Perfectionism is fear in disguise. How many times have you wanted to do something but told yourself the timing wasn't right or you didn't have enough time? Maybe if ___ happened or ____ then you could begin. Oftentimes, I find the most difficult part with something new is to begin. If we could allow ourselves to just begin, then the rest will unfold. We don't have to be experts to begin.
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I’m currently reading Julia Cameron's newest book, The Listening Path. When she teaches, she cues her students to make a list of 10 fill in the blanks. Each one begins with- If it didn't have to do it perfectly, I’d try ____.
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My very first thought was paint. I would paint. Thinking of all of the things I would do if they didn't have to be perfect was profound and gave me a lot to journal about. Think of all the things we hold back from in fear of not being good enough. We are depriving ourselves of the very things that will make us thrive!
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Let's be brave together and show up and do the work...whatever that work may be.
The Snow Fairy
An important and key part to being an artist is to practice, play, and be hands on. We learn and grow by doing.
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Begin before you feel ready to. It’s no secret, we’re going to experience failures. We’re going to make bad art. There is no exception to that. It’s a rite of passage. It happens to us all, myself included.
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We are going to fail, but we’re going to learn. Be open to the lessons of your failures. Listen to them and study them as if they were sacred secrets. Become receptive. Crack open and let the ideas flow in that are unique to your self-expression.
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It’s in the experience where the magic happens. The doing. Going into a shoot with an open mind and allowing the outcome to unfold before you is where creativity thrives.
The Apple Orchards
Everybody has a secret world inside of them. I mean everybody. All of the people in the whole world, I mean everybody — no matter how dull and boring they are on the outside. Inside them they've all got unimaginable, magnificent, wonderful, stupid, amazing worlds... Not just one world. Hundreds of them. Thousands, maybe.
Neil Gaiman
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Here is the second location from the other day. If you zoom in you’ll see my fingers are as red as the falling apple. No editing there. It was freezing! I have Raynaud’s Syndrome and normally my fingers and toes turn pure white and go numb even while being inside of my house. I reached a new level of cold that day. Does anyone else have Raynaud’s? My daughter plays ice hockey so I have an endless supply of hand and toe warmers!
Fantasy {Self-Portrait}
Fantasy is storytelling with the beguiling power to transform the impossible into the imaginable, and to reveal our own “real” world in a fresh and truth-bearing light.
Leonard S. Marcus
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In my Instagram stories I asked which location you would like to see first from a recent shoot. Here is the location with the most votes.
What’s everyone up to today? Here in NJ we are having a snow day. Is there anything more magical that newly fallen snow? ❄️
Seeker {Lensbaby Self-Portraits)
Seeker🕯
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Earlier this week, I shot these self-portrait in my backyard using my Lensbaby Velvet 56. Since @lensbabyusa lenses are manual focus lenses, I needed something to focus on in the place where I would be standing. I used a dress form complete with a wig and mask on it to stand in my place. I use this because it is similar in size and height to me. Once I grabbed my focus, I was able to place a stick on the ground where I would be standing and move the dress form out of the frame.
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Have a question? Comment or DM me! Here’s the link for Lensbaby’s site. Be sure to use the code wsharon for a 10% discount on your next Lensbaby purchase!
Sony a7riii | Velvet 56 | 1/250 | f/2 | ISO 100
Lensbaby Ambassador
Lensbaby Ambassador!
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It’s official! I have joined the @lensbabyusa team as part of their Ambassador program. I have been using Lensbaby lenses for several years now. If you’ve taken my Expressive Self Portraiture class you know that I love using Lensbaby lenses throughout my self-portraiture work. If you’ve taken my other class, The Art of Authenticity, then you know that my macro work primarily consists of Lensbaby work. Nothing can compare!
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So what does this mean? I will be sharing more behind the scenes and details of my Lensbaby work and why I love working with these unique lenses. I also have a discount code for YOU! Feel free to DM me any time with any questions about Lensbaby or my process.
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You can follow this LINK to their website and use the code wsharon to save 10% on all regular price purchases.
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This self-portrait was taken with the Lensbaby Composer Pro II and the Sweet 50 optic.
Once Upon a Time- The Creative Weaver
Once upon a time
A girl weaved a magical story
Though art.
And then another, and another,
And another,
She created from her heart.
These spells held heartache,
Love, turmoil, enchantment,
Good vs evil,
Darkness and light.
They held wishes, dreams,
Memories,
Creating them was her right.
My new email challenge, The Creative Weaver, is coming soon! To be the first to know, sign up for my email list or reach out to me at sharon@sharoncovert.com .
