A Collective Offering

We are excited to launch two special communal workshops designed to promote healing and create spaces for calm: Collective Collage and Watercolor Meditations.

Collective Collage emphasizes the fun and creativity of pooling individual pieces into a shared "pot" of art. Participants begin by creating their own unique designs, but the magic happens when these fragments are placed together in a collective space, allowing everyone to contribute and work with pieces made by others. This process fosters connection, trust, and collaboration, making it ideal for teams seeking to strengthen bonds and embrace the unexpected.

Watercolor Meditations, on the other hand, offers a more introspective experience, guiding participants through a calming and reflective process with flowing colors and shapes. It’s perfect for unwinding, recharging, and fostering personal mindfulness.

Both workshops combine individual expression with a shared journey, whether through collaborative creation or a mutual focus on inner calm. Choose the experience that best aligns with your goals—team connection or personal self-care.

WATERCOLOR MEDITATIONS

A serene and immersive watercolor workshop where participants explore vibrant hues and abstract forms, channeling their emotions and thoughts onto paper. This experience combines individual artistic expression with a shared sense of presence, fostering mindfulness, relaxation, and self-discovery through the soothing medium of watercolors. Together, participants create artworks that reflect resilience, inner peace, and the joy of being present in the moment.

Collective Collage

An artful and collaborative collage workshop where participants craft unique cutout shapes from colorful, textured materials and contribute them to a shared community “pot.” This experience blends individual creativity with a collective effort, fostering deeper connections through art, healing, and community. Centered around the idea of “putting the pieces together,” this workshop serves as a powerful metaphor for rebuilding and coming together in these times, creating a shared artworks that reflect resilience, unity, and hope.

Healing Through Action

Let’s Carry THE Water

One of the best things about Los Angeles is that it’s a city of doers. People make things happen. They mobilize quickly, and things don’t have to be perfect—they just get started. I’ve seen amazing volunteer opportunities recently and have been planning on how I can contribute, both from San Francisco and when I’m in Los Angeles next week.

Last Sunday, I attended Grace Cathedral to celebrate MLK and listened to a powerful story that has stayed with me. The interfaith preacher The Rev. Canon J. Sierra Reyes spoke about the Los Angeles fires and the parable of turning water into wine, but her focus wasn’t on the miracle itself—it was on our role in the story.

She said: The question is not why there is suffering. The question is, what can we do about it?

We’re not here to explain why things are the way they are. We’re here to act. To participate. To fill the jars with water, even if it feels small or ordinary.

Our work isn’t to offer answers or explanations; it’s to carry the water.

We carry it in our generosity. We carry it in the ways we honor the dignity of every human being. We carry it in how we care for our communities.

We all have something to offer. No one is less than. Even the smallest actions ripple outward and can transform the world in ways we can’t always see.

This message hit me deeply, and I hope it resonates with you too. What’s one small jar of water we can fill today? See below for my ideas.

The photos here show the botanical ink art we made in our healing Ojai retreat after the Ojai fires. It was such a cathartic experience to make together after a very devastating time.

PS: If you’re in the Silver Lake area, I love the Block Shop Textiles community initiative! They’ve recently opened an art community room with volunteers that’s such a gift.

PPS: I also want to share a few new experiences I have curated to focus on healing. I will send more details in our next newsletter. See the link below for a preview of our new brochure.

Buy One, Gift One FREE

We’re spreading joy and kindness with a special offer: Buy One, Gift One FREE to someone in need. 💕 When you purchase an experience for your team members, you’ll also be giving the gift of creativity, wellness, or inspiration to someone who could really use it. Because the best gifts are the ones that ripple outward and make the world a little brighter.

Thank you to all the people who have reached out to plan some ideas. We have some projects in the works. I am happy to chat with more potential partners who can help with spaces and connections.

I’ve been exploring more ideas on how our corporate experiences can give back to the Los Angeles community. One idea is for companies to hire us for their team events, with a special program that includes a give-back component. For every participant in a workshop, we could donate an art kit to someone in Los Angeles impacted by the recent fires. For example, if your company hosts a watercolor experience for 30 team members, we could provide 30 kits to local individuals in need of creative support. Additionally, we can promote this initiative on the client's/your social media channels, inviting members of your affected community to claim the donated kits on a first-come, first-served basis. We can fulfill the kits directly and host an additional virtual session for the recipients, providing them with a recording if they cannot attend live. This initiative not only fosters creativity and connection but also provides meaningful support to those who could benefit from a creative outlet.

