An art practice on how to find yourself and your calling. Based on drawing in the style of Korean monochrome art dansaekhwa and the Japanese philosophy of ikigai .
WHAT IS
"MONOCHROME
OF MEANING"?
"MONOCHROME
OF MEANING"?
This is a masterclass that gives you the opportunity to turn off your head for a while and let your body talk to you through paper or canvas, revealing your true, inner "I".
To do this, you draw in a certain technique (even if you can't draw), which allows you to loosen control and open access to the unconscious. After all, it is in the unconscious that most of the answers are found. And this is where your ikigai begins.
Learn about the formats To do this, you draw in a certain technique (even if you can't draw), which allows you to loosen control and open access to the unconscious. After all, it is in the unconscious that most of the answers are found. And this is where your ikigai begins.
For those who have lost their meaning in life and their points of support. When chaos reigns and there's no understanding of where to run or what to do.
For those with a creative block. You need to move forward, but ideas and inspiration are nowhere to be found.
For those in a state of uncertainty after relocating. When the old is gone, and the new hasn't arrived yet.
For those tired of comparing themselves to others. When you don't have your own path, and all attempts to follow others' roads leave an aftertaste of falsehood.
For those running from themselves. There is no self-acceptance, and your own achievements and talents seem minuscule and not worth sharing with the world.
For those who want to combine what they love with what provides stability. When you have many talents and interests, but your head is foggy and you don't know how to turn these assets into a cohesive activity.
For those who have hit a "ceiling" in their career and are looking for a new direction. You feel you've outgrown your current role, are capable of more, but don't know where to direct your energy and talents.
For those with a creative block. You need to move forward, but ideas and inspiration are nowhere to be found.
For those in a state of uncertainty after relocating. When the old is gone, and the new hasn't arrived yet.
For those tired of comparing themselves to others. When you don't have your own path, and all attempts to follow others' roads leave an aftertaste of falsehood.
For those running from themselves. There is no self-acceptance, and your own achievements and talents seem minuscule and not worth sharing with the world.
For those who want to combine what they love with what provides stability. When you have many talents and interests, but your head is foggy and you don't know how to turn these assets into a cohesive activity.
For those who have hit a "ceiling" in their career and are looking for a new direction. You feel you've outgrown your current role, are capable of more, but don't know where to direct your energy and talents.
WHAT WILL YOU GET AS A RESULT?
Reduced anxiety and stress. Immersion in a meditative creative process calms the mind and helps to reveal hidden reserves.
A new source of energy. You will discover what truly ignites you. Understanding this will give you the energy to bring it to life. You will act from a state of flow, not exhaustion or need.
A clearer horizon : You will have a starting point for the next stage of your life and career, based not on others' advice, but on your understanding of yourself.
A new source of energy. You will discover what truly ignites you. Understanding this will give you the energy to bring it to life. You will act from a state of flow, not exhaustion or need.
A clearer horizon : You will have a starting point for the next stage of your life and career, based not on others' advice, but on your understanding of yourself.
A unique art object . You will create a work of art that will become a visual map of your inner world and a source of inspiration.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
- Stage 1. We get to know each other and during a brief free consultation we find out if we can be useful to each other. We discuss the request, benchmarks and expectations from the art practice.
Stage 2. A day or two before the session, I will send you a short questionnaire to fill out . This is the starting point for analyzing the current situation and determining what we will be working with.
Stage 3. Art practice. It consists of 6 points:- Attunement. A short meditation and preparation.
- Context. An explanation of the dansaekhwa principle and its context within the practice.
- Choice of technique. Choosing the technique and drawing method that is closest to you from the proposed methods and tools.
- Drawing. The stage is divided into several parts and includes a sequence of actions and layers for working with the selected techniques.
- Reflection. Recording insights and sensations that arose during the practice.
- Extracting meanings. A list of practical steps based on a synthesis of analysis and the experience gained during the drawing process. This is what you will transfer into everyday reality to realize the request with which you came to the practice.
After the art practice, you will have the option to receive accountability support (see FAQ).
This is a separate service in which I accompany and support the client in the process of implementing practical steps and reducing the chance of failure on the way to the goal.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
My name is Alec, I am an art director, designer, and storyteller from Ukraine. I currently live and work in Portugal.
