Monthly Archives: September 2012

Sep 28 2012

Bernie Kida: Vulnerability is the Birthplace of Creativity

Bernie Kida graduated with a Master’s Degree from the University of California San Francisco in 1987. He launched his career in medical illustration with the first edition of the Atlas of Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery authored by Raymond T. Morrissy, M.D.

“Allowing yourself to be vulnerable is letting other people see your struggles. When that happens, someone will come along and help you with that struggle or say, ‘I’m going through the same thing.’ It allows you to connect with others. That willingness to be open and vulnerable is the birthplace of creativity.”  ~Bernie Kida

Listen to Bernie’s Art as Worship interview on Empower Radio.

Bernie was the primary medical illustrator for Scottish Rite Children’s Medical Center for twelve years where he became a well-respected, award-winning illustrator. He has been praised for his attention to detail and graphic realism that allowed him to produce over a dozen successive surgical atlases.  He was certified in 1991 by the Association of Medical Illustrators and has been recognized with awards in projection media and Illustrated Textbook categories. He has also been featured in The Healing Arts, The Best American Artists Look at Medicine Today in 1995.

He says, “I had the privilege of being an observer during an operation years ago. Everything in the human body is alive — it’s shimmering, pulsing and vibrant. The colors. The layers. Everything comes to life. The human body is incredible and miraculous.”

Kida now works out of his home studio where he has more flexibility and a far shorter commute. He enjoys the challenges that each new assignment brings and the resulting relationships that develop while working with art directors, editors and publishers, physicians, surgeons and other allied health professionals.

Find out more about Bernie at www.bkidamedart.com or “like” his Facebook page.

Learn more about show host Vanessa Lowry at www.vanessalowrycreative.com.

Sep 20 2012

Laura Biering: A Life of Creativity is a Spirited Life

Laura Biering, Owner and President of True Voices, is a certified Authentic Life and Leadership Coach. A 12-year veteran of the coaching profession, she has been around the block, as they say, when it comes to careers.  Before coming to coaching, she was (among other things) an opera singer and actress, a legal recruiter and a bank teller, a life drawing model (yes, that’s done nude) and a giant pickle. In addition, she is an Ordained Interfaith Minister and an Artist’s Way Evangelist.

Since finding her own True Voice, she has been working with individuals, partners and teams to create lives that are both deeply meaningful and downright fun. In other words, she helps others create realities that rock!

“I am created by a Creator, I am creative and I am supposed to create. A life of creativity is a spirited life. As we go about that in our own unique way, it makes us authentic.”  ~Laura Biering

Listen to Laura’s Art as Worship interview on Empower Radio.

Laura is the author of The RiskADay Journal:  28 Days to Being You Out Loud with Courage, Creativity and Confidence.  She is currently working on several writing projects, including a book of essays with the working title, Good Girl Gone Gay:  Some Not So Random Thoughts on Authenticity and Life.

She says, “If I am open to the Mystery, then the Mystery will appear in any creative endeavor. Things are created that I didn’t sit down and say, ‘Now I am going to create this.’ It’s always bigger, broader, wider, deeper or more than whatever outline I’ve had in my mind. That’s Divinity — that’s something different than I, myself, could produce.”

In addition to her experience, skills and training, Laura brings compassion, commitment, creativity, and humor to all that she does. She is passionate about Authentic Learning, Loving, Living and Leading, and enjoys retreating on her SE Georgia farm with her partner and their two, adorable, four-legged children, Dogberry and Little Bit.

Laura says, “It’s a cycle. As I create, I’m lead spiritually. And I’m lead spiritually to create. As long as I allow my own authenticity and accept my own expression as the gift that comes through me, they’ll never be separate.”

Find out more about Laura at www.truevoices.com.

Take at least one intentional risk every single day and then reap the rewards. Purchase The RiskADay Journal  and take the 28-day challenge.

Learn more about show host Vanessa Lowry at www.vanessalowrycreative.com.

Sep 13 2012

Tom Bird: Books Change the Energy Level of the Planet

Led by a vision, the answer to a prayer, 24 year old Tom Bird put into play what he saw that night 31 years ago, and the results were miraculous, instantaneous. Within six weeks, Tom sold his very first book to the third largest publisher in the world for an amount equivalent to three times his salary at the time as a publicist for the big league’s Pittsburgh Pirates.

“I see my writing as a calling. I believe there is divine timing with books. I’m part of that Divine timing, but I’m not necessarily in control of the Divine timing. Books are born and released at the time when they’re meant to be born and released. They help enlighten and change the energy level of the planet.”  ~Tom Bird

Listen to Tom’s Art as Worship interview on Empower Radio.

Tom has written twenty-three books and led tens of thousands to live their literary and personal writing dreams through over 4,200 lectures at the top colleges and universities in the country and by conducting hundreds of retreats.

He says, “All great writing comes from the same place. It’s from a spiritual connection to the Divine energy that we already are.”

Tom says he was meant to write and teach. He offers his Write Your Publishable Book in a Weekend Retreat at a variety of different locales nationally about a dozen times a year.

Sedona Writing Retreat

He comments, “If you have a book inside of you, by all means, pursue your writing. Pursue it aggressively, pursue it faithfully, pursue it out of desperation, but pursue it. Writing is a combination of a release of your message and the opportunity to step into your own Divinity — to get into alignment with your connection to Spirit and do what you’re meant to do in this world.”

Find out more about Tom, his books and retreats at www.tombird.com. Check out his freebies page for the audio and book he mentions in the interview.

Learn more about show host Vanessa Lowry at www.vanessalowrycreative.com.

Sep 6 2012

Whitney Freya: Tapped Into a Different Level of Consciousness

Artist and teacher Whitney Freya believes that the key to our (r)evolution lies within our creative mind and it’s only when we embrace and amplify our creative power that we can truly align with our Higher Self, which is INFINITELY creative.

“My paintings help me encourage others to paint and create. I create videos or snap step-by-step pictures and show people the process — giving them permission to create without being perfect or being this great artist. The act of creating art takes you to a different level of consciousness and the more that you do it, the more tapped in you get.” ~Whitney Freya

Creative Goddess

Listen to Whitney’s Art as Worship interview on Empower Radio.

At CreativelyFit.com Whitney inspires her online clients around the world to embrace their role as the ARTIST in the ART that is their life. She takes them on a JOURNEY within, where painting and doodling become meditation and an opportunity for the mind to expand, for the ego and the to-do list to melt away, and for a new personal confidence connected to Spirit to emerge.

Whitney has two published books on creativity, including The Artist Within, A Guide to Becoming Creatively Fit (endorsed by Dan Pink and Michael Gelb). Her unique application of art making & personal empowerment has garnered national attention on CBS News, Martha Stewart Radio, & HGTV. She has presented at The Esalen Institute, the American Creativity Association, the Creative Education Foundation, & the South Africa Creativity Conference.

She says, “Before there was a written language there was art. Early man made art to connect to spirit and we are rediscovering that now.”

Her creative & spiritual JOURNEY began in 1996 when she opened an art center with NO art training. As she became Creatively Fit, along with her clients, she also found her spirituality awakening on new levels. In 2012 she launched The SPIRIT Project 2012 and The Journey Retreats that unifies her two favorite pursuits: CREATIVITY & SPIRITUALITY.

Find out more about Whitney, her books, programs and retreats at www.CreativelyFit.com or www.WhitneyFreya.com.

Learn more about show host Vanessa Lowry at www.vanessalowrycreative.com.