If you're interested in planning an in-person event that helps your team and LA, I’d love to collaborate! With limited in person spots available the first week of February in Los Angeles and opportunities to host Bay Area teams mid-month, let’s work together to create a meaningful experience that gives back to your team and the LA community. Reach out to secure your spot!

Magical, Mindful and Mossy

A Week in the Redwoods

I spent my birthday week connecting with nature, visiting three stunning redwood parks that reminded me of the beauty and energy these majestic giants hold. I started at Muir Woods, then ventured to the Forest of Nisene Marks near Santa Cruz (with Reba my dog my 80 year old dad doing the 3+ hour hike) and finally explored Huddart Park in Woodside with an LA expat friend. These preserved sanctuaries are a gift, and I’m endlessly grateful to live so close to them—within just an hour's drive from home.

I took time to breathe in the fresh, revitalizing air, touch the soft moss, and soak in the grounding energy of these ancient trees. There’s a timeless calm in the redwoods, a reminder of nature's resilience and peace, and it inspires much of what I do. This connection with nature is something I want to share with others, and it’s what fuels the experiences we create in our Living Moss and Living Wreath Experiences.

These kits make perfect holiday and corporate gifts—creative, hands-on, and rooted in mindfulness. Each kit includes preserved moss, letting participants craft two beautiful panels using vibrant textures and colors. It’s an activity where everyone feels successful, and there’s something magical about bringing a touch of nature indoors. Who doesn’t love moss? It’s not just about making art; it’s about creating a moment of calm, connection, and appreciation for the natural world. 🌿

Forest Bathing to Reduce Anxiety and Calm the Mind

Research underscores the psychological and physiological benefits of forest bathing. Studies show that spending time in natural settings lowers cortisol levels, the body's primary stress hormone, reducing anxiety and promoting a sense of peace. The practice also enhances parasympathetic nervous system activity, which is associated with relaxation and the body's ability to recover from stress.

Forest bathing engages all senses, encouraging participants to slow down and fully experience the environment. By observing the gentle sway of trees, inhaling the earthy aroma of moss, listening to the rustling leaves, or feeling the texture of bark, individuals foster mindfulness—a state of being present that quiets mental chatter and cultivates inner calm.

For those who don’t live near a redwood forest or other natural sanctuaries, our Moss Art Experience is the next best thing. This unique practice allows participants to connect with nature in a new and meaningful way.

By reconnecting with the natural world—whether through a walk among towering trees or an artful exploration of moss—individuals can find solace, serenity, and a renewed sense of balance.

Make Art with Moss

Our Living Moss Art experience is a unique journey that combines the tranquility of Shinrin-Yoku, or forest bathing, with the creative expression of preserved moss art. As we immerse ourselves in the serene beauty of nature, we draw inspiration from the vibrant greens and delicate textures of the forest. This meditative process not only reconnects us with the natural world but also allows us to channel that serenity into our art. By carefully arranging preserved moss, we create living pieces that reflect the harmony and peace found in the woods, bringing a touch of the forest's magic into our everyday lives.

Camp Minted 2024: Inks + Intentions

A Mindful Art Experience at Camp Minted

After last year’s well-received Mindful Watercolors session, I was thrilled to be invited to return to Camp Minted 2024. I traveled to Atlanta for three days of workshops with an incredible mix of staff and fellow artists. Artists were invited to pitch ideas and propose sessions for this special conference, and my ideas were selected once again. As part of the experience, I had the honor of hosting the special closing ceremony, where I led a group of 70+ Minted artists and employees through our “Go with the Flow: Inks and Intentions” workshop. We began with a mindful meditation to ground everyone in the moment, followed by reading custom Intention cards, and then moved into a shared art project that allowed us to explore our creativity collectively. It was such a special opportunity to deepen connections within the Minted Artist community! The entire experience was a wonderful reminder of the power of live interactions and the joy of coming together to create something meaningful.

Coming Together in an AI World

What struck me most after returning from Camp Minted, where AI dominated many conversations, was the undeniable value of human, in-person connections. While AI helps us write, create, and design, what truly makes us human is our ability to come together, share, learn, and engage with one another. There is so much value in the process of spending time, having meaningful conversations, and sharing experiences. While the world may be shifting away from these moments, the power of art remains a grounding force.