For over 16 years, I have been creating brands, objects, and visual stories that merge design, art, and technology. Since 2020, I have been leading practices dedicated to finding oneself and one's calling through art and the Japanese philosophy of ikigai.
I began my journey to myself over 9 years ago when I faced complete burnout, a change in priorities and meanings after losing the family business in the field of travel accessories. It was then that I realized that the most important thing had been lost - my own "I".
Years of searching were spent on forming my own system for finding balance and a way out of a dead end through art and meditation. Today, based on this system, I conduct personal art practices both online and offline, with an emphasis on working in an individual format.
FORMATS
90 min.
PERSONAL Online
Personal online practice. Up to 1.5 hours.
Personal online practice. Up to 1.5 hours.
€150
120 min.
PERSONAL Offline
Personal offline practice in a studio or open-air. Up to 2 hours.
Personal offline practice in a studio or open-air. Up to 2 hours.
€280
90 min.
GROUP Online
Group online practice (up to 6 people). Up to 1.5 hours.
Group online practice (up to 6 people). Up to 1.5 hours.
€75
150 min.
GROUP Offline
Group practice (up to 6 people) in a studio or open-air. Up to 2.5 hours.
Group practice (up to 6 people) in a studio or open-air. Up to 2.5 hours.
€145
From 1 day
IMMERSIVE
Personal offline practice in an immersive format. Involves a trip to a pre-arranged location. Involves detailed work on the request and the creation of an individual atmosphere. Including elements of gamification of the experience.
Personal offline practice in an immersive format. Involves a trip to a pre-arranged location. Involves detailed work on the request and the creation of an individual atmosphere. Including elements of gamification of the experience.
On request
GIFT CERTIFICATE
Gift certificates are available for any of the art practice formats with an activation period of up to 2 months. You can get more detailed information at a consultation.
FAQ
We use art not to teach you how to draw, but as a meditation and a technique for finding hidden layers. Simple, repetitive movements and working with texture help to bypass the inner critic and gain access to intuitive answers. The ability to draw is not required. Our goal is not the picture as a result, but the process as a tool for dialogue with oneself. The less experience you have, the freer your self-expression will be.
The choice of Korean monochrome art dansaekhwa as the direction of the art practice is not accidental. This art emerged in Korea during a difficult historical period as a way for the nation to cope with trauma and find a new identity. Its philosophy deeply resonates with the experience of many people going through personal transformations, relocations, and global changes. This is, in fact, what is happening now in Ukraine.
Its principles are universal tools for self-regulation and introspection. The very essence of this art involves concentrating on the process, and not just on the result. Which fits perfectly into the meditative concept and work with the subconscious and the inner world.
Its principles are universal tools for self-regulation and introspection. The very essence of this art involves concentrating on the process, and not just on the result. Which fits perfectly into the meditative concept and work with the subconscious and the inner world.
Art practice is not psychotherapy; I do not work with deep past traumas. And it is not classic coaching, as instead of external goals, I prefer to help explore values and meanings, adding a unique third element - art as a way of directly living the experience.
Perceive this more as a new experience, rather than as therapy or coaching. This will lead to the formation of new neural connections, and you will definitely be able to learn something from it.
Perceive this more as a new experience, rather than as therapy or coaching. This will lead to the formation of new neural connections, and you will definitely be able to learn something from it.
Forget the popular Venn diagram in the context of this practice. We will explore ikigai as the Japanese art of finding joy and meaning in everyday actions. It's not about finding a single "calling," but about building a meaningful life "here and now," based on your true values, not on the expectations of others.
For those who prefer the path of logic and analytics, I have a separate service "Assemblage point" , which is based on creating your personal profile with a detailed elaboration of every aspect of your personality in co-authorship with a consultant in the field of data analysis and mathematics from MIT and an archetypal psychologist.
For those who prefer the path of logic and analytics, I have a separate service "Assemblage point" , which is based on creating your personal profile with a detailed elaboration of every aspect of your personality in co-authorship with a consultant in the field of data analysis and mathematics from MIT and an archetypal psychologist.
