Stewart Cubley is founder of The Institute for Art & Living, dba The Painting Experience. His work has carried him throughout the world to work with groups in a process of inner exploration using the tool of expressive painting to access the potential within the human heart and imagination. For more than three decades he has taught his unique approach to literally thousands of people at growth centers such as Esalen and Omega Institutes, multinational corporations, programs in prisons and countless other public forums. Stewart lives in Fairfax, CA. He is co-author of Life, Paint & Passion, Reclaiming the Magic of Spontaneous Expression, Tarcher/Putnam 1996. Transcript of this interview Interview recorded 11/16/2013 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction and Retreat in Alaska 00:03:58 - Early Spiritual Interests 00:08:07 - Obsessiveness and Yoga in Solitude 00:11:44 - The Compelling Force and Higher Purpose 00:15:33 - Recognizing the Potential in Approaching Painting 00:20:27 - In the Presence of Truth 00:23:56 - Exploring the Nature of Self and True Being through Painting 00:28:38 - Artistic Expression and Authority 00:32:14 - The Importance of Spontaneous Creation and Non-authority 00:36:25 - Creating Freedom in Art and Spirituality 00:41:25 - Embracing Confusion and Being Lost in the Creative Process 00:46:11 - Getting Out of Your Own Way 00:50:04 - Embracing Chaos in Art and Life 00:54:19 - The Authenticity of Being Yourself 00:59:42 - Attaining an Experience of the Self 01:04:41 - The Power of Community and Working with Difficulty 01:08:52 - The Space of Freedom 01:12:35 - Stabilizing in a More Expanded State 01:15:55 - The Evolution of Artistic Expression 01:20:39 - Wendell Berry and Deep Connectedness to the Earth 01:24:02 - The Development of Refinement 01:28:28 - Standing in Fear: Expressing and Overcoming Judgement 01:32:27 - The Importance of Emphasizing Authenticity 01:36:40 - Apprenticeship and the Power of Individual Expression 01:40:56 - Nurturing the Sadness Through Painting 01:44:46 - Dealing with Edgy Moments in Art Therapy 01:48:27 - The Influence of a Suffering Artist 01:52:22 - The Holiness of the Heart's Affections and the Truth of the Imagination 01:56:21 - Tapping into Imagination and Energy 02:00:32 - Perceiving through the Lens of Feeling 02:04:07 - Conclusion and Next Interview Announcement