Make Create Express Workshop
Join us for the Creative Journey Continues

This workshop is for anyone who creates or feels the desire to create, who wishes to be inspired, who wishes to explore with curiousity, who wants to play in the field of possibilities and dance with the muses and their brilliance. This is for you brilliant creative soul.

 ☆  Ignite your Creativity with the Free Creative Retreat Weekend.
 ☆  27 artists from around the world.
 ☆  Learn new techniques & processes.
 ☆  Connect with your own creative spark.
 ☆  Be part of a wonderful and supportive community of creative souls from around the world.
 ☆  Weave your creative practice into your self care practice.
 ☆  Continue your creative journey and join us for the year long workshop.
 ☆  Make time for yourself & your creative expression.
☆  The first of over 54 lessons will be posted in the Make Create Express- the Creative Journey Continues classroom on the 8th of July.
 ☆  Be In*Spired.

Free Creative Retreat Weekend: finished for 2019- Huge thank you to all who shared their creativity

Year long workshop - $147

Join us for the Creative Journey Continues

How it Works

On July 6th & 7th we will be holding a FREE ONLINE EVENT- The Creative Retreat Weekend which is part of the yearlong workshop Make Create Express. Each day you will have access to over 12 lessons from a range of amazing artists and teachers. Each lesson will be available for you to watch and participate in for 24 hours from its airing time. The Free weekend is finished for 2019- a huge thank you to all.

If you wish to have longer access to the lessons please join us in the Make Create Express - the creative journey continues workshop which runs for a year, with a lesson being published each week, including the lessons from the Creative Retreat Weekend.

The Creative Retreat will begin on the 4am UTC (check your time zone converter for your location). As each lesson is available for 24 hrs you will be able to watch them at some time during your waking hours where ever you are :)

To access the free lessons you will need to register with the form below. Before the retreat weekend begins we will send you  a link to the classroom along with a password. Be sure to keep an eye out for this (your spam/junk and promotional filters may gobble it up).
Supplies List HERE

Make Create Express- the creative journey continues

We believe that your creative practice should not be limited to just one weekend but inspired to be an ongoing part of your life. Sign up for the Make Create Express year long workshop to gain access to all this creative inspiration for over a year. The Creative Journey Continues includes all the lessons from the weekend along with 27 additional lessons (plus a bonus here and there) being delivered one each week to allow you to continue to dive into and stretch your creative practice (that’s over 54 lessons, content for over a year of creative expression). The first lessons will be posted in the Make Create Express- the Creative Journey Continues classroom on the 8th of July.

Year long workshop - $147

Previous Years:

Make Create Express lessons

Below you can see a peek at all the wonderful lessons created for you by our amazing artists, with 54 lessons it's a bit of a long scroll. Each week a new lesson will be posted to the classroom, 27 teachers with 2 lessons each over the year. Half of these lessons will be available for Free during the Make Create Express Free Creative Weekend (6th & 7th of July).

A handmade life- Sacred space

Presented by Galia Alena

I believe that art can be an altar for what we are calling in, a moving meditation and prayer, medicine for the soul. In this lesson we will be creating a piece to call in what we need- for me it was Sacred Space- calm, quiet, spacious, reflective. We’ll be keeping it simple and soothing, beautiful balm for the soul, using colours that heal, personal symbols and sacred geometry. Art is good medicine.

Bonus: I am also including a little bonus lesson on covering your piece with encaustics to give it a scrumptious and delicious finish.

A handmade life- the mythology of you

Presented by Galia Alena

Going deeper with the ideas explored above we will be creating a “vision board” of sorts, only arty, and beautiful, and luscious, to call in what we are wanting to step into. First we will be connecting with ourselves to get intentional, art as self-care, and then we will manifest, literally, create our vision. We will be using composition and colour to give it resonance and layering and embellishing to strengthen the connections in all the ways (image here is WIP- work in progress and not the finished piece).

Mixed media portrait on fabric

Presented by Yvonne Morrell

We will create our mixed media portrait on a loose piece of fabric which gives us the liberty to present it in different ways later on. (on a wooden board, stretched on a canvas or as a book cover) 

What you will learn:
How to prepare the fabric
Create a mixed media base with collage and acrylics.
Invent a portrait and finish with crayons and ink. Ideas for presentation.want to take.

Mixed media imaginary town

Presented by Yvonne Morrell

We will create a mixed media imaginary town on handcrafted paper.
You will learn:
Integrating collage into your painting
Acrylic paint, line work adding words or poems.
Creating a small painting.

Garden of Delight

Presented by Tracy Verdugo

In a delightful mix of portraiture and Summer blooms we’ll explore the theme of allowing ourselves to feel delight at the little things; a stroll through the garden, a passing butterfly, an unfurling flower.

Using mixed media; acrylics, collage and oil pastels, we’ll create a stunning, vibrant and joy-filled painting of a woman focused on the sweet spots of life!

Embrace the unravelling!

Presented by Tracy Verdugo

In this lesson we’ll take a step further and explore the concept that in art (and life) we have the freedom to embrace the unravelling, to find the beauty in the messy and to explore the new life and possibility that can emerge from a curious and deliberate approach to these themes.

Using similar tools but a whole different take, we will take elements of our portrait (color, line, cropped sections) and morph them into a fabulous abstract!

Landshapes

Presented by Hali Karla

The way we see shapes how we inhabit, engage, hold and give life to the environments, stories and relationships that, in turn, shape us. The same can be applied to how we enter the worlds of our Creative Practice. Is there a greater, more infinite muse than Nature herself to keep a Creative Practice sustained and growing in all the seasons of life? She nourishes our bodies, delights our senses, contains worlds within worlds that speak to all life’s cycles and dynamics. Whether we are able to venture outdoors much or not, she is available and ready to induce wonder for the willing. Through several invitations and techniques, we will (re)connect and activate ways of discerning elements and demystifying layers that give shape to landscape environments and point to possibilities for our process. These approaches can be applied to all subject matter, style explorations and visual creations.

