Join us for a brand new community group with local artist Miranda Wildman this summer!
Located at our new space @ Cotton Mill Studios in the heart of the River Arts District of Asheville
A Six Week Journey of Creative Discovery & Community
JOIN US IN THE STUDIO!
OFFERED ON SCHEDULED THURSDAYS FROM 5:30-8:00PM
All materials provided. BYO snacks.
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The Beautiful Beginning: Making Friends with the Sketchbook
We begin by loosening up, making messy marks, and creating pages without pressure or perfection. Participants will layer watercolor paints to build intuitive backgrounds and playful foundations.
We’ll explore:
The history of art journaling
Beginning in the middle instead of the first page
Letting pages evolve naturally
Intuitive color palettes
Prompt Ideas:
Resist perfection.
Make messy art. No planning.
Create a space to land.
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Color Stories & Landscapes
Painting Feeling into the Page
This session explores color as emotion, memory, atmosphere, and intuition. Participants will experiment with water soluble utensils to create pages that feel expressive, dreamy, and alive.
We’ll explore:
Creating with mood and movement
Building texture through layering and experimentation
Soft layers, washes, and expressive marks
Prompt Ideas:
Fill a page that feels like sunlight.
What inside you is beginning to soften?
Create with only 2–3 colors. Go slow.
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Marks, Scribbles & Wild Lines
Playful Drawing & Experimental Materials
Participants will loosen their grip and explore expressive drawing through charcoal, graphite, colored pencils, crayons, markers, and pens.
We’ll explore:
Repeating patterns and rhythmic marks
Scribbling, shading, smudging, and layering
Drawing without overthinking
Using movement and music as inspiration
Prompt Ideas:
What does the music look like?
Create repeating patterns with shapes or words.
Switch mediums. Try something new.
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Tiny Treasures & Found Things
Creating with What We Have
Old maps, receipts, fabric scraps, wrapping paper, handwritten notes, packaging, thread, pressed leaves, ticket stubs, and forgotten objects become beautiful ingredients for storytelling and collage.
We’ll explore:
Sustainable and intuitive artmaking
Combining personal materials with paint and drawing
Layered collage composition
Turning ordinary objects into meaningful art
Prompt Ideas:
Tell the page about a beautiful moment.
Give an object a voice.
Describe the view from here.
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Timeless Textures
Building the Worlds We Want with Layers
Participants will experiment with unique handmade papers, collage ephemera, fibers, acrylic paint, and special art materials gathered and created by Miranda
We’ll explore:
Layering different mixed media materials to create atmospheres
Textiles and tactile materials that evoke emotions
Imaginative landscapes and dreamlike environments
Prompt Ideas:
Envision the place where mountains meet the ocean.
What does the night sky look like somewhere else in the world?
Create a page inspired by travel, memory, or imagination.
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Keeping the Magic Going
Thriving with Your Sketchbook
Our final gathering focuses on building a lasting creative practice and carrying inspiration into everyday life.
We’ll explore:
Creative rituals and sustainable inspiration
Portable travel art kits
Travel-inspired sketchbook pages
Continuing a sketchbook practice at home or on the go
Sharing pages, discoveries, and favorite moments from the series
Prompt Ideas:
Create a space you want to return to.
What part of yourself appeared in these pages?
Begin the next page before leaving.