At Crave Workshops, we design each of my experiences to embrace creativity as a journey, ensuring that everyone feels empowered and inspired. The key lies in simplicity—the act of making something with our hands reduces stress and fosters calm. While technology enables us to ship kits worldwide and host workshops via Zoom, the core of what we do remains human. The heart of our work is to connect people, to bring us back to the basics of creativity and to remind us of the importance of coming together, especially in a tech-driven world.

CRAVE IN THE VINEYARDS: Nurturing Creative Wellness

A Fusion of Art, Mindfulness, and Connection

In a fast-paced world filled with constant demands and stressors, the importance of prioritizing mental and emotional well-being cannot be overstated. Crave Workshops stands at the forefront of a transformative approach to self-care, blending the therapeutic benefits of art with the convenience of in-person and virtual classes. These workshops not only unlock the doors to creativity but also cultivate a holistic sense of wellness.

Crave Workshops is more than just an art class; it's a sanctuary for self-discovery, mindfulness, and personal growth. The workshops offer a unique blend of artistic expression, guided meditation, and community building. Whether conducted in person or virtually, the emphasis is on creating an inclusive space where participants can explore their creativity without judgment.

I art-directed a stunning photoshoot for Crave Workshops, set against the picturesque backdrop of Napa Valley's vineyards, with the goal of capturing the profound connection between art, wellness, and nature. My vision was to showcase how the beauty of the natural world can enhance the creative process, offering a sense of peace and inspiration that is central to Crave’s philosophy. To bring this concept to life, I meticulously organized a talented team, including a photographer and stylist, who shared my passion for blending art with the serene landscapes of Napa.

The shoot was designed to highlight the benefits of engaging with art in nature, demonstrating how outdoor creative practices can promote wellness and mindfulness. By positioning our art sessions amidst the breathtaking vineyards, I aimed to convey how the natural surroundings amplify the therapeutic effects of art, helping participants connect more deeply with their inner selves. This art alfresco approach not only emphasizes the beauty of the creative process but also underscores the importance of immersing oneself in nature as a means of fostering well-being.

Through thoughtful direction and a keen eye for detail, I successfully captured the harmonious relationship between art and nature, illustrating how the tranquil beauty of Napa Valley serves as the perfect setting for creative wellness. The resulting images reflect the serenity and inspiration that come from working within such a picturesque environment, reinforcing the idea that art, when intertwined with nature, can be a powerful tool for personal growth and rejuvenation.

Photos by Amy Thompson Brand Photography

Creative Self Care for Minted

Camp Minted 2024
Workshop Leader

I'm excited to share that I'll be teaching a session for all of Camp Minted this year! Last year, I led a watercolor meditations session for over 85 participants, and it was incredibly well-received. The feedback was so positive that I’ve been invited to teach a session for all Camp Minted attendees and Minted team members this time around. It's a huge honor to be invited to teach a session for a third time at Camp Minted! I started in 2019 with a block printing workshop, and my involvement has only grown since then.

Camp Minted is a conference where Minted artists from around the world come together to connect, learn from one another, and meet the Minted team. I absolutely love attending—it's always so inspiring to be surrounded by other artists. I can't wait to teach another session this year!

A CREATIVE PRACTICE

When I teach art, I approach it as a mindful practice, much like a yoga class. It's about finding flow, connecting with others, and feeling truly present in the moment. Art, when practiced this way, becomes a powerful tool for wellness and self-care. It helps to center the mind, reduce stress, and promote a deep sense of peace and well-being. Through this mindful approach, art becomes not just a creative outlet but a practice in self-awareness and connection.

This year at Camp Minted 2024, we will loosen up as we play with air and ink to create fun, exciting, and colorful abstract paintings. In this special experience, we will let go of perfectionism and go with the flow, allowing the inks to guide us. Alcohol inks are an excellent medium for all skill levels due to their forgiving nature and dynamic effects. Their vibrant, prismatic colors create an ever-changing landscape that dances across the surface. We foster a safe zone where everyone can be unapologetically themselves—unique and beautiful.

Gratitude Rocks

See our latest art practice where we teach how to paint colorful patterns and create “gratitude rocks.” The process allows us to focus, slow down and ease anxiety. I share different painting techniques and designs. Painting lines and shapes and playing with color is a mindful meditation.