Dreamscapes

Presented by Hali Karla

Playing with ideas from our Landshapes exercises, we will open the gates of possibilities and see what happens when our intuitive, imaginative sense mingles with how and what we see. Where will our natural muse take us when we have no destination in mind? What are we carrying with us? What lands will form beneath our brushes to meet us? How might we feed it and care for it? Dive into its depths and celebrate its seeds of delight? Who - or what - might show up from within - familiar or unexpected?

We will create a Dreamscape painting (or art journal spread) together, from start to finish. No two worlds will be the same, and I will share with you process musings and prompts to navigate this mixed-media exploration unique to your inner landscape dreaming itself into being.

The Path is the Goal

Presented by Jenny Grant

In this lesson I will bring you into my magic world of art journaling and give you an input in how I practice to find my flow and my creative spark. I will create with collage and paint on a spread in an old book. For me, art journaling is my resting place where I give my self time to recover. My art journaling process is totally free from requirements, rules, results or obligations. It is a way for my creative soul to be totally free and a way to find connection to the creative source within. Art Journaling is a very important part of my creative process and I’m excited to show you how it helps me to relax, to let go and to find my flow! Ultimately, art journaling opens up the magic of what is unique within me! The process, the path, is the important part, the result is secondary.

Perfectly Imperfect

Presented by Jenny Grant

In this lesson I will continue to create in my old book and I will share my love to painting faces. Faces can be a bit intimidating to draw and paint and I know that many of us, me included, feel a bit scared and frustrated when we get to the "ugly stage" in the painting process and everything looks a bit awkward. I will give you some tools and tricks that will help you to enjoy the process, instead of resisting it and to be ok with the imperfections! I hope this class will allow you to flow through those challenging stages and to let go of that fear. In the end, I will show you how I turn my journal pages into soulful pieces of art, packed with creative energy! I add, rip, paint and alter the pages all the time and they continually evolve. It all ends up being perfectly imperfect.

Sweet sparrow

Presented by Natalie Eslick

The sparrow is a bird sacred to the Goddess Aphrodite, and plays a role in many myths, fairy-tales and superstitions around the world. Join me in creating a small study of a Sweet Sparrow using coloured pencils on toned paper, celebrating the beauty and intricacy of a tiny creature we may not have paid close attention to before.

Moon goddess

Presented by Natalie Eslick

Moon Goddess

Let’s celebrate the divine feminine together and pay homage to the moon in this exercise! Together we will determine the best composition for our piece using reference, learn to approach even the more difficult aspects of figure drawing (hands!) in terms of shapes, and render a Goddess and her moon in charcoal on toned paper.

Color Femme Free

Presented by Tiare Smith

Freely create and celebrate the feminine and color.  Release your inner artist and set your soul free.

Nothing to hide

Presented by Marybeth Shaw

My creative process always involves the making of parts. By this, I mean handmade parts that I make and use for collage, art journals, or paintings. I just love having a stash of personal component parts to use in my work. Lately I am obsessed with transparent layers. Come along as we explore transparency vs. opacity and learn to make parts from a variety of materials. You will simply marvel at the the options.

Limited Palette

Presented by Marybeth Shaw

“The Limited Palette: building a color wheel of muted beauty”

Confession time - I am a geek for color wheels! In this class, I will guide an exploration of triad work using Acrylics paints, but not in the way you might expect! Instead, we will use our triad to create neutrals and invent an even wider range of muted colors. Your painting repertoire will expand immensely. I will be using Golden Fluid Acrylics, but will offer ideas for paint substitutions if those happen to be unavailable in your area.

Born to Be Different

Presented by Muriel Stegers

This is a mixed media project in which we play with products and mediums. We will use acrylics, inks, stencils and collage.. and warm up to create a vibe of trust to let the paint go where it needs to go. We talk about letting go, disconnecting to outcome and stepping in the moment. I will show you the process authentically and talk about every step I take and all the feelings that go with it. The goal is to not give up.. to not quit and to trust that art always appears when you follow your heart.

Expressive & Soulful Eyes

Presented by Muriel Stegers

Eyes are the windows to the soul. In this project we focus on creating eyes. How to do the color of the iris. How to build the color layers of the face around the eyes. How to shape the eyes and detail them. Around the eyes we do a bit of expressive painting and play with negative space. Let’s paint expressive eyes.

Talking To Trees

Presented by Connie Solera

Whenever I need guidance or clarity I seek out the wisdom of a tree. The simple act of setting an intention and taking time to sketch attentively helps me connect to the wisdom trees always have to offer. In Talking To Trees I walk you through my own personal process of sketching trees with ink pens and show you how doing so helps me harvest their grounded guidance. Then last, we take our sketches into the studio and add a some playful color by using one of my favorite art materials: Tombow Dual Brush Pens.

Talking To Trees 2

Presented by Connie Solera

Talking to Trees 2 picks up where the first workshop ended -- in the studio! Using acrylic paint, oil pastels, graphite, and collage ephemeral, in this workshop I will guide you in creating a mixed-media diptych that extracts the essence of our sketches and deepens our connection to the wisdom our trees have to share.

Painting Your Guide

Presented by Whitney Freya

Immerse yourself in Whitney Freya's intuitive watercolor, mixed media process to Paint Your Guide and receive divine insight into the art that is your life. You are invited to create with Brusho Crystal Colours, an amazing watercolor medium that results in the most brilliant colors and enhances the intuitive process.

Creating Your Power Object

Presented by Whitney FreyaI

In shamanism, you are taught how to imbue everyday object or natural totems into energetic talismans in alignment with your highest good. In this lesson, Whitney Freya shares her process of creating an acrylic painting that is a Power Object and explains why these paintings are exponentially more powerful. When we commit to creating coherent consciousness around our desires through this process, you can be reassured that your dreams will manifest into your life experience.

Storytellers

Presented by Fonda Clark Haight

Storytellers is a class teaching a process, not an end result. When you draw that beautiful face, landscape, or animal, and you look at it and think something is missing….what’s missing is you. Your feelings, your truth in the moment, your experience as a human being, these are the things that help you create a style, a call to the viewer, a healing experience. This is a process about learning to tell your story. If you let the world tell your story, nothing will ever be how you want it. You have to tell your own story. Stories are powerful things….they can shape the world if you tell them right.

