creative dream, but this is also where I become a muse and creative thinking coach for you! If you want to break free from your self-sabotage and self-limitations,  then that is exactly what my art school will provide for you. All of the courses and lesson plans that I make available on my academy has but one goal: to empower and to activate the artist within YOU!

Here is the good news, my next course at my academy is now available for an early bird enrollment. "Paint the Orca in watercolour" course is now available for a mere R90! But this ridiculously low fee will only be available till midnight on the 15th of December SAST. Thereafter the course launches on the 16th of December for a limited time at the price of R180! From the 1st of January 2019, this course will be available at it's full price of R450! So why wait? Now is your chance to take charge and stimulate your artist withinin and push your fears aside and allow the Orca to guide you as you take a leap of faith!

I challenge you to make 2019 the year you step outside of your fear, and to become a fearless artist. Let me show you how!

Go now and enroll at my online art school by clicking on the following link:
Paint the Orca in watercolour

Also visit my website to learn more about my business here:
Gideonslight website

The early bird enrollment in my course is now open!

The day has come for the early bird enrolment in my free INTRODUCTION TO WATERCOLOUR BASICS course! Any person who enrol with my school over the next 3 days will be able to get my “Paint the Orca in watercolour” course at 50% discount! What an amazing offer!

At this stage the "paint the Orca in watercolour" course will be available  for only R180 so you will pay a low R90 for it if you enrol within the next 3 days! The Orca painting course will officially launch on the 16th of December, and I will see exactly who enrolled during this early bird period! I will send you an discount code privately with an email on the 16th of December when this 2nd course launches at my online art school. 

So what are you waiting for? Go right now to enrol at
https://www.Gideonslight.teachable.com

The early bird enrolment offer closes at midnight on the 5th of December 2018, and will never be repeated at this low price! Why don't you share this announcement with your friends and family too?

I am looking forward to seeing you in my classroom soon!

Yours sincerely
Gideon Busquét-Craucamp
Artist, Creatively Fit Coach, Instructor