Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Andrea Durfee. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Andrea thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

During the summer of last year, I began sinking into intuitively channeled art creation and began my ‘Intuitive Goddess Sessions’. I have long pulled symbolism and understanding from the unseen world, and I had a desire to share this with others in a meaningful way. This intimate offering is a powerful blend of holding space for others, while honoring their gifts and experiences through the creation of a watercolor goddess, painted live in their presence. In these 60 minute 1:1 sessions, we explore the paths they have journeyed, reflecting on the challenges, strengths and intentions with which they walk forward. We sit together as I paint their goddess and what emerges is a watercolor painting that speaks directly of their sacred being. I did not anticipate the impact that these sessions would have both for other women and me. Together, we were co-creating artwork in the midst of listening, laughing and tears. I have had the privilege of hearing and holding the stories of such resilient, enchanting and powerful women. It fills me with hope for the future, knowing that we are tethering our energetic threads together, weaving networks that can hold all our shadow and light.

Andrea , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am an artist and NYS license creative arts therapist based in Rochester, NY. I have been sharing and selling my personal work for over 15 years, and am the owner of Ara Creative Wellness where I help clients find greater alignment, coherence and presence in their lives through creative expression.

In my personal art, I am interested in reawakening our wonder and universal connectivity. Pulling on my background as an art therapist, my work reflects on the connection between our inner and outer worlds and the vibrant hope that lies within. Creating in watercolor, acrylic, ceramic and animation, my current work fuses landscape, flora and fauna with the human figure. Whether sweeping landscapes embedded with figures, or intimate scenes of quiet moments, I hope to encourage the viewer to recognize the sacred within themselves, the mundane and their relationships.

In my work as an art therapist and creative wellness guide, I help people moving through stagnation, life transitions and confusion come into deeper relationship with their inner and outer world, helping them gain new perspective so that they can expand into their most magically authentic self.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Awakening wonder and enchantment in those who view my work, or watching clients experience the magic that pours out of getting back in touch with their own creative being, is the most gratifying. To have my work resonate with someone to the point that they want to bring that piece into their home is the greatest reward. More than hanging in any gallery, the greatest honor is to be hanging in someone’s sacred space or to have inspired them to put a brush to paper themselves.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I used to think that the “proper” trajectory was to be an exhibited gallery-represented artist. And while it is wonderful to have work accepted and shown in galleries, the most impactful and fulfilling experiences as a professional artist have been through my relationships with collectors and working with clients to develop their own creative wellness rituals. It took me quite a while to be comfortable with my desire to focus my energy away from exhibiting. Embracing that my path as an artist can look however I wish, and that there is no “right way” was the most freeing unlearning and has opened up new opportunities and unexpected paths.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.andreadurfee.com / www.aracreativewellenss.com
• Instagram: @andreadurfee / @ara.creativewellness

Image Credits

Image 1 and 6 by Rachel Ludwig