A Creativity Coach.
And a Creator.
Combining Areas of Creativity
I love letting myself fall into creative endeavors, and sometimes I get to combine two or more.
In a show called “Words Live On,” I shared my own songs alongside companion-piece paintings.
(That’s me singing from behind the keyboard.)
As if that weren’t enough, the amazing Valerie Williams and Elizabeth Ferreira choreographed new works to add a contemporary dance component.
Time for a tasting.
I’ve been told so many times that I’m “brave” for sharing my creations, no matter the medium, but I just don’t see it that way.
I feel compelled to share.
And yes, it's vulnerable. It’s hard. Sometimes it hurts.
But there’s such a special satisfaction when someone is touched by what I created.
Through SONGWRITING, I lean into emotion. I take time to really feel something, to explore it, to see it from different perspectives. Often, the inspiration for a song is a short moment in time or a mood… though not what you might guess.
PAINTING is a very different way for me to play with perception and deepen connection. I especially love to mess around with color and shading.
When I want to bring joy into my life and yours, I often opt for creating CARTOON characters using watercolors and marker. I adult a lot, but here I can let that go and relish joy. Bring on the joy!
So many of the ways I create give me a much needed break from words, but I also like to paint with words through CREATIVE WRITING and POETRY.
Some of you might have difficulty swallowing the last area of creativity I want to share: RESEARCH. But really, research is a way to purposefully clarify and maybe change your POV. There are so many steps that can be playful and
Select paintings for your enjoyment.
"Let's Fly" - 18"x24" - $245
"Opening" - 18"x24" - Sold
"Beautiful Giver" - 20"x16" - $180
"Write Me a Letter" - 18"x24" - $245
"How Soon?" - 24"x30" - $285 - Photograph by Northern Star Photography & Design
"Obstruction" - 18"x24" - $245
"19 Layers" - 24"x18" - $245
"From the Cabin" - 14"x18" - Sold
"Interwoven" - 28"x24" - $245
"Words Live On" - 24"x18" - Sold - Photograph by Northern Star Photography & Design
"There's a Whisper" - 24"x30" - $285
"On a Slant" - 36"x48" - Sold - Photograph by Northern Star Photography & Design
"Light" - 24"x18" - $245
A Sampling of Illustrations.
~ @Heather.El.speth ~
Check out the latest Cartoons on Insta
~ @Heather.El.speth ~ Check out the latest Cartoons on Insta
Research.
A form of creativity. Really.
Heather Elspeth disseminates research under the name H. Ellie Wolfe (and previously Falter).
Rather than focusing on one research paradigm, they believe in letting the topic, knowledge from existing literature, and possible research questions guide research method. As such, Dr. Wolfe works in quantitative, qualitative, and arts-based methods.
Their research findings have led them to focus in the complementary realms of arts-based play and translating concepts between different arts media. It also helped them develop their approach to coaching.
Dr. Wolfe has presented their original research at state, national, and international conferences.
Hey research nerds. I see you.
That’s why I’m including a little more info about some of my research.
Enjoy!
(And if that’s not your jam and you’d rather jelly, scroll back up. Quickly!)
Select Studies
Phenomenological Examination of Symbolic Translation by Musicians
in process
Paper presented at the 2023 Colorado Music Educators Association Conference, Colorado Springs, CO
Self-examination of music methods teaching in a Reggio Emilia-inspired learning community
with co-authors Angela Munroe & Heather Waters
Paper presented at the 2019 Mountain Lake Colloquium, Pembroke, VA
First-year music education students redefine music after exploration through the Reggio Emilia-lens of the hundred languages
Poster presented at the 2019 Symposium on Music Teacher Education, Greensboro, North Carolina
Examining elementary general music teaching practices through a Reggio Emilia lens
Paper presented at the 2019 American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, Toronto, Canada
Examining elementary general music teachers’ ratings of musical vignettes
Poster and paper presented at the 2018 Early Childhood Music and Movement Association International Convention, Buffalo, NY
Supporting general music teachers incorporating musical play
Paper presented at the 2017 Mountain Lake Colloquium, Pembroke, VA
A case study of preservice music teachers’ experiences with play in a general music methods course
Paper presented at the 2018 American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, New York, NY
Influences on music exploration in a Montessori primary classroom: An instrumental case study
Paper presented at the 26th European Early Childhood Education Research Association Conference, Dublin, Ireland