Follow Your Story

Presented by Fonda Clark Haight

What makes a story great? What makes someone a good storyteller in their art? Storytelling is something we all do naturally, but there’s a difference between truthful storytelling and imaginary stories. So often we want the story to be pretty, because we are artists. We think that beautiful art is the goal. I would argue that truthful art is the goal, which is beautiful in it’s truth. We want to create a call to the viewer, that resonates, with a truth deep within themselves. How can we do that? We follow our own story, letting what wants to show up be in the piece. This is a process, and it takes time and practice. This is a process about sitting with your art and listening to your own truth!

Moment of Serenity

Presented by Melanie Rivers

In this mixed media lesson, we will create an expressive female portrait that captures a moment of serenity. We will use acrylic paints and patterned papers in soothing colours. She will be a reminder on how to find moments of peace in our daily lives.

Journey

Presented by Melanie Rivers

A journey—the unknown, adventure and possibilities, a becoming, an un-becoming… In this mixed media lesson, we will explore the idea of a journey and portray this through imagery, color and writing. We will create an expressive female portrait in acrylic paints and I’ll lead you through writing a short poem (3-5 lines) to capture her journey story --real or imagined.

Charcoal expression

Presented by Jerney Marisha

In this lesson I will show you an intuitive way of approaching a portrait to achieve emotion.

You will learn how to focus on certain features and how to adjust them as you go to find the mood you would like to set.

We will discuss different types of charcoal and how to make the best use of their characteristics. We will play around with mark making to add texture and interest to your piece.

Fearless faces

Presented by Jerney Marisha

For this lesson we will be sculpting the face directly with paint, building up the portrait in layers. I hope by doing this exercise you will learn to trust your gut and your ability to tweak the features along the way. We will embrace some wonkiness and imperfection and take a leap of faith by having the courage to destruct and rebuild the face to loosen up and let go of too much attachment.

Journey to Inner peace

Presented by Nanda Bourkes

In this lesson we will create am intuitive representation of yourself, a place where you can come back to, to tap into that feeling of calmness and inner peace.
We will create from intuition, allow ourselves to play and explore.
We will create with an open mind, letting go of perfectionism and ¨planning¨ our piece and just let emerge what wants to emerge, embracing imperfections.
We will create with intention, build layers, play with color, ground and connect by using our fingers, and create a beautiful and peaceful intuitive portrait. Let yourself feel the freedom, the inner peace of non-perfection as you see her emerge

Your Guiding Angel

Presented by Nanda Bourkes

In this lesson we will create our guiding angel. We will explore, play and allow to paint what wants to be painted. We will trust our intuition and follow the nudges.
We will build up layers and will use the layers as part of our angel.
We are going to experiment and explore playing with stencils
We will create a beautiful compassionate angel, to remember we are loved, guided & supported unconditionally

Fairy days, fairy nights - Day

Presented by Marielle Stolp

After a busy day at work I love to relax by escaping to the fairy tale world. This is when I unwind by drawing and painting cute, whimsical fairies in my art journals. But this is also when their work starts! So many animals to tend to, so many flowers to water... Let's help them by creating a colourful flower fairy. They can use the extra help!

Heart Chakra Mandala Journal page

Presented by Louise Gale

Please join me to connect with our heart chakra, color and nature to combine all of these sacred energies to create a beautiful Heart Chakra Mandala journal page. We will gather materials and inspiration from nature in the heart chakra colors of green and pink, then create a Heart Centered Journal Spread in the form of a Heart Chakra Mandala. Lesson also includes a centering meditation and a pdf download to use for your journal pages. By the end of the session, you will feel calm, centered and connected to your heart chakra, bringing yourself into balance for more inspired creativity.

Heart Chakra Mixed Media Mandalas

Presented by Louise Gale

Following on from our Heart Chakra Mandala Journal page lesson, we will connect more deeply to create personal Mixed Media Heart Chakra Mandalas. I will take you through more step by step processes for creating heart chakra mandala designs and also inspire you to loosen up to create designs that are more personal to you. By the end of this lesson, you will have mini heart chakra mandalas and also a mixed media painting you can hang on your wall. Lesson also includes a Chakra Balancing Meditation and journal prompts to help you connect more deeply to your heart chakra.

Visual Storytelling

Presented by Leslie Wood

Visual Storytelling is a visual narrative told primarily through the use of visual media. Stories draw you in and put you into a world that may not be anything like your own. They let you travel along with characters to explore their worlds. I’ll be showing you some ideas to get your stories started in your own visual storytelling journey. We will use one of your own characters or Miss Ladybug from the Creative Retreat lesson to create a story of our own.
 

Simply Slow

Presented by Laura Horn

Imagine slowing right down and letting go of the need to know all the answers and have all the things. This is my challenge to you. To keep it simple and slow it down. We are going to engage with the sensory experience of making art and take notice of the little details like how your paint pools or the sensation of your tools scraping across the page. Using simple shapes, a limited palette and delicate patterns we'll create an abstract piece inspired by nature.

Stepping Stones

Presented by Laura Horn

In this lesson, we are going to use gathered natural items (e.g. sticks, stones, pods) to create an abstract painting. You will discover tips and tricks for choosing colours, generating compositional ideas and layering mixed media supplies. This is a relaxing and fun class suitable for anyone that wants to explore abstract art.

Earth guardian

Presented by Katrina Koltes

Since a few years I have started working more closely with spirit animals and totems, and love to include them in my art. In this lesson we will create our spirit animal guardian with oil pastels. I will share my blending techniques, and how I like to use non-traditional colors and elements to create a story. We will work very intuitively, staying open to any changes or directions our intuition takes us. By painting our spirit animal we will be welcoming it's guidance and magic in our lives.