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How to Be a Creative Weaver - New Email Challenge Coming Soon!
How to be a Creative Weaver
Create uncensored,
Write for your eyes only,
But share it.
Believe in magic,
Truly believe.
Hand the reins over to your inner child,
Gift her the space she needs to create.
Allow her to craft a magical mess!
Read one hundred books,
Read some more.
Walk in the woods,
Talk to the animals.
Collect treasures from nature,
Feathers, acorns, bones, mushrooms, rocks.
Look up at the sky,
Take a deep breath,
Deeper.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Consult the cards, self-reflection,
Follow your heart and intuition,
Trust it knows the way.
You are a Creative Weaver.
My new 10-day email challenge, The Creative Weaver, is coming soon! Email me with any questions!
New Email Challenge! The Creative Weaver
As a young child, I was always drawn to fairytales. I would lose myself in faraway lands as I listened to my grandmother read magical stories to me. 📖📚
It's no surprise that I thread pieces of these tales throughout my work along with other magical elements. ✨
I'm so excited to announce a new 10-day email challenge that I am creating for you.
The Creative Weaver. 🌙
In The Creative Weaver, we will draw our inspiration from Fairytales, the Tarot, Mythology, Folklore, Archetypes, Personal Symbolism vs. Universal Symbolism, Journaling, and more. 💫🌛🥀🦄🐻🐰🦊🐺🔮⚔️
If you sign up for my newsletter you'll receive early access to sign up. You can also learn more here and on Instagram (@sharoncovertphotography) over the next couple of weeks. 🔮
Let's weave magic and enchantment throughout our imagery together!
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Turn Your Stories into Art
I haven’t been on social media much lately.
Life’s mishaps have decided 2020 is their year.
I recently wrapped up my latest round of Expressive Self Portraiture and I’m feeling grateful for the women it brought into my life.
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I spent some time writing today and putting into words what my class focus is on. It came down to this- I help teach women to process their emotions and life experiences through art and creativity so that they have a healing outlet through self-expression.
I have a new appreciation for the story behind a self-portrait and what goes into it. How brave these women are to share pieces of themselves in this way. It’s so easy to quickly judge another person and what they choose to share with others. What we often forget is that we are multifaceted beings with layer upon layer of life on us.
We are each living our own version of a shared story.
A collective.
Learning to read self-portraiture is an art form. It’s such an intricate story no matter how the image may look on the outside. A person’s life experiences help shape and form each and every one.
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These are just my thoughts and ramblings for the day. Be kind to one another. Support each other. ♥️
“It Began in August” {Self-Portrait}
Carry the Light {Self-Portraits}
There have been several new faces around here recently so I thought I’d tell you a little about what I do. 🤗
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I’m a conceptual fine art self-portrait artist. I create the bulk of my outdoor work using only the natural light available to me right here in my backyard. My indoor work is made in a small spare room in my home with a window for my light source. My editing process consists primarily of Lightroom and Exposure Software and does not involve compositing.
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I created and teach a 4-week online class called Expressive Self Portraiture where I walk you through my process step by step. I guide and support you on your own self-portraiture journey. We dig deep to get to the core of why we feel drawn to creating this type of work. We learn and put into use many different techniques to allow us options in our self-expression. I go over my editing process. There are weekly lessons to read, assignments, editing videos, behind the scenes videos, and more.
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Our stories are what heals us and others. Our expression of our stories is our medicine. The process is cathartic. The outcome is freeing. Self-portraiture is an opportunity to tell your story, rewrite a new one, learn who you are, and are not. The camera is your tool that reveals your soul. This work strips you down to your core. It’s not easy, but the healing and self-discovery that comes out of this medium are profound and life-changing.
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If this sparks any curiosity or interest in you, feel free to email me with any questions. During our time together you will have my guidance and support, but you will have continued support long after the class has ended. You can learn more and read testimonials from past students by visiting
https://www.sharoncovert.com/classes
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The Hermit
Art has taught me that it’s okay to be different.
Art had allowed me the freedom of self-expression.
I do things my own way.
I create from the inner guidance of my own voice.
I march to the beat of my own internal drum.
Guided down my path by my own light and vision, I learn through my solitude that I can form connections with others through creating.
Recently, I have shared self-portraits that I made while teaching and being a student of my own class, Expressive Self-Portraiture. This is the first time I decided to be a student and do the work alongside my students. It really helped to keep my creative flow during these difficult times. I am so grateful for the amazing and brave women creatives who continue to join me!
🕯The Hermit {Self-Portrait} 🕯
Protective Bubble
Connecting Through Art
Self-portraiture gives me a sense of freedom and control. Turning to creativity and art during this distressing time has provided me with both an escape and a feeling of grounding.
