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ilana McBain Publications

Coming Out Of Your Shell

Coming Out Of Your Shell

Regular price $850.00 AUD
Regular price Sale price $850.00 AUD
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This workshop is about self-expression, growth, and transformation. Through painting and reflection, you’ll create a personal wall art piece that represents the parts of yourself you wish to nurture, evolve, or bring into the light. The Concept Shells are a perfect metaphor for personal growth. Each shell has a unique shape, texture, and colour, much like the aspects of our personality and life experiences. Shells also protect and nurture, symbolising the layers we create around ourselves as we grow. In this workshop, you’ll paint a series of shells, with each one representing a part of yourself that you wish to explore, transform, or bring forward. Next to each painted shell, you’ll write a short reflection or thought that connects to its meaning—what it represents, why it’s important to you, and how you envision its evolution.

1. Welcome and Introduction

Duration: 10 minutes

  • Greet participants warmly and thank them for attending.
  • Introduce the purpose of the workshop: self-expression, growth, and transformation through art.
  • Briefly explain the metaphor of shells as a representation of personal layers, growth, and protection.
  • Share what participants will create: a personalized wall art piece featuring painted shells and reflective writings.

2. Icebreaker Activity: Connecting with the Group

Duration: 15 minutes

  • Activity: "Name Your Shell"
    • Ask each participant to think of a shell that resonates with them (e.g., spiral, smooth, textured).
    • Share their name, their chosen shell, and one quality they admire about it.
  • Purpose: Break the ice, build a sense of community, and introduce the metaphor of the shell.

3. Guided Visualization: Discovering Your Shells

Duration: 15 minutes

  • Lead participants in a short, guided visualization to reflect on:
    • A part of themselves they want to nurture.
    • A part they want to transform.
    • A part they want to bring into the light.
  • Encourage participants to take a few notes on their thoughts to guide their artwork.

4. Introduction to the Art Process

Duration: 10 minutes

  • Demonstrate basic painting techniques and the use of textures, colours, and shapes to symbolize personal qualities or emotions.
  • Showcase example shells and how colours and patterns can represent different themes (e.g., bold for courage, soft for vulnerability).
  • Provide tips for combining abstract and representational art.

5. Creative Session: Painting Your Shells

Duration: 50 minutes

  • Step 1: Choose three shells to paint, each representing a personal aspect:
    • A part to nurture.
    • A part to transform.
    • A part to bring forward.
  • Step 2: Experiment with colour, texture, and patterns to embody the qualities of each shell.
  • Facilitators circulate the room to provide guidance and encouragement.

6. Reflection and Writing

Duration: 20 minutes

  • Once shells are painted, write a short reflection or thought next to each shell on the canvas or paper:
    • What does this shell represent?
    • Why is it important to you?
    • How do you envision its evolution?

7. Sharing and Group Connection

Duration: 20 minutes

  • Participants are invited to share one shell and its meaning with the group (optional).
  • Encourage open and supportive discussions about personal growth and discoveries.

8. Closing and Takeaways

Duration: 10 minutes

  • Summarize the workshop’s themes of self-expression, growth, and transformation.
  • Remind participants that their artwork is a representation of their journey and can continue to inspire them at home.
  • Thank participants for their courage and creativity.
  • Optionally, provide a list of related resources for personal growth and creative exploration (e.g., books, workshops).

Materials Provided

  • Canvas or heavy art paper (one per participant).
  • Acrylic paints in various colours.
  • Paintbrushes, sponges, and texture tools.
  • Palette trays for mixing colours.
  • Pencils and fine markers for reflective writing.

Optional Add-Ons

  • Provide a handout summarizing the metaphor of shells and their connection to personal growth.
  • Include a small keepsake shell for each participant to take home as a reminder of their experience.

 

  • Flat Rate: $850 AUD (covers up to 8 participants).
  • Additional Per Person: $85 AUD (if the group size varies).

 

The "Coming Out of Your Shell" workshop and all related materials, including content, concepts, and structure, are the intellectual property of Ilana McBain and Deidre Byrne. All rights reserved.

No part of this workshop may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the creators, except in the case of brief quotations used in reviews or educational settings with proper acknowledgment.

© 2025 Ilana McBain and Deidre Byrne

 

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