Renewal, Rebirth, Transformation

Presented by Katrine Koltes

In this lesson we continue on from our first project of Spirit Animal Guides.  We will paint a Spirit Raven, as we tap into the intuitive magic that he brings. I show some of my favorite oil pastel techniques on black paper and how to create a special "glow" effect using a limited color palette. We also discuss composition options and how to make a painting really "flow". As we follow the Raven's guidance and magic, we create a story using symbolism.

Love & After

Presented by Renata Loree

I am often asked how I create a journal page. This particular process is my favorite. I usually start with images and then some colors and see where it takes me. The details I add come spontaneously to my mind and I usually add on what ever needs to come to the surface and if it becomes covered later then that is the process. The final stage is then adding some doodles with gel pens to complete the story.

armadillo day

Presented by Renata Loree

This page was another journal page I was experimenting with after I looked through a new book on spirit animals that I really loved. When I opened the page and read what is said, and the description of the Armadillo fit me perfect for the day, and so, I had to add some colors to it - and this is what it became…..

Love spread

Presented by Wilna Furstenberg

In this project, Wilna will show you her process from start to finish. She focuses on the use of acrylic ink, and line textures and widths when starting with the drawings and progress to painting the flowers with heavy body acrylic paints. After the first stage of painting the flowers, she takes you on a journey of layering washes and textures on an art journal page and lastly how to integrate the flowers with the background. Wilna believes Art is Therapy for the heart and she encourages the viewer to lean into the mindfulness of art making and in the end experience the joy of the finished product.

delight spread

Presented by Wilna Furstenberg

In this Art Journal page Wilna works with watercolor paints to paint the illustration, which will be the focal point of the Art Journal page. She shows you her simple and duplicable way of paint drawing and painting with watercolors. The second step will be to layers acrylic washes and mixed media on the background of the art journal page and lastly integrating the whole page into a lovely finished product. Wilna encourages the viewer that the greatest benefit of Art is in the process and that the joy of art making is never in vein: it will show up in future works in the most unexpected ways.

Gaia, Mother earth

Presented by Karine Bosse

Born of universal chaos, she existed before anything else. Based on greek mythology.

My version is a strong black women. She’s a mixed media piece, I’ve made the background out of used coffee filter glued on a cradled wood panel. I used, watercolour and coloured pencils mainly.

Floating between then and now

Presented by Karine Bosse

This painting came to me in a moment when I felt stuck between my past and where I wanted to go unable to live in the present moment. I felt like I was floating in a not so clean water like my past was sticking to me like petal in water, no matter how pretty some memories can be they can also keep us from being present in the now.

A Priestess on my Page

Presented  by Denise Daffara

I set out with the intention to make this page an invitation to play with patterns I found on a collage piece.. and a tarot card, it soon became quite ordered and in a grid like arrangement . . . but it was really enjoyable to have moments of being lost in just making that one square hold that one design . . . If you take anything from this lesson . . . let it be that. Giving yourself just some moments to get lost in making a pattern on a piece of paper for no other reason than because you fancy the idea.

Little Pages

Presented by Denise Daffara

Two sheets of paper become two tiny books. One with collage and colour washes ready to be written in as you wish, the other holds lines from one of Mary Oliver’s wonderful poems “Wild Geese”. You make your marks on the paper, some paint, ink, pen, collage … a simple folding technique and a sweet little original book is made. A sweet keepsake, a gift for a birthday wish, endless possibilities from one sheet of paper.

Ancient symbols, painting your story

Presented by Amy Steinberg

An introduction to ancient symbols and their use in art, both historically and combining them into a story of your own.  We’ll use eight symbols to include in your art and work on a narrative to understand how painting your story and the use of ancient symbols can be so meaningful.

Art Symbols - A Personal Exploration

Presented by Amy Steinberg

Art Symbols - A Personal Exploration is a workshop introduction to finding symbols in your art and developing them as a first step in creating your own visual language.  All creatives have marks they make again and again, this short workshop will help you find some of your symbols to combine in a small painting. Symbols will help you with the narrative of your work and better explain to friends, family or clients what your paintings are about.n to ancient symbols and their use in art, both historically and combining them into a story of your own.  We’ll use eight symbols to include in your art and work on a narrative to understand how painting your story and the use of ancient symbols can be so meaningful.

Inner Alchemy Collage

Presented by Mindy Tsonas

Collage As Oracle: In this creative practice, images, colors and found words guide us to our inner magic and wisdom. The process of intuitive collage allows us to feel our desires with less attachment to inner dialogue, helping to quiet the inner critic. Here we practice the act of discernment, to unearth our truth. In this two-step process we will create through an embodied process of following the tug of YES in our hearts, in our bodies, to the page, and then ask our questions. Part creative play and part oracle reading, your Inner Alchemy Collage, in the end, holds all the answers to everything you wish to know

Gemstone Alchemy Paints

Presented by Mindy Tsonas

Infuse your paints with new layers of color magic, healing energy and intention, with this beautiful process of creating your own Gemstone Alchemy Paints. This easy process will allow you to use your beloved gemstones and their energy to add to the layers of all your mixed media creations! Learn the meanings of colors, their associations, and properties to intentionally create your very own paint potions that will add an exciting extra dimension to your work! So many fun ways to play with these - I'll show you how.

Tidbits Journal

Presented by Kiala Givehand

Have you ever taken an amazing online class where you end the course with lots of heartfelt notes in various places, bits of random papers from all the glorious projects you completed, and several magic making ideas for how you can deepen your creative practice? Well, in this lesson I share some of my favorite techniques for creating a working journal for our Art is Magic retreat weekend. This dreamy journal is designed to be filled with bits and pieces from our weekend of making art together. I call it the Tidbits Journal and show you how I plan to use mine for the retreat. It will be a terrific way to capture our enchanting memories and ideas.

Poetic Pages

Presented by Kiala Givehand

Poetry, like abstract art, is often seen as intimidating, but I love to marry poetry and expressive painting as a way to inspire my art and my poetic musings in my journals. In this lesson I demonstrate how to create irresistible pages filled with delight and wonder inspired by poems from some of my favorite poets. And of course I walk you through a fun and easy way to write your own poem to include in your art AND to inspire future art making and creative sessions. Warning -- this process is magnetic and hypnotic -- you may have difficulty stopping.

