Aura Theory’s Sarah Hodge Shares How She Built a Business on LAYERS of Aura Photography and Energy Analysis

A large part of local creative entrepreneur Sarah Hodge’s business centers on leveraging energy as a means to connect, reflect and bring people together. She likens the aura, a pillar of her studies in energetic wellness, to the weather, so it’s perhaps not surprising that her Creative Mornings presentation had to be rescheduled due to a historic snowfall. A week later, Sarah and 45 of our closest friends gathered in The Garage with no snow in sight to learn more about how she LAYERS color, movement and energy as tools to inspire self-discovery and connection.

Raised in Virginia Beach, Sarah spent a large part of her young adulthood in San Diego before moving to Austin as a young adult, traveling throughout Central Texas as a nomadic artist, trailer-turned-art-store in tow! It was during her time in Austin that she discovered aura photography. Her enlightening journey began in 2017, learning from a renowned energy practitioner, an experience that allowed her to master the art of aura photography and analysis, a practice with which she fell in love.

“I fell in love with the opportunity to bring people back into their power and reflect back to them the things they may not yet see in themselves.”

In 2022, Sarah brought this passion home to Virginia Beach. Combining her background in yoga, mindfulness and creative entrepreneurship, Aura Theory was born. Since its inception, Sarah’s business has exceeded all of her expectations, having offered aura photography readings for countless individuals, corporate partners, special events and even for a handful of celebrities. Her work, she says, is all about helping people connect more deeply with themselves and with each other.

For this Creative Mornings gathering, Sarah brought in her “very Jetsons” AuraCam 6,000, which makes her aura photography possible. Impressively walking us through the biofeedback technology, science and years of research that have gone into making this practice possible, it’s clear that Sarah loves what she does – a blend of science and spirituality: her sweet spot.

After a detailed overview of all things aura photography, Sarah selected a volunteer from the audience for whom to conduct a reading within what has become Aura Theory’s iconic visual: a colorful yurt purposefully crafted to keep the experience intimate and energetically contained.

Holding up a beautifully colorful aura photograph – what she refers to as “a snapshot in time” – Sarah went on to provide a real-time reading, walking the audience through the meaning behind the colors, placements and tonalities visible in the picture. These photos, Sarah explains, are more mirror than message, sparking reflections and conversations that may not be possible without deep energetic introspection.

“Just as the human heart and the human brain both have vibrations, so too energy is physical. This is what aura photography taps into.”

Sarah sees aura photography as an extension of her ongoing exploration of the human spirit. When she’s not in her newly opened studio, Sarah can be found traveling the world over, drawing inspiration from the places and people she encounters.

Her commitment to “work in the light” and to reflect that light onto those with whom she collaborates is tangible. No doubt we all felt a little clearer-headed and energetically more open as we went about our lives that morning.

Learn more about Sarah’s work at AuraTheory.com or by following @aura.theory on Instagram. Sarah’s Aura Color Meaning Guide and Aura Color Quiz may also be found online.

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Written by CMVB volunteer blogger Valeria L. Palmertree

Join us every third Friday in 2025 as we explore, along with 236 other cities in 69 countries around the world, 12 new themes in a face-to-face community format. Past themes have included Cycle, Rhythm, Endurance, Ritual and Reflection. March’s theme is PARALLEL, and our speaker will be Valeria L. Palmertree of The Palm Tree Type.

CM also has virtual field trips and a database of previous talks to enjoy and explore at home.

Photo drop from LAYERS with Sarah Hodge of Aura Theory now on Flickr:

CMVB Feb 2025: LAYERS with Sarah Hodge | Flickr

Photography by Misty Saves the Day!

CMVB IS POSTPONED DUE TO THE HISTORIC SNOW EVENT – NEW DATE FEB 28!

Check out the most event recent photos from on Flickr: CMVB JAN 2025: Raeesah Islam on JOUNREY | Flickr

Raeesah Islam Takes Us on Utopia Feni’s 10-Year JOURNEY

For the past decade, multifaceted creative Raeesah Islam has dedicated herself to building and nurturing Virginia Beach’s arts scene through her nonprofit, Utopia Feni. From open mics and public art projects to murals and experiential activations, Raeesah has cultivated a diverse and vibrant co-op of local artists.

Certainly, it’s Raeesah’s authenticity, generosity and genuine love of community that inspired more than 50 guests to flock to The Garage in the bitter cold of winter – at 8:30 a.m. no less! – to learn more about her transformative JOURNEY.

Raised in Virginia Beach, Raeesah grew up with the ardent support of her parents, whom she credits with allowing and empowering her to move through life to the beat of her own drum. Feni, Bangladesh, her father’s native village, also fueled Raeesah’s perspective and helped color her creative prowess. It’s Feni’s simple, community-minded lifestyle that inspired Raeesah’s message of unity through her art and community work and ultimately led her on the journey of finding ways to give back and show the value of creativity.