I am definitely a person who is “on the go” and moving forward busy with lots of ideas. This practice is helping me not to move forward as much but sit in the present and appreciate this moment. To think about where I am. ⁣My hope for the gratitude rocks was also this. I am trying to help us slow down, pause, paint a simple pattern and take the time to enjoy the stillness and the time for self reflection. What do you guys think? What helps you slow down and practice this?

Flower Mandala

This art lesson makes a beautiful flower mandala. It’s a meditative practice where we arrange a piece of art with petals, take a photo, and then let it be. We practice embracing the beauty of impermanence, letting go and being in the present moment.

Spending time in nature can bring a sense of peace and relaxation. Nature can help calm and slow down your mind. Gathering flowers and looking for beauty will provide our active meditation. 
Go for a walk. Look at the exuberant color that is bursting this spring. Gather flowers that speak to your soul. Small moments of beauty. They can be delicate. This can involve pebbles, flowers, leaves. Don’t take too many but think about creating an arrangement with what is readily available.In making your mandala, start in the center. Start laying out the flowers around it in a circle.

What I love about this practice is its ephemeral nature. This is something that I need to embrace more. Appreciating the value in something in the short time it exists and being ok with its impermanence. I’m learning to value beauty when I see it, and try to minimize expectations for the future or regrets about the past. Even now, during quarantine, I’m thinking of the past and the future rather than sitting here in the present. I need to absorb it and appreciate it better. Somehow these practices, slowing down and having patience to arrange a mandala flower by flower, petal by petal, are helping me with the present. ⁣

STEPS⁣

• Take a moment + write down in a notebook several words that describe your current state of mind.⁣ Notice the pace of your thinking, moving, walking. ⁣

• Then go for a walk for an hour. Put away your cell phone for that one hour, so you won’t be distracted by anything other than where you are. ⁣

• Look around you.⁣
  What colors do you see?⁣
  What shapes intrigue you?⁣

• Pick up little treasures along the way that attract you: a twig, a flower, a leaf, a piece of bark, stones.⁣ After an hour, notice how you feel.⁣

• When you’ve gathered up enough materials, find an area you’ll feel completely comfortable and at ease to make your mandala.⁣

• Start from the center and build outwards. The mandala can be a circle, square, diamond, whatever suits you!⁣ Keep building or changing the design up until you're completely happy with your beautiful creation.⁣

• When the time comes to part ways with your mandala, you can leave it for strangers to enjoy, return all of the little treasure back to where they came from or make a flower offering. The choice is yours!

Sun Prints

In continuing our Art with Nature series, this exercise has us making art in our backyard. We are teaching a special photographic process called Cyanotypes, or making sun prints. The process is a magical method where the sun exposes the shapes of the pants. It creates a permanent pattern based on a temporary moment.

Nature heals. Breathing in the air, holding nature in our palms provides a connection to the natural world. We pause. We are calmed. We focus on the moment at hand.

Have fun with arranging these plants on your sun paper. Think about their shapes and the composition of the page. What is a pleasing way of creating this garden bouquet?

Sunprints are our favorite things to make. Printing with the sun and plants is a meditative process that allows us to surrender to the moment. We embrace the unknown and await the discovery of what will be revealed.

STEPS⁣⁣

• Gather supplies. Purchase sunprint paper.⁣⁣

• Gather plants.⁣⁣

• Practice arranging plants before taking sunprint paper out.⁣⁣

• In dark room, put plants and paper under glass. Clip together.⁣⁣

• Bring outside into sunlight. Mid day works best.⁣⁣

• Leave in the sun (expose) for 1-2 minutes.

• The blue will turn brown.⁣⁣

• Unclip and quickly put into tub of water.⁣⁣

• Watch your image get exposed.⁣⁣

• Wash off solution and take out of water to dry.⁣⁣

• Add a splash of hydrogen peroxide to darken the color.⁣⁣

Shadow Drawings

Let’s connect and make art together. We start with drawing shadows from nature. This video teaches how to begin a meditative art practice while drawing shadows from the sun. We believe art is a practice to inspire self-awareness, ease anxiety, and promote personal growth. During a time where many circumstances outside of our control fuel anxiety, we turn to art as a tool for healing and bringing calm into the world.

