Ready... set... launch!
New paintings, fall CreativiTEA workshops, and picture book pre-orders
After the blazing-hot weather we had a couple of weeks ago, Calgary has cooled off significantly. I almost don’t want to write the word and tempt the weather gods, but it’s genuinely starting to feel like… fall.
As we roll steadily towards September, there is a feeling of a reset and new beginnings, and that couldn’t be more true for all the things I have on the go.
So let’s get into it.
New original paintings available
After selling through every original painting I had in my online store, I finally have two new acrylics available.
Both of these are quite small—6x8” and 6x6”—but they’re packed with tiny brushstrokes and detail. They’re also painted on gallery-width canvas, so they can either be hung on a wall or placed freestanding to brighten up a bookshelf.
While I am planning to get back to creating more originals, my painting style is so time-consuming that my original paintings will likely continue to be pretty rare.
So, if you’ve been waiting, now’s the time…
CreativiTEA workshops return in September
We’re kicking off a new season with our ever-popular Presence Through Painting workshop on Sunday, September 27th from 1-3pm at Atelier Artista in cSPACE Marda Loop. In this acrylic painting workshop, I will be teaching how to use painting as a tool for mindfulness by centring one’s focus on working with the paint in the present moment.
What is a CreativiTEA?
CreativiTEA is a monthly in-person workshop series that combines a fun, insightful art-making activity with community building through creativity.
In designing and hosting the CreativiTEA workshops, Stefan and I blend our skills in creativity coaching and mental health to create unique, meaningful experiences for participants. We both strongly believe that creativity and art-making can be powerful tools for self-discovery and improving mental health.
Each two-hour CreativiTEA workshop includes:
a guided art-making activity with all the supplies provided
socializing with tea and delicious goodies—also provided
We have 10 months of workshops planned for the 2026/2027 season with a slew of brand new workshops along with returning favourites.
New Fall/Winter season pass option!
You can now purchase workshops individually for $30, or sign up for all four upcoming workshops for $100.
Presence through Painting - Sunday, September 27th
Inner and Outer Masks - Sunday, October 18th
Backwards, Forwards - Sunday, November 15th
Gratitude Time Capsules - Sunday, December 13th
(Eventbrite listings for the October to December workshops will be posted soon.)
We’ve been planning this next round of workshops for months, and we’re so excited to invite folks to see what we’ve come up with. I hope you’ll join us!
“The Perfect Ride” is available for pre-order
Last week, I unexpectedly received my advance copy from Owlkids Books of the picture book I illustrated, “The Perfect Ride.”
There is something that hits different about actually holding a book you’ve had a hand in creating. I was reminded of how illustrating a picture book has been on my bucket list for so many years. How I had taken two different continuing studies courses on picture book illustration. How I drew thumbnail sketches of the illustrations on my back in my hospital bed in the fall of 2024.
Needless to say, it has been a wild ride!
“The Perfect Ride” won’t be published until January 26, 2027, but it is possible to preorder the book right now from Indigo, Amazon and independent booksellers such as Pages in Kensington (Calgary).