“If I hadn’t been taught or encouraged to be an artist, I wouldn’t have been one. I wanted to find ways to impart that message to the kids in Feni, too.”

Suffering from autoimmune diseases and medical complications, Raeesah was often isolated as a child, an experience that led to introspection, resilience and dreams of being a fashion designer in London. In 2011, she turned that vision into reality, attending the London College of Fashion and discovering that everything she had once wanted was standing before her.

“I suddenly had this realization: Everything I had wanted London to be, I had at home. Virginia Beach was a fertile and blank canvas for me…”

With a reinvigorated vision, Raeesah got to work, with the mission to share the value of creativity with local artists and with Bangladeshi youth in Feni. In 2015, Raeesah transformed her father’s former doctor’s office in Kempsville into a creative studio and 501©(3) aptly named Utopia Feni.

In its third year, Utopia Feni established an arts program in Feni; when it was forced to shut down in 2020 due to the pandemic, Raeesah’s focused her efforts on serving the needs of the local creative community, helping create movements like #VAweloveyou, which connected and supported artists in the 757 during the Covid-19 shutdowns.

Over a decade, Raeesah has been an educator, a curator, an organizer and a beloved beacon of hope and opportunity for Virginia Beach creatives. She has planned a stage at Pharrell’s Something in the Water festival, curated the First Fridays series at ViBe Park in the ViBe Creative District and collaborated on new projects with The Chrysler Museum of Art.

As Raeesah reflects on Utopia Feni’s dynamic 10-year journey, she’s proudest of having built an authentic community that has helped open the doors for so many fellow creatives.

“There have been many dream-come-true moments in the past 10 years. I’m ready to slow down a bit, reevaluate my mission, and continue this journey.”

No doubt Raeesah’s incredible journey has just begun. Learn more about Utopia Feni at utopiafeni.com, or follow Raeesah on Instagram at @raeesah.757.

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Written by CMVB volunteer blogger Valeria L. Palmertree

Join us every third Friday in 2025 as we explore, along with 236 other cities in 69 countries around the world, 12 new themes in a face-to-face community format. Past themes have included Cycle, Rhythm, Endurance, Ritual and Reflection. February’s theme is LAYERS, and our speaker will be Sarah Hodge of Aura Theory.

CM also has virtual field trips and a database of previous talks to enjoy and explore at home.

Local Artist “Igor” Talks about the CYCLE of a Self-Employed Artist

With a singular name, Igor didn’t quite need an introduction at our last Creative Mornings gathering of the year, but he got one anyway. The reception reflected the energetic community the local artist has helped build; with more than 75 excited guests piling into The Garage, this was our best-attended morning yet!

Growing up in Delaware, Igor was inspired by car culture and by the arts, but he never imagined those two worlds would one day collide.

In the 1980s, Igor became a professional roadie for a metal rock band based in Ocean City, Md., It was in Ocean City that Igor would join the iconic 17th Street Surf Shop as a visual merchandiser, spending a decade working as a creative within the East Coast surf culture and eventually relocating to Virginia Beach.

After more than a decade designing window displays, Igor began searching for his next opportunity. “I knew I had to widen my horizons, but taking that leap was scary.” Encouraged by friends, Igor decided to pursue his pinstriping “hobby” full-time.

Two decades later, Igor has handpainted on motorcycles, helmets, vintage cars, storefronts, murals, banners and more across Virginia Beach and beyond. Ever holiday season, Igor paints hundreds of his iconic XXX balls, depicting irreverent, lighthearted sayings or custom messages.

Igor’s intricate pinstriping and funky lettering has also drawn the interest of national brands and celebrity clients, including Bob Ritchie (a.k.a. Kid Rock), with whom Igor has collaborated for more than eight years. Recently, Redbull Music and Gibson Guitars commissioned Igor to paint 14 custom guitars for a notable group of country music artists, including Brothers Osborne and Shaboozey.

One of Igor’s fondest memories has been presenting a guitar to Derek Wells, an award-winning guitar player for the likes of Post Malone. Inspired by Derek’s passion for wrist watches, Igor painted a Rolex Submariner on the Gibson ES, complete with Rolex lettering depicting the musician’s children’s names.

At his studio and eclectic shop located within The Alley in Virginia Beach’s ViBe Creative District, Igor also houses the “World’s Smallest Museum,” a wall-to-wall collection of some of his most cherished oddities. It was in this local creative sanctuary that Igor dreamed up the vision for The Alley’s beloved VB Flea, a curated vintage and antique market. Now in its ninth year, the VB Flea averages 4,000-5,000 visitors and has a growing waiting list for vendors.