Where do we even start? Creativity can be a challenge, as the hardest step is usually the first step. So, we decided to make it simple. You can start with a piece of paper, some flower or plant and a pencil. Go outside. Soak in the light and the sunshine. If there is no sunshine, grab a light and look at the wonderful world unfolding under your gaze. Shadows are the most magical things. They transform reality into a two dimensional form. Simple and beautiful. And so, this week’s practice uses the sun to trace shadows and draw nature. 

Our video shows how to draw with nature using shadows and plants. Drawing contours is a simple but very effective meditation. Let your pencil guide you as you trace around the shapes. Drawing eases anxiety and calms your mind through the meditative process. Let your hands lead and your mind follow. Make and don’t overthink!

Creating a Vision Board

Art is a practice to inspire self-awareness, ease anxiety, and promote personal growth. During a time where many circumstances outside of our control fuel anxiety, we turn to art as a tool for healing and bringing calm into the world. We are excited to offer this new how-to" series that will hopefully inspire you in this time of uncertainty. 

The best way to begin this series is with a vision board. Vision boards are incredibly useful and inspiring as visualization is one of the most powerful activities. If you're ready to follow your dreams, continue reading on below for Agnes's tutorial on how to envision and create a vision board with stuff you find in your home and why it's important.

CREATING YOUR VISION BOARD

We are living in a very stressful time—many circumstances outside of our control fuel anxiety and worry. As a way of mitigating our stress and our fears, you can choose to focus inward. You can control what you think. You can choose to focus on the positive you see. You can look at what brings you calm and what brings you joy. It's important to take the time to focus on where you are now and where you want to be when you have the chance to move forward.

Creating a discovery board, or a few will allow you to focus inward, reflect on words that help calm our minds, and provide inspiration and happiness. Think of this process as a scavenger hunt, a journey of discovery.

FINDING YOUR INSPIRATION

The first step involves flipping through magazines you already have at home and cutting out words that resonate with you. It's important to begin looking for words and phrases that inspire you. Using magazines you already have at home allows you to be resourceful, repurposing the pages to create new art. Looking at something you have already seen with fresh eyes is an important aspect of the process to go through as it allows you to appreciate what you have. Moreover, flipping through a physical magazine, and tearing things out also helps calm the mind through using our hands. 

For my vision board, I looked through travel magazines to cut out my inspiration, but you can look through any publication that you value. Maybe your quotes come from home decor magazines or fashion magazines. As long as it resonates with you, it's all that matters.

WHY VISION BOARDS? 

Part of the idea behind this project is that art should be something we don't "think too much about" but rather let our hands lead, and our minds follow. By connecting with things that resonate on a gut level, you uncover subconscious beliefs you might not be aware of before. 

During the process of making vision boards, take the time to reflect on words that you find essential or inspiring. Start adding those words together to form guided paths of your beliefs. Ask yourself the following:

What do you want to bring into my life? 
What do you value right now? 

This journey will help you identify what you gravitate towards, what you want more of in your life, and what ultimately brings you the most joy.

GETTING STARTED 

Before getting started on your vision board, ask yourself the following questions: 
Where are you?
What do you value? 
Where do you want to be right now?
Where do you want to go?
It’s important to participate in self-reflection. 

WHAT YOU WILL NEED 

For this project, you should be able to find everything you need in your house. 

• 8.5x11 Poster (this is a good starting size, you can go bigger)

• Magazines/ Publications of your choice ( limit to 2-3) 

• Scissors 

• Tape or Glue Stick

4 STEPS

STEP 1: Get your supplies. Limit it to 2-3 magazines that resonate with you. 

STEP 2: Cut out/tear the word and phrases that stand out to you. Think about what words jump out of you, what you find beautiful or interesting, and what speaks ultimately speaks to you. It's important during this process to not overthink it or look on the computer for ideas. 

STEP 3: Organize. Take all of the words, phrases, and images you cut and organize in piles based on ideas, colors, and type. 

STEP 4: Paste. Glue cutouts on to the posters. Create as many vision boards as you chose

IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER 

Remember, there is no right way to create a vision board. Make the vision board yours and tear the paper, cut it into circles, whatever you like. The journey is just as important as the end result. It's a meditative process, don’t rush and take your time. Another way to think about it as a manifest collage, cut out the words you want to see more of. Visualize and envision that for your future. At the end, what you find may in fact surprise you.