~ Marcia Streithorst
“After working with Deborah Young at her Soulful heART Studio in Rolesville NC and looking through some of her journals, I learned that having an intention when you first begin a journal is a great idea. So, thanks to Deborah for inspiring me to start a journal with my intention to learn how to use gouache medium. Journaling provides a place for me to play, experiment, and be creative with new art media. I love learning about gouache and how it acts like oil paints in the way you can layer colors. It is water soluble so it can be opened back up with water to create really thin washes or very opaque colors. I love journaling because it’s the one place where I do art just for me. Not worrying about the finished product or if people ever see it. I also use journaling to work on painting ideas and play with color palettes. When journaling I feel excited and FREE… just letting the paint fly. I decided to paint one or two pages a day in my journal using gouache paints and now 44 paintings later I have a journal filled for the first time. Looking at these paintings makes me HAPPY and I can see just how much I have learned along the way.”
~ Antoinette McClanahan Johnson
“Oh my goodness what a joyful ride it was to participate in many of Deborah’s Expressive Art Workshops! It such a pleasure and a treat to enter into the magical experience she provides for all her students often combining nature elements in her teaching. She leaves no detail uncovered in preparing for her workshops and is always available to assist anyone with questions. I had so much FUN creating and her skills at guided meditation is phenomenal. Thank you Deborah, I could attend your workshops again and again!”
~ Donna Compton
“I was introduced to the JOY of journaling at Deborah’s Rest – Renew -Restore lake retreat. She demonstrated expressive arts techniques using ink spray, paints, stencils, stamps, markers and collaged items which added texture to each page. The next morning during my devotion with a light rain falling and quiet all around I decided I would journal through the book of Psalms which I was studying at the time. One hundred and fifty chapters seemed a bit daunting, but I knew it was the direction I wanted to take. My journal pages began to flow with scripture and art from my soul. Shortly after working on early pages… I decided the completed journal would be a special graduation gift for my wonderful granddaughter. After setting this intention, creating my journal pages took on a brand new meaning. On some pages I began using my own words writing down lessons I’d learned during my life journey. Sharing these life lessons in the journal became a love letter to my granddaughter who was beginning her own journey into adulthood. In the middle of my journal process, I found a beautifully illustrated adult coloring book on Psalms. This book inspired my inner child to come out and play… by coloring, cutting and collaging THESE beautifully nature themed items into my journal. It was so much fun using my own unique mark making doodle designs and adding watercolor paint made each journal page come alive. Creating this journal provided so much joy in my heart and I was a bit sad arriving at the end of Psalms because I had loved the entire journaling process. It is my prayer that the words of the Psalmist, and my life lessons shared with my art/illustrations will touch the heart of my granddaughter reminding her always of my love. I also gifted her a blank JOURNAL so she could begin her own journaling process writing about what touches her soul in her life.”
~ Allison Crow
“I just loved participating in Deborah’s Expressive Arts Creative Workshops. She holds SPACE so tenderly, and is generous and open with her instructions and supplies. When I create in her workshops, a fresh JOY comes alive in me! I love the beautiful prayer flag I created and I’m so thankful to have had the opportunity to work with this loving, creative magician!”
~ Beth Andrews
“Deborah is a gifted Expressive Arts leader. She constructs her workshops and retreats with an immaculate attention to detail and, the care she takes in preparing for her students is palpable. She has wonderful ideas that ignite my creative spirit! As a facilitator, Deborah brings a joyful and loving presence to participants. I have basked in her compassionate spirit when she is teaching and, I’m always surprised by its sweetness. Do not hesitate to sign up for one of Deborah’s classes, workshops, or retreats… I highly recommend it!”
~ Lisa Fite DeYoung
“Deborah had me when I arrived at her Expressive Arts Workshop with her sweet, southern accent… and, there is a deep, richness and exuberant joy inside of her. She ALWAYS takes me on a journey to a magical place in nature, and the experience has a lyrical flow. Thank you so much Deborah!”
~ Cathy Osborne
“Deborah has a sweet, angelic presence and provides a SAFE and spacious container for her participants to experience her magic. I always know that when participating in one of Deborah’s Expressive Arts Workshops, I’m in for a unique, exciting, creative experience that will resonate with my very soul!”
~ Pat Taylor
“What a pleasure to be in the beautiful flowing presence of Deborah. With a lightness of touch she imparts her wisdom. Her warm and generous spirit is so powerful and strong. What fun to indulge oneself in any creative experience she facilitates for her students. Her abundance of supplies in her Expressive Arts Workshops and her masterful guidance is provided with love and permission for everyone to enter their own creative imagination.”
~ Lynn Hanford-Day
“Deborah embodies LOVE and she brings me immense joy through her presence as well as her teaching style. Her Expressive Arts Workshops are well planned and have an abundance of incredible supplies. She delivers pitch perfect meditations. Deborah facilitates the intuitive process painting experience with a light touch whilst celebrating and affirming your work.”
~ Donna Fromm
“Deborah’s presence radiates joy and creative freedom. She provides a SAFE SPACE that welcomes students to be playful, joyful and creative! Her Expressive Arts Workshops reflected her own process of transformation and cultivated and nurtured the space for me to celebrate and continue my own metamorphosis.”
~ Theresa Worth
“Had such an amazing time at Deborah’s Soulful heART Painting Event! Such a wonderful, relaxing place for a retreat in this beautiful, peaceful environment. I enjoyed meeting new friends and having the opportunity to experience using my intuition. Getting in touch with my inner creative artist reaching towards the surface of my soul… by letting my heart express my feelings so I could transfer them using paint. WOW! I loved this healing intuitive process painting experience… and, Deborah was a great facilitator!”
~ Marie Lawrence
“Deborah’s Soulful heART Painting Retreat was just what I needed! It did not involve learning techniques. She guided us to experience how process painting can be expressive of our feelings. It was relaxing and healing to follow our energy when painting. Circle time helped us connect with our group. The food was delicious, and the golf cart rides around the gorgeous farm and lake energized us. Deborah is encouraging and compassionate. Her retreat is a wonderful way to get immersed in expressive arts and the intuitive process painting!”
~ Lorraine Stephenson
“I recommend Deborah’s Soulful heART Studio to anyone interested in expressive arts. This was me stepping out of my comfort zone to do something I’ve never done before. Her stress free creative environment was fun and relaxing. The Young Farm where her studio is located is a tranquil place where your spirit can thrive. No art experience is necessary for a wonderful creative time!”
~ Lisa Fields
“I love Deborah Young and her Soulful heART Studio. She creates an open, loving, kind and gentle atmosphere to explore ones own art groove! I can't say enough good about her and the space she holds for artists old and new to find the way back into their own creative imagination."
~ Jennifer Murray
“I had a wonderful experience with Deborah Young at an Expressive Arts Intuitive Process Painting Event. The day was quiet, reflective, creative, and soul nurturing for my feminine soul. I felt as though I truly escaped and retreated to my quiet center where I feel nurtured and loved. The beautiful peaceful environment was welcoming and supportive for artistic endeavors!”
