Ann Gonzales is the creator and facilitator of Easel Does it-Art and Recovery workshops and author of the magnificent children’s book, Beloved and the Pepper Tree. She Considers herself an artist and seeker. She talks with Jeniffer about how the idea for her book came about, the process of finding her illustrator, and how she’s built her brand with clever ideas and creative projects. Beloved and the Pepper Tree is her first book and it deals with facing change and the challenges that brings.
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ANN GONZALES IS … an author, artist, and spiritual seeker. Since 2003 she has been exploring spirituality through writing, meditating, painting, and yoga. Ann founded Ann Gonzales Art in 2014 marrying her two passions … art and healing. In 2016 she traveled to India where she had a profound spiritual awakening. It was on this trip that “Beloved and the Pepper Tree” was written in one sitting. She believes it was a “spiritual download”…a gift directly from The Divine. Since then, Beloved has taken her on a magical journey allowing her to meet people and have experiences she otherwise would not have had.
Much like the little girl in the story, Ann opened herself to receive the gift of change and the results have been extraordinary. When she is not writing Ann can be found facilitating Easel Does It – Art for Healing and Recovery workshops. These workshops use art materials, guided prompts, paint, collage, and other art mediums to help sufferers of trauma, abuse and grief give “voice” to emotions, dealing with struggles otherwise not expressed, helping them discover what their images are saying. Clarity, expression, and acceptance lead to healing. She also enjoys painting, reading and traveling. Ann lives in Southern California with her bossy cat Ziggy.
Ann has conducted monthly workshops throughout Southern California at Ohana House Sober Living, Leucadia; Green Oak Ranch, Vista; Casa Pacifica, Solana Beach; Wounded Warriors, Camp Pendleton, and Evolve, San Diego. She works with individuals and private groups in her studio and on site.