Year long workshop - $147

I am a visual poet, earth mystic and mist walker. I walk in beauty dreaming with the divine to create sacred art and to partner with intuitive healing practices. I create in dialogue with the sacred feminine and my practice involves listening to the magic as it appears in dreams, journey, tarot, nature and other daily blessings. I’m a beauty unveiler, light huntress, moment caresser, mythologist, archetype weaver and visionary poetess. Ultimately, all of my work is about helping people peel back the layers to experience the intense beauty of each moment allowing them access to both their intuitive wisdom and a deeper connection to spirit and self, helping them find their own truths in connected stillness. In this way I am a guidess helping others find their own mystery school of wisdom and sacred being.    
(Because the beauty of this life cracks our hearts open and it is through the cracks that light can flow both in and out and connect us back to our divine selves).
Oh... and I believe in the magic of this life.

I live in the insanely beautiful Blue Mountains, just shy of Sydney, amoung the clouds and mist, with my family, our kitten and all the winged ones who frequent our garden. Each day here is a wondrous delight of tiny miracles through either the glorious light or magical mists.

Mixed media artist, photographer and creator of soon to be published Stardust & Fallen Petals oracle/tarot deck.

Website ☆ Blog ☆ Instagram ☆ Pinterest ☆ Facebook ☆ Youtube channel

Leslie Wood

Leslie has been creating art ever since she can remember. She has a bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, but after working for a few years, decided to go back to college and take art classes. She enrolled with the University of Alabama in Huntsville and studied photography, sculpture and painting. Over the years she expanded her creative skills with numerous master led classes. Her work varies from mixed-media and art journaling to sculpture and jewelry making. Her recent solo exhibitions include ‘Dreams and Reality: The Artwork of Leslie Wood’ at Carnegie Visual Arts Center and Evelyn Burrows Museum, Visiting Artist Exhibition at the Huntsville Art League and an exhibition at Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment in Huntsville Alabama. An avid art journaler, her journal work has been published numerous times in Somerset Studio’s ‘ART Journaling’ magazine including features in the 2019 Spring and Fall editions. You can find her work at local shows such as Montesano Art Festival, and Panoply Arts Festival or on her website at www.lesliewoodarts.com. She teaches various classes throughout the year in the Huntsville Alabama area and will be a featured artist in the 2020 Huntsville Museum of Art Master Workshops.

Website ☆ Email info@lesliewoodarts.com

Denise Daffara

Hi, my name is Denise Daffara. I am an artist, soulful seeker, wild wonderer, deep listener, sacred space holder, Creativitea Time inspirer & private priestess. Painting has been a large piece of my life since the late 90's, mixed media and art journaling are newer loves, they have taken up residence in my soul for life I feel certain. My passion is to connect with others in ways that leave us both feeling nurtured, energised, validated, and liberated. One way I do this is by encouraging Creativitea time : a space & practice where playfulness, courage and creativity meet radical self acceptance for tea. A sacred space is made to meet ourselves on the page. I find that meeting yourself right where you are is a powerful medicine in these troubled times. I believe when we are seen and heard we can heal. Using art journaling, intentional creativity™ and painting as a self healing modality has been extremely helpful for me in my personal quest, through times of grief, depression, and awakenings and joyful breakthroughs. I live on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland Australia, born in New Zealand I was drawn to this vast land by it’s warmer climate and stunningly beautiful pale sandy beaches. I love how we are no longer limited by our physical location and can connect with like minded hearts across lands and seas via the online communities. Perhaps we’ll meet ‘virtually’ for tea some day, I hope so.

Website ☆ Blog ☆ Instagram ☆ Pinterest ☆ Facebook

Muriel Stegers

Hello Gorgeous, My name is Muriel Stegers and I am a Mixed Media Artist from The Netherlands.

I am a very intuitive, no planning kind of painter. I love to go with the flow and see where the painting will take me.

I know now, after several years that the painting always paints itself. If only I can let go enough of what is expected of me.

Learning to trust that the paint is there where it is supposed to be! I take my time and love to work long hours on my paintings.

I specialize in painting faces, it is what turns my creative energy on and having the opportunity to use all these different mediums makes it like heaven for me.

Teaching my students to believe in them self and finding that space that holds silence for them is what's most important to me.

Teaching them to be able to let go and find the magic that is hidden inside is my main goal.

Finding that ease of selfacceptance is where fireworks light off and stars shine bright.

Website ☆ Blog ☆ Instagram ☆ Pinterest ☆ Facebook Business ☆ Facebook Personal ☆ Youtube channel

Karine Bosse

Hi there!

I’m Karine Bossé also known as Kabostudio. I’m a graphic designer, mix-media artist, doll maker and online art teacher. There is never a dull moment in my life, I’m always busy creating something, I started Kabostudio about 10 years ago, developing my style and exploring as much as could with different mediums. Thanks to the wonderful internet I found the mix-media community about 5 years ago and it has been eye-opening for me. Although I was already mixing everything on my own finding a community driven by the same joy and need of creating felt like finding my home, it was the missing piece. Since then, I became an art teacher, participate in Let’s Face it 2016, Ever-After 2016 and 2017, Paint your art and Soul 2018, launched my own classes A Canvas Journey and Ladybird and had my first guess teacher with All dolled up last December, in my I share my passion of creating while exploring different roads. This year I will be launching the second edition of A Canvas Journey and have a very talented guess teacher who’s preparing something special for the end of the year. My art is all about strong women in all their aspect because sometimes being strong also means being vulnerable. Duality is a constant theme in my art. Lights and shadows and how opposite side has to meet to create balance. Myths, legends and fairy tales have always been a big inspiration for me. I strongly believe that we can achieve everything we set our mind to; one step at the time.
“The only difference between a master and a beginner is that the master has failed hundreds oftime more than the beginner as ever try.”
Can’t wait to create with you all
Karine

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Marisha Jerney

Hi, I’m a Dutchie living in Antwerp. While I have always been a creative person, I didn’t surrender to art until two years ago. My heart was longing for more art time and I decided then and there that my Mondays off would be dedicated to learning how to paint. 

