Artist’s Way Group / Sanity Journaling

This is an ongoing group that meets every two weeks 1-3 p.m. Saturdays.

Together, we explore The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron, a program designed to help people overcome creative blocks and reconnect with their inner artist through a series of readings, exercises, and tools like “Morning Pages” (three pages of stream-of-consciousness writing) and “Artist Dates” (solo creative outings).

We also explore self-expression through Sanity Journaling, a creative practice developed and refined by Alina Bettancourt over many years. This class invites participants to explore their inner world through artful journaling—combining words, images, and color to create a deeply personal reflection of life, dreams, and emotions.

There is no right or wrong way to do this. Each page becomes a space for authenticity, play, and self-discovery. Whether the process feels lighthearted or profound, every mark and collage piece contributes to a unique story—your own.

Participants will experiment with a variety of materials, including magazine cut-outs, paint, markers, pencils, and pens. The journal can hold affirmations, meaningful quotes, personal insights, memories, or simply serve as a creative playground for new artistic techniques.

This is a space free of judgment and full of encouragement. The goal is to honor individuality, embrace imperfection, and celebrate the beauty of self-expression.

Bring your curiosity, your imagination, and your heart!

• SUPPLIES
  Also bring your journal! We recommend this 8.5 x 11 blank page sketchbook.
  We also recommend getting a copy of The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. You can order a used copy from Ebay or Amazon for about $5.

Alina Bettancourt is a lover of creating beauty in the world through art. She enjoys creating with different media, and her favorite is loose watercolor painting. She is a retired marriage-family therapist (MFT), a physical fitness trainer, developer of BIW (a meditative exercise program), and recently is a certified Primal Reflex Release Technique practitioner (PRRT). Alina is a mother of 6 grown kids and 13 grandchildren. She lives a quiet cabin life in Clearwater, Idaho, fully enjoying many winter hours of guilt-free painting.