Nurturing The Song Within:

Creating, And Living, A Life Of Beauty

The Heron Dance Art Studio
Art Journal and Diary / Planner.

Create work of beauty, and a life of beauty.

Nurturing The Song Within explores the inner work out of which creative work and a unique human life evolve. Artist Roderick MacIver selects key insights from hundreds of interviews he has conducted over the last thirty years of people who choose their own unique path in life, and persist through the challenges and setbacks to make their dreams real. The author digs into the lives of artists, adventurers, activists, and people who devote their lives to serving others. The book explores the murky waters of deep imagination, the friendship with one’s inner world, and how those inspire creativity. In the interviews, and through reflections on his own life, the author seeks to understand the hidden wellsprings that guide and provide the clarity and courage required This is a book about creativity and creating a unique life by someone who has done it – who has been a fulltime working artist for thirty years. Over ninety of the author’s full color paintings accompany the reflections and interview excerpts in each volume of this two-book set.

A human life is an expression of ideas, of dreams, of courage and of discipline. Or the lack thereof. A life fully lived, a unique life, grows out of something deep – the essence of a human being. It evolves out of that which is sacred inside each of us. Its exact source is difficult to explain; it can however be sensed and understood.

   “Whatever you give your heart and soul to will transform your life, whether it be creating art, sailing alone around the world, working in a refugee camp, a famous Paris restaurant or working to protect wilderness. A big life comes from giving wholeheartedly. It isn’t the easy path. It involves uncertainty. Faith. On it you will encounter failure. But it is where the deep experience of life hangs out.”
      - Roderick MacIver

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Beautiful hardcover books printed by a quality art book printer on premium paper with Smyth-sewn layflat binding.
Less expensive softcover and PDF editions are also available.

Now in stock and available for immediate shipment.

Visit here for a behind-the-scenes look at what is going on at Heron Dance,
and an update on current projects and on current thinking.

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You can view sample pages of the Art Journal here.

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Each is full color, 188 pages in length.

One two page spread per day, each containing a painting and journal prompt or reflection.

The art journal and the associated planners are designed to be used together,
but are both are also functional and useful on their own.

All are 11 x 8.5 landscape so that the PDF editions can be downloaded and printed on home computers.

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There are now a couple of payment options including four equal monthly installments. Select Afterpay on checkout.

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Weekly Zoom Meetings

Each Sunday at 7pm, Rod MacIver, Founder of Heron Dance, hosts a Zoom meeting for Heron Dance readers. All are welcome.
More here.