The online practice takes place remotely via Zoom/WhatsApp. You independently select the art materials you will work with during the practice according to my recommendations, depending on their availability in your region or at home.
In the offline format, I select the materials and location myself. The practice can be held in an art studio, your home, or a location in nature (ocean shore, forest, etc.). The choice of materials is an important part, and I usually use professional tools and materials (paints, pastels, pencils) from the French brand Senellier, and the American brands Liquitex and Daniel Smith. For paper and canvases, I use Fabriano (Italy) and Hahnemühle (Germany). Professional tools have a significant difference in quality compared to amateur ones, and the tactile sensations from using them are perceived completely differently. This directly affects how the participant feels the drawing process.
The sound environment (background music) also matters. In the online format, you choose it based on recommendations, or use tracks from our playlist, which has been formed based on many practices. In the offline format, I select the sound background for the location myself.
Communication during the process is deeper in the offline format than in the online one. Clients often note a deeper level of engagement in working through the request and the emergence of a synesthesia effect, when the spectrum of sensations can "turn on" additional facets of perception and experiences.
Thus, the main difference between online and offline is the degree of immersion in the process.
In the offline format, I select the materials and location myself. The practice can be held in an art studio, your home, or a location in nature (ocean shore, forest, etc.). The choice of materials is an important part, and I usually use professional tools and materials (paints, pastels, pencils) from the French brand Senellier, and the American brands Liquitex and Daniel Smith. For paper and canvases, I use Fabriano (Italy) and Hahnemühle (Germany). Professional tools have a significant difference in quality compared to amateur ones, and the tactile sensations from using them are perceived completely differently. This directly affects how the participant feels the drawing process.
The sound environment (background music) also matters. In the online format, you choose it based on recommendations, or use tracks from our playlist, which has been formed based on many practices. In the offline format, I select the sound background for the location myself.
Communication during the process is deeper in the offline format than in the online one. Clients often note a deeper level of engagement in working through the request and the emergence of a synesthesia effect, when the spectrum of sensations can "turn on" additional facets of perception and experiences.
Thus, the main difference between online and offline is the degree of immersion in the process.
The accountability service is a post-practice follow-up where the client regularly reports on their actions, fulfillment of agreements, and progress towards goals. The idea is that a person achieves goals faster and more consistently when they have an "external observer" who:
- reminds them of their commitments;
- tracks their progress;
- asks questions that help maintain focus;
- maintains motivation;
- helps to adjust actions when deviating from the plan.
- It increases discipline (it's harder to "give up" or procrastinate when you know you have to report tomorrow).
- It provides an external stimulus (even if motivation drops, "I promised - I'll do it").
- It accelerates the achievement of goals, as constant feedback is created.
Over the entire time of working within the practice system, a fairly large amount of data and stories has been accumulated, which are based on real situations. Everything matters here: from your choice of color, materials, hatching methods, shapes, images, and their interpretations. In combination with analytics, this provides a good basis for further work after the masterclass. You will have a reference plan. A kind of document that becomes an "activator" of change. This provides a basic understanding of which direction to move in next. So it's not just about "drawings". It's about what the subconscious layer brings to the canvas or paper and the interpretation of it.
This art practice is for those who want a fairly deep immersion in the process of self-knowledge. I, in fact, create a personal project for the client, within which they live an experience beyond the usual format. As a rule, this is a trip to certain locations (ski resorts, eco-farms, wine quintas, etc.), where the program is designed in such a way as to alternate outdoor activities (skiing, cycling, trekking) with practices in a closed space (gastronomic experience, conversations, art practices). In some cases, gamification elements in the style of ARG (Alternate reality game) may be added, which add a new spectrum of client experiences to create the effect of multichannel impact on all senses. This leads to going beyond the ordinary and forms conditions in which the client can have their own, new insights and understanding of the boundaries of themselves and their capabilities. This service is based on my experience of creating immersive reality games for private clients and corporate groups from 2005 to 2008.
READY TO START?
Everything you need is already inside you. "Monochrome of Meaning" is not a magic pill, but a tool to access it.
Still have questions? Sign up for a free consultation, and I will select the optimal format for your request.
Sign up for a consultation Still have questions? Sign up for a free consultation, and I will select the optimal format for your request.