Discovering online art classes has been such a blessing. Suddenly I could learn about all kinds of media for a very reasonable price without ever having to leave my home. I was living the dream. ;) 

I became somewhat of an art class hoarder and this year I have started tumbling down the rabbit hole of online teaching myself. I love every aspect of it. The creating, designing inspiring lessons, sharing my skills and my thoughts, writing my newsletters where I like to share little tips and free tutorials with my supporters... ok, the talking on camera part is still giving me the nerves like you won’t believe but it’s a small price to pay for being on my path. I am beyond excited to be a part of this incredible project and can’t wait to start creating with you all!

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Amy Steinberg

I attended Hawaii Pacific University studying Corporate Communications and recently completed classes from Harvard University, Divinity School. I spent almost twenty years in the software industry filling positions in customer support from Director to Vice President and went on to lead a startup as CEO. Now, I dedicate my time to painting, reading, studying religion, esoteric mysticism and the works of Joseph Campbell. I have been a full-time artist since 2001 with some time off when my daughter was little.

My art is represented in corporate and personal collections internationally with gallery representation at Monsoon Gallery, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania (2003-2012) and KALEID Gallery, San Jose, California (2018-current). I have also been featured in multiple publications including, but not limited to ArtNews, Teen Vogue, Elle Magazine and the World of Artist Journal Pages by Dawn Sokol.

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Connie Solera

Connie Solera is devoted to painting fearless and helping fellow artists do the same. With 25+ years of teaching experience under her apron, Connie’s renown retreats, workshops, and eCourses empower artists of all levels and backgrounds to strengthen their skills, develop their unique visual language, and express their creativity with confidence and gusto.

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Whitney Freya

Whitney Freya is a published author, artist, entrepreneur and creative muse. Her latest book is out! Rise Above, Free Your Mind One Brush Stroke at a Time is an explosion of color, painting prompts and inspirational teaching for Life Artists! Her unique approach to personal creativity, and her own journey from wanna-be artist to today, has garnered her international media attention, including CBS news and appearances alongside Dr. Wayne Dyer, Donna Eden and more. She leads her international team of Creatively Fit Coaches who share her passion for living life as art. Whitney Freya has taught at The Esalen Institute, at international creativity conferences, and at Burning Man, Awesomeness Fest, and the Agape Spiritual Center. She lives in the mountains in NE Oregon with her three teens and holds retreats there in the summer. Learn more and join the Life Artist “palette” at www.WhitneyFreya.com 

Wilna Furstenberg

Wilna is a neo-expressionistic painter turned scrapbook, digital designer, and Art Journaler who has spent years applying her background in fine arts to her passion for preserving memories. A popular online and in-class teacher, she has honed the fine art of balancing her logical and organized side with her free-spirited expressive side. And she definitely knows how to have fun along the way! Wilna has been working in the Scrapbooking Industry for 11 years and it all started when she was one of 25 winners of the Creating Keepsakes Hall of Fame in 2006. She designed for Making Memories, Jenny Bowlin, October Afternoon and Two Peas in a Bucket until 2013 when she started her own company called iHeartstudio. Wilna is a popular event teacher at retreats and has been fortunate to teach classes in the US, Canada, South Africa, Spain, Germany and Australia. She has taught online for Studio Calico, Big Picture Classes, Craftsy and have lots of classes on her own website iheartstudio.ca. Wilna is also a frequent guest on the Paper Clipping Roundtable.

Wilna’s Blog ☆ Shop ☆ Instagram ☆ Facebook ☆ YouTube

Laura Horn

Hello, I'm Laura, a mixed media artist living and working in Adelaide, South Australia. My work is inspired by the imperfect and ever-changing beauty of nature. With pattern, texture and colour, I translate my experiences and observations of nature into abstract paintings. The process is one of playful exploration, mindfulness and self-discovery. It is my absolute pleasure to share my experiences and help you to nurture and nourish your creativity.

Website ☆ Blog ☆ Instagram ☆ Pinterest ☆ Facebook ☆Youtube channel

Tiara Smith

My name is Tiare Smith (pronounced Tee-are). I am a mixed media artist and instructor.

Born with art in my heart I lost my way from my art for about 18 years.  It came back to my life in a burst of emotion and anxiety.  By practicing techniques of self-love, positive self talk, and action which also helped me to overcome other areas of struggle, I now enjoy my art in a free and inspiring way.  

I empower women to express and experience their art more freely while also nurturing their hearts and memories. 

I have not only been featured on HGTV but have had numerous works published in a variety of crafting magazines and blogs.  You can find my  wooden plaque series, “Whispers of the Heart” at Hallmark Stores, bookstores, and Amazon world wide.

Website ☆ Email: classygirl@me.com

Tracy Verdugo

If Tracy Verdugo was given the opportunity to coin a term for a new art movement based around what she teaches she might call it “Curiosity and Wonderism”or maybe “Loosen-upism” or “Endless possibilitism” When she is not hanging out with her family in their artsy adobe home in a small village on the shores of Jervis Bay, Australia, or throwing paint around in her little purple studio in their backyard, you may find her wrangling with two large suitcases attempting to board the BART in San Francisco en route to teach at an art retreat or sitting in a circle on St Pete Beach Florida listening intently as women share their stories of creative longing. Tracy is an inspiration instigator, prolific painter, singer/songwriter and lover of the written word, smitten traveller and soaker up of all that is beauty-full. She teaches her Paint Mojo and other creative workshops all over this amazing planet and reminds her students of the wonder that already resides within them. Her works are vibrant and filled with joy, inspired both by family travels in Mexico and the beauty of everyday life. Since 2000 Tracy has held 14 successful solo exhibitions and her works are held in collections both in Australia and overseas. Mostly though she is mama bear to two gorgeous, zest-filled daughters, Santana and Cece, and co-adventurer in life with her amor of 30 years, the talented and brilliant Marco.

