The Conscious Human: Flow With the Elements of Art

Valerie Ann Flamini

Jul 2024 · Little Flame LLC

About this ebook

Researcher and educator of the arts Dr. Valerie Flamini is your expert guide for meaningful conscious experiences. Her research in the areas of flow theory and mindfulness revealed ways to foster elevated conscious experiences with the arts. This book may be useful to the typical person who appreciates the arts as well as those who are creators and performers of art. The chapters in this book progress from a novice approach of mindfulness during artistic engagement to activities which require more conscious control and creative output. A variety of activities are included such as sound meditation, crafting, and even cloud gazing! Chapters are rich with examples and context. Da Vinci to the Grateful Dead will inspire meaningful experiences with personalized intention. The idea is for the reader to build skills of conscious control necessary for optimum experiences as they progress through the guide. As a result, the reader may be able to foster flow in everyday activities by exercising the necessary skills in a pleasurable way, through art! Acquiring these skills may bring more enjoyment and general happiness to your everyday experiences.  

Inside you will discover:

~ Researched skills for bringing more flow to your daily experiences.

~ Engaging narrative about art, architecture, and music including context for indigenous, ancient, and modern artistic practices.

~ Encouraging ways to bring more self-awareness, compassion, conscious control, somatic awareness, and mindfulness to any creative endeavor.  

About the author

Dr. Valerie Flamini is an educator, musician, conductor, researcher, and author of the arts. Through the years she has educated children and adults in multiple subject areas including music, pre-service teacher education, theatre, dance, visual arts and architecture. Dr. Flamini is currently an instructor and content expert for the College of Arts and Architecture at The Pennsylvania State University where she co-authored the text for Introduction to International Arts. Valerie is also the creator, vocal coach, and mindfulness coach for creative endeavors at Sohum Studio in Central Pennsylvania. Flamini’s research interests include engaging children with emotional and behavioral challenges, creative instructional approaches, and conscious experiences with artistic endeavors such as flow theory and mindfulness.

As an educator and artist, Flamini has received awards and distinctions such as Teacher of the Year in Georgia public schools, Demonstration Teacher at Georgia Southern University, and for conducting performing ensembles at multiple national festivals. In addition, Valerie was recognized by the American Red Cross as a Community Impact Hero for the Susquehanna Valley Youth Chorale’s Sandy Hook Memorial Video in 2014.

Valerie Flamini received her bachelor’s degree in music education at Georgia Southern University and completed additional study at the Bayerische Musikakademie Marktoberdorf. Graduate studies were completed at The Pennsylvania State University where she received a masters and Ph.D. in music education.