“Part of your responsibility as a creative in a smaller community is to take the initiative and make things happen yourself. If you want to get involved, all you have to do is ask.”

In addition to painting, creating and collaborating, Igor relishes his Brazilian jiu-jitsu practice, which he credits with making him a better, kinder and more thoughtful person. In that spirit, giving back is also central to Igor’s artistic work. Each year, he donates artwork to Nashville’s Tomahawn Charitable Solutions in support of military, law enforcement and special forces operators and their families.

When asked why he has stayed in Virginia Beach when his talent could take him anywhere in the world, Igor responds: “VB is too amazing to leave. I’m way too excited to see this creative community continue to grow.”

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Written by CMVB volunteer blogger Valeria L. Palmertree

Join us every third Friday in 2025 as we explore, along with 236 other cities in 69 countries around the world, 12 new themes in a face-to-face community format. Past themes have included Rhythm, Endurance, Ritual, Reflection and Vision. January’s theme is JOURNEY, and our speaker will be Raeesah Islam of Utopia Feni.

CM also has virtual field trips and a database of previous talks to enjoy and explore at home.

Check out the photos by Misty Saves the Day from the December event featuring IGOR!

CMVB Dec 2024: IGORS CUSTOM ON CYCLE | Flickr

The man. The myth. The legend. Igor will speak on December 20 for the theme CYCLE! Register now, here: Virginia Beach Artist Igor talks about the Cycle of a self-employed artist | CreativeMornings/Virginia Beach

Artist Nikki Leone Reflects on Tufting and the THREAD of Human Connection

“Making utilitarian objects that are also beautiful?! It just doesn’t get any better than that.”

The THREAD of human connection has been a tenet of Nikki Leone’s art career, and certainly, many of those connections were in attendance at The Garage on this chilly fall morning to hear Nikki reflect on her inspiring artistic journey.

That journey began during her senior year of high school in Virginia Beach, when graffiti-writing first introduced her to the art world. Using “Artro” as her tag, Nikki learned not only how vast and nontraditional a “canvas” could be but also how challenging  – albeit empowering – proving herself as “more than just a girl” would be as a female artist.

Nikki first attended college as a soccer player with the hopes of becoming a marine biologist but found herself uninspired and uninterested. Failing out, however, would prove to be a necessary and life-altering reset for the budding artist. Reflecting on her time graffiti-writing, Nikki decided to revisit art, signing up to take foundational art classes at Tidewater Community College. It was during this time that Nikki would discover her calling as a multidimensional artist and tap into her gift for building, sculpting and crafting.

“My still lives just started popping off the canvas, and I knew this is how my brain works – in the three-dimensional. I suddenly found myself expressing everything I couldn’t say verbally.”

Getting accepted into the Sculpture department at Virginia Commonwealth University changed everything. She flourished as a dynamic artist, unearthing new ways to express herself freely and authentically.

While earning her MFA in Studio Arts from the University of California, Santa Barbara, Nikki learned about prop-making and set design, an artform that relies on some of what Nikki does best: envisioning, designing and building. “What’s the worst that can happen?” she asked herself, emboldened by the chance to challenge herself as an artist.

That opportunity would appear unexpectedly in nearby Norfolk, Va., where Nikki became a display artist for Urban Outfitters after having earned her chops, so to speak, as a gallery assistant and museum preparator. After two years at Urban Outfitters, Nikki served as a display artist for Anthropologie in the Virginia Beach Town Center for more than seven years, a role in which she once handcrafted 5,000 paper crabs from toilet rolls she had donated!

Committed to balancing her career with family and motherhood, Nikki sought ways to downshift her schedule. It was in this exploration that she discovered tufting, an art practice she could feasibly take on at home. It wasn’t long before she acquired a home tufting gun and got to work. The rest, as the cliche goes, is history.

Today, as the founder of Poplar and Pine Studios, Nikki designs immersive activations for events and retail spaces. She continues to design colorful and playful tufting creations but has since outsourced their fabrication to award her more time for her personal art practice – a lesson in relinquishing control and in trusting others’ mastery of the process.

Nikki’s commitment to freeing herself from constraints and diving into her curiosity has paid off. She currently has a solo exhibition at Virginia MOCA titled “Rule Breaker,” which runs until Jan. 5. She also has her eyes set on creating larger-scale works, all while continuing to push her artistry in colorful, conversational and community-minded ways.

“Everyone is on a different timeline. I am just getting started.”

Written by CMVB volunteer blogger Valeria L. Palmertree

Such an amazing turn out today for local creative Nikki Leone! Check out the pics by Fresh Look Photography here:

Creative Mornings VB: November 2024 with Nikki Leone | Flickr