Katrina Koltes

Katrina comes from a childhood of often traveling, discovering, and seeing new places. Originally of German nationality, but born in South East Asia, she and her family worked full-time doing relief work all over the world.

She loves to create beautiful worlds of magic and mystery, stories of hope and beauty with her art.

She now been lives in Italy, is a full-time artist and mommy to two small boys. Her creative imagination is often fueled by inventing bedtime stories for her boys, tales of magical realms, faeries and dragons, mystical creatures, and nature spirits.

But most of all, her inspiration comes from spending time in the nature, working with Mother Earth’s energy and it’s nature spirits. She also paints from her dream journeys, and visions.

Katrina teaches online and in-person workshops, where she enjoys sharing her techniques, ideas, and creative process to inspire others to discover their true magic and creative voice through art.

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Renata Loree

Renata Loree was born in Czech Republic and is a self taught artist. She studied by copying old master paintings, and then moving onto painting portraits for her friends. She eventually  acquired enough skill to earn commissions for her art.

As a single mom, she did not have much of a chance to devote full time to her passion, and so she earned her living as a designer. The work in a corporate world was not very satisfying to her free spirit, and by a strike of disaster and luck at the same time, she has moved onto teaching yoga and eventually owning a yoga studio.

Through love for the practice and teaching of yoga, she recognized that her expression in art has to come from a deeper experience that comes from within, rather then from the outside. She also recognized that the outer circumstances help us recognize who we are and how we respond to them and that her creative journey was leading her into an exploration on a canvas - the story behind the face.

She now teaches classes online and in person and lives in Newburyport Mass.

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Fonda Clark Haight

Fonda Clark Haight is a mixed media, intuitive artist living in the mountains of NC. Looking past the obvious, close observation and engagement of my truth is the process. The challenge is to see beyond the distractions of the conspicuous to engage with my feelings deep in the subconscious. My goal is to inspire those who see my work to look more carefully at the world around them, to discover beauty in unusual places, and to question the truth in themselves.

Website ☆ Etsy ☆ Instagram ☆ Facebook

Louise Gale

Louise Gale is a British mixed media artist and author of the book ‘Botanical Mandalas’ and accompanying 'Coloring Botanical Mandalas' book. She creates in her art studio which is on the south coast of Spain overlooking the sea, tiny fishing boats and the Moroccan coastline in the distance. Louise loves to combine the healing power of nature with the meditative process of mandala creating which result in her beautiful Botanical Mandala designs.

Louise believes that nature is our medicine which helps us reconnect with our true selves. Her art is constantly inspired by the beauty that surrounds her in the natural world. So when she is not in her studio creating, hosting online classes or working with other creative people, you can find her on the beach collecting inspiration and putting her bare feet into the sand.

Louise’s work has been published in the New York Times and she has contributed to many books and magazine articles where she shares her creative processes and love for nature, mandalas and color. She also has a permanent art collection called ‘Sew Hoboken’ at the Hoboken Historical Museum in New Jersey, USA.

Website ☆ Classes ☆ Facebook ☆ Instagram

Jenny Grant

I am Swedish living just north of Stockholm. I am a Mixed Media artist and teacher on a mission to inspire people to be brave, to use their creativity and do more of what they love. My work is very rich with many layers that add depth and texture to my work. People often find my art very peaceful even though it is colorful and full of energy. My works are hanging in private collections around the world.

I also love art journaling. Art journaling is a resting place for me and it gives me time to recover. I make my own art journals out of scrap and my art journaling process is totally free from requirements, rules, results or obligations. Art Journaling is a way for my creative soul to be totally free and a way to find the unique creative source within myself. It is an important part of my creative process and it is a way to prevent creative block by helping me to let go and to find my flow. When working in my journal I feel safe. For me art journaling opens up the magic of what is unique within myself.

I run workshops both in-person and on-line. My in-person workshops and retreats are available in many places around the world. I do mixed media workshops on big canvases and art journaling.

I have practiced yoga for more than 14 years. Yoga is essential for my wellbeing and gives me both mental and physical strength. I believes that we all have the power and knowledge within ourselves to live our lives in tune with ourselves.

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Kiala Givehand

Kiala Givehand is a published poet, intuitive artist, visual archivist, avid journal keeper, and happiness catalyst. She collects fountain pens, blank journals, and all sorts of tarot, oracle, and inspiration decks. She believes in surrounding herself with ordinary humans who live extraordinary lives, gathering with people who make her laugh & love uncontrollably, and living a life intent on cultivating happiness.

Her most recent interests have taken her into the realms of Astrology, Numerology, and the beauty & power of sacred symbols (especially mandalas). When she's not experiencing wanderlust, Kiala is probably fiddling with a fountain pen, making a journal of some sort, or cooking a pot of soup. She's a newly dubbed SoulCollage® facilitator and co-owner (with her husband) of Healing Arts Creativity & Empowerment Studio in Pensacola, Florida.

Working with women from all around the world, Kiala runs two successful online businesses, and through virtual courses and in person retreats, teaches women how to find what makes them happy and pursue it without apologies or regrets.

Website ☆ Blog ☆ Instagram ☆ Pinterest ☆ Twitter ☆ Facebook ☆ Youtube channel

Natalie Eslick

Natalie is an Australian creatrix, artisan and serial imaginer. She creates celebrations of the divine feminine, the fantastical, folkstories, faerytales, forests and our non-human kin using traditional media in visual storytelling. Natalie see's her art as a way to unfurl, to encounter possibility and explore the curious and delicious unbound beauty all around us. Putting pencil to paper is a meditative act that she delights in sharing far and wide in honour of the abundant divine creative energy available to us all.

