I am a lover of the alive line - pencil, pen, brush and word -
of expression, connection and communication in all its forms.

It all began with the alphabet. My fascination with letters led me to calligraphy, book making, big brush gestures and collaborative performance art.

Illustrated journaling and visual blogging have also offered fresh and immediate ways to engage.

I invite you to explore the lines of connection offered here.

May they awaken the aliveness within us all.

 

Upcoming Workshops

Compassionate Brush : Calligraphy & Communication Practice

Saturday, March 15th , 2025
2:00 - 5:00 pm

Making a mark, with brush and ink, brings vision down to earth, through the body, onto the page. The practice of Nonviolent Communication is also a grounding act. How we speak can come from our embodied awareness and create connection with ourselves and others. Working with large horsehair brushes and buckets of ink, we will explore this interweaving of silence and form, space and body, aloneness and connection through brush stroke and dialogue. 

at The Kiva, MaMA, Marbletown Multi Arts
3588 Main St. Stone Ridge NY

Hosted by the Holistic Health Community

For more information and to register

The Voice of the Brush
Line / Stroke / Word

May 16-18 , 2025

Come explore the range of expression of the Chinese brush. 

Beginning with the grounding straight line practice (ichi), a seated experience of Tai Chi Chuan, we will move to big strokes, big brushes and buckets of ink, held and guided by the principles of heaven, earth and human. In the end our unique handwriting will carry the distilled voice of haiku, opening and revealing the moment. No previous art experience needed. Only the willingness to take a leap. 

Karme Choling Meditation Center
Barnet, Vermont

For more information and to register


Ongoing Monthly Events

Circle Practice:
Strengthening the Heart

See No Enemy / Hear What Matters:
The Practice of Nonviolent Communication

The Flow Game:
A Way to Find Clarity Together

For more details go to Workshops


Barbara Bash is now offering her services as a mediator
working with individuals, families, schools & teams on zoom and in person.

For more details go to Mediation | NVC


Art Available

Giclée prints of original art available for sale !

Go to Expressive Writing and Children’s Books in the Gallery section to see Giclée and Original Art for sale.

Visit True Nature : A Visual Blog

Painting - Playing - Moving Here are some images that emerged from my recent visit to Halifax at the Creative Music Workshop.

I have been writing these for the past year, often just after waking.
It has become a way to tune in to the world - and myself. 
The 5 - 7 - 5 syllable constraint has been satisfying to play within.
Then I began to add a brushstroke. 

 

I write and illustrate for children because I trust the process of gathering these stories, in all their complexity, and then distilling them down to what is essential. That's what children see.

 

Go to Videos

Over the years I have collaborated with musicians, dancers and storytellers in performance. I am the visual voice, responding to the moment. leaving mysterious tracks behind.