Sharing and connecting through our art is more important now than ever before. How can I support you? Let’s support one another and hold space for each other.
Art is My Voice
“If we but look at the shadows we cast, we see that they are not two-legged human shadows but the lovely shapes of a something free and wild.” - Clarissa Pinkola Estes
As an introvert and someone who suffers from social anxiety, I tend to go within and isolate myself for long periods. While this may feel safe, it can also lead to feelings of loneliness and being overlooked.
Self-expression is so vital to being and feeling alive. I used to think that having a voice meant I had to verbalize my thoughts, feelings, and opinions.
Art is my voice.
What is your preferred form of self-expression?
The Wolf
Unleash your creativity.
Play.
Make mistakes.
Make a lot of mistakes.
Learn from them.
Get dirty.
Let go of perfectionism.
Experiment.
Share with others so they may be inspired to act on their creative sparks.
Think you’re not creative enough?
Think again.
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Who Are You?
It takes courage to break away from the norm and to be different than what’s expected of you. It can show up in different areas of your life. Art is just one way.
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Being different and unique is being yourself. In what ways and areas of your life does is show up strongest for you? For me, it’s in my self-expression. Being able to create freely without expectations and exceptions is so important to me. Once I began to overcome this hurdle, my artistic vision grew wildly.
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Being different can feel like an outsider looking in, but it’s also an opportunity to create your own world and how you see it. Do you dare to be different in a world where fitting in is so valued? 🎭
***Registration for my class, Expressive Self Portraiture, is opening soon! DM me with any questions.***
Expressive Self Portraiture Coming Soon
I’ve always felt different and like an outsider looking in. Creating my art has given me community and support. Some of you have watched my journey unfold for years in this space. You’ve seen me fail and witnessed me succeed. You’ve watched my story unfold and my vision develop and change over time. I’ve gone from being silent to having a voice.
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Creating art has given me my voice and provided me with healing. Now, I’d love nothing more than to help guide and support you on your own personal journey with this medium.
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Self Portraiture demands so much from us. It forces us to see things we’d rather not at times. With the right tools in hand, we can reap the many positive benefits of this type of inner work.
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I’m opening up my class, Expressive Self Portraiture, soon. I’m not going to lie, I’m scared! This is my first time teaching it on my own and not through a school. I’m so ready though.
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Stay tuned for details and if you have any questions at all, email me. I’m an open book 📖 sharoncovertphotography@gmail.com
Justice
Sometimes all we need is permission. Permission to change our minds. To create what we want. To change our careers. To call ourselves artists. To write the book. To tell the truth. To share our truth. Permission to heal. To let go of our guilt. To forgive ourselves. To do the thing that scares us most.
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This is me giving you permission.
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I’m going to be opening up registration for my class, Expressive Self Portraiture, soon. I’ve made some updates to it and it will have a new price as well. If you’re looking for a place where you can fully be YOU and find new ways and tools to express yourself, look no further. I will be there to guide and support you every step of the way for 4 weeks. After that, we will continue our journey together and support each other in a private forum. I’m so excited!
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Justice {Self-Portrait}
The High Priestess
I’ve been staying small lately and it leaves me feeling unsettled. I’ve never liked change before and I’ve been faced with my fair share recently. I’m questioning my worth, my abilities, my intuition and judgement.
Self-portraiture has been my lifeline, my remedy to what ails me for several years now. When my Expressive Self Portraiture class was just a dream there weren’t many artists who focused on self-portraits. I was told there wasn’t enough need for it. The audience wasn’t large enough.
The thing is, I’m not looking for a large audience. What I do needs to be in a small space that’s safe. That’s where the magic takes place. That’s where wounds are opened and tended to in order to begin the healing process. It’s where we fall apart and unravel only to pick ourselves up whole again. Stronger. We walk the creative path together as equals.
I will soon be offering new ways to connect with me and to be a part of my updated class. Oftentimes, change is good. I will embrace the unknown and continue to create and use my voice to advocate for this type of self-expression in art. Thank you to each and every one of you who has stood by me and shown your support.
The High Priestess 🌛🌝🌜
The Moon
The Moon 🌙
She’s about darkness and illumination and finding that balance. She’s about enchantment and reality and the in-between. She’s about uncovering what was right there in front of her the whole time. She’s about learning to see both here and now, and in her dreams. She’s learning to lean in and trust her intuitive nature. It’s always been there. She doesn’t realize the true depth of the power she holds, but that will come in time. She ebbs and flows and dances to the rhythm of her own heart. ♥️