"I turned to art as a means of escape from burn out, chronic illness and fatigue, and depression in late 2016, after more than 20 years since picking up a pencil to sketch in earnest. It was a coming home experience, and every day I am grateful that I found my way back to that path in the great forest of life. For me, art fosters a connection to the genius and eloquence of our natural world with astonishing joy, and openness, and heart. I am deeply enamoured of graphite, charcoal, ink, and watercolour, and pencil meditation is a daily occurrence for me. Putting pencil to paper is a healing art, grounding and connecting me to invisible wonders and the depths of our collective imagination. I am also a serial scribbler, and enjoy scratching out line art of botanicals and medieval inspired etchings. Art is breath and feeling on a page - it is a tiny piece of me that I want to share with you. It is honest, and heartfelt, and vulnerable, and true - even when it is made up. My goal for my audience and students is to spark joy and inspiration, to connect, to participate, and to be present in our collective journey."

Natalie lives on the beautiful Central Coast of NSW, Australia with her three kitty-kids and a backyard full of wild-bird visitors. She sips copious cups of tea and is generally powered by strawberries and ginger biscuits. She believes in kindness, always.

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Yvonne Morell

Art is my passion. I love to get up, have my head spinning with projects, images and colors, to have a cup of tea and dash off to my studio. My inspirations come mostly from everyday life. People, towns, object whatever catches my attention. It is so rewarding to have it come alive on my canvas..like meeting a new friend. I exhibit my paintings regularly.

I also love to share the passion of creating. I give workshops and online classes. The creative communities, locally and online makes the journey so much richer…what would life be without human connections and friendships. I hope we will connect in a way or another! Happy painting to you!

Instagram ☆ Facebook ☆ Online community

Nanda Bourkes

I am Nanda, a Creative Coach, Sacred Soul Artist and Intuitive Healer & Light Worker.

My Sacred Soul Art  is intuitively created and co-created with the Divine with lots of love and passion.

Infused with Crystals, intentions, energy, activations and often moon water.

My pieces have powerful energy, a special message, bring healing and empowerment, and will help you grow and expand.

Besides creating paintings i also love to create crystal jewelry & wands, and clay bowls I love to work with Nature and often weave this into my pieces with materials i am using to create ( wood, Crystals, feathers, rocks, moon water etc )

Not only do I create art to heal, inspire and empower you I also offer special online programs and classes to help and guide you, not only with art techniques but so much more.

My passion is to help woman awake their creativity, (re)ignite their creative spark, heal through art, (re)connect them with their inner child and higher self, show them the amazing power creativity holds, and how to use it for your inner soul work I combine my love and passion for art and creativity with my love and passion for spirituality & soul work

Website ☆ Blog ☆ Instagram ☆ Pinterest ☆ Facebook ☆ Facebook ☆ Youtube Channel

Mindy Tsonas

Mindy is an embodiment artist, body-positive activist and yogini. Her work is to inspire others to discover their own empowered truth, to bravely step in and safely strip down... on the canvas, in their bodies, and in their own lives. She helps people to see their inherent beauty, shift negative body stories, and challenge external narratives that ultimately seek to take away their power. This space of greater awareness and liberation is where we tap into the source that fuels our most influential and effective actions - where create our life and impact. She is devoted to using her superpowers for positive social good!

 Studiofemme ☆ Faculty Member, Embody Love Movement CF-T

Melanie Rivers

Melanie is an Indigenous mixed media artist who teaches online art classes to women around the world. She helps women build joyful and self-compassionate art practices.

Melanie says, “Creating art brings me into the present moment, into stillness. In this space I am not dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. In stillness, I find myself. I find peace, clarity and connection with my real emotions”.

Melanie is from the Squamish First Nation in Vancouver, Canada. She lives in her community with her wonderful husband of 18 years (and their sweet cat) and she draws from her traditional ancestry and teachings in her art practice. She is also currently studying Expressive Arts Therapy.

In her art, she depicts the strength, realness and vulnerability of women. She believes art has many medicines to share with us—stillness, joy, connection-- and by building a self- compassionate art practice, we can experience these medicines on a regular basis.

Website ☆ Instagram ☆ Pinterest ☆ Facebook ☆ Youtube channel

Mary Beth Shaw

Mary Beth Shaw worked in the insurance industry for 18 years before she quit her job in 2000 to re-ignite a childhood love of art. Since then she has spent all her waking hours exploring life as a painter working in mixed media, primarily acrylic, encaustic and collage. She initially put in lots of hours as a road gypsy, exhibiting at outdoor art fairs and selling as many as 300 paintings in one very blurry year. She transitioned into being a workshop instructor in 2008 and finds pleasure helping students find their own voice as a painter. Her personal creative process is a dance between spontaneity and intent; she finds great joy in the physical act of painting and looks at her best work as a gift from a higher power. She welcomes mistakes because they so often provide a delightful detour into new territory. She is author of Flavor for Mixed Media and Stencil Girl, is a columnist for Somerset Studios Magazine and a Golden Artist Educator. She is the founder of StencilGirl® Products, LLC.

Mariëlle Stolp

Hi there! My name is Mariëlle Stolp. I live in the Netherlands with my daughters, my amazingly supportive husband and two naughty cats that are always trying to steal my supplies and ruin my attempts at filming tutorials. If weather permits I love to take a walk on the nearby beach and collect seashells with my youngest. And if not, I am more than happy to stay in and fill my journals with dreamy, boho-style or fairy-tale girls. I have three beautiful and bright daughters, so cute, giggly and sweet inspiration is always around. I would love to share that with you!

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Hali Karla

Hali L. Karla is a contemplative artist, teacher and creative-soul-caregiver who is passionate about helping others cultivate holistic perspective and creative practice as a tool for navigating life, relationships and times of change. She enjoys offering explorations to others that inspire self-acceptance + development, catalyze healing, celebrate wholeness and honor the mystery of interconnection.

Her experience as a lifelong artist and years as an end-of-life nurse - along with her passions for theology, astrology, and how we relate and perceive - all contribute to a rich framework for her approach and imagery.

When guiding others, Hali has been described as a heart-healer who “evokes a dynamic sense of the sacred," while holding safe space for making meaningful connections, brave truth-telling, and activating creative joy + courageous transformation.

Her daily prayer, faith and art practices guide and ground her life and work in the world.

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Year long workshop - $147