In Person Workshops
Please scroll down to see the workshops I have available locally.
Enchanted Moon: Let the Magic In
An Expressive Arts Exploration
Studio 202, 1761 Capilano Road, North Vancouver
date being postponed
The teachings, magic and medicines of the moon will guide our explorations. This is an opportunity to express and connect with your creativity without judgment. No art or writing skills are needed. We will build community, connection, and energy.
Be nourished and revived through gentle movement and guided meditation. We will create our own medicine moon cards with a bit of art-making and capture the story of the moon in a short poem to add to the back of our cards. Bring your moon medicine card home as a daily reminder of the magic of the moon and how it can enhance our lives.
This is for...
anyone who is wanting to connect a little deeper with community, themselves and magic
those who may feel stuck in habits, patterns or ways of doing that are looking to expand, shift or simply BE
people who are curious about the world of creativity, imagination
those who want to be in the practice of deeper connection with the body and soul of themselves, others and the natural world we live with
Oceans Poem: Mini Art Journal Workshop
Create your own ocean inspired mini art journal. Using the colours of the ocean, Melanie will lead participants in creating a beautiful, watery background using acrylic inks. This background will be transformed into a mini journal that can be used to capture stories and inspiration from the ocean or as a place to write about one’s life. Melanie will lead participants in writing a short ocean inspired poem that can be added to the journal. No art or writing experience is needed. Melanie creates a safe and welcoming learning environment.
Materials:
art journal paper, collage papers, paints, brushes, felt pens
Please contact me if you are interested in hosting this workshop.
Between Roots and Rings
The cedar tree is strong and grounded, bringing hundreds of years of wisdom. This workshop will center around the qualities and medicines of the cedar tree (sounds, colours, textures, smells, emotions).
Participants will create their own mixed media painting of a tree woman (or man) using collage papers, book pages, and acrylic paints.
No previous art experience is needed. Melanie will walk you through each step, including writing your own short ‘story’ (3-4 lines) to go along with your painting (no writing experience is needed!!).
Melanie creates a safe and friendly learning environment, giving you the opportunity to explore your own creative expression.
Materials included:
11 x 14 wood cradle board, collage papers, book pages, paints, brushes
These tree women are strong, grounded. They connect and communicate through their roots— nourishing each other, expressing their needs and warning each other of danger. Each ring tells a story and situates her present within her life’s history— her periods of growth, times of being stuck, her traumas, when she flourished and where her scars are. Her unique story is found within and between these lines. Their story is intertwined through the spaces between them.
Please contact me if you are interested in hosting this workshop.
“I recently had the honour of working one-on-one with Melanie creating my first multi-media portrait. Faces were not my forte, but it was a fun and challenging process diving into a new medium. Melanie guided me through the process step-by-step, without judgment - just gentle support and encouragement - offering me suggestions and options throughout. I experienced a spectrum of emotions in the process, from surprise at how wonderful some of the techniques looked, to strong negative judgment of my own creation. After getting off the emotional roller coaster of self-judgment, I now look at my painting with appreciation and wonder, and love it enough to place it by my meditation altar! Melanie’s calm and playful style helped me to take creative risks and have fun with the process”
Natures’ Medicine: A Mixed Media Creativity Workshop
Create your own nature inspired mixed media piece in this creativity workshop. Using stencils, collage papers, and printed imagery of ferns, ravens, eagles... you will create a layered piece and incorporate textures and words.
Melanie will share teachings from her Squamish ancestry on connecting to the land, animals, and birds. She will guide you through a meditation to connect with the imagery for your piece and lead you step by step in creating it.
By the end of the session, you will leave with your own uniquely expressed piece that you can hang on your own wall or give as a gift. Relax and enjoy yourself in this welcoming workshop held in a safe learning environment. If you are new to art, Melanie welcomes the opportunity to introduce you to it.
Materials included:
10 x 10 wood cradle board (ready to hang), collage papers, book pages, paints, brushes, imagery, stencils, acrylic mediums
Aprons supplied, but wear clothes you don’t mind getting paint on (just in case).
Please contact me if you are interested in hosting this workshop.
Workshop Sneak Peak
Create Your Own Set of Medicine Cards
This workshop is for those who want to enjoy a creative activity while engaging in conversation about finding more balance in life.
Melanie will lead you through the steps to create your own personalized set of Medicine Cards. You will assemble collage elements with words and acrylic paint on to wooden cards. You do not need any art experience to create a beautiful set of cards.
Relax and enjoy yourself in this welcoming workshop held in a friendly environment.
By the end of the session, you will leave with your very own personal set of Medicine Cards. These cards are a reminder tool to help you bring more of what you want in your every day life.
Materials included:
10 wooden cards, collage papers, book pages, paints, brushes, felt pens, medicine words, mini-bag for cards
Please contact me if you would like to host this workshop.
Workshop Sneak Peak
