Awaken the Artist Within – Evolution
March 30 – April 3, 2026 – Esalen Institute, Big Sur
When you do things from your soul, you feel a river
moving in you, a joy. —Rumi
Embark on a five-day journey of artistic discovery in a creative space that nurtures playful practice and community above all. This immersive multimedia experience is an invitation to explore an array of techniques and mediums, including:
- Torn paper collage
- Color field painting
- Observational sketching
- Acrylic and watercolor painting
- Free writing
Together, we’ll explore and learn to weave these seemingly contrasting concepts into a robust framework for your unique creative ideas, nourished by the palpable energy of this place. Allow curiosity, playfulness, and experimentation to guide you as outcomes organically surface, transforming your impulses into intentional artistic expression.
No prior art experience is needed. If you’re ready to awaken your inner artist and cultivate your distinctive voice, this workshop is for you!
Painting Tuscany – Inside and Out
October, 2026 – Tenuta di Spannocchia – Tuscany Italy
with Erin Lee Gafill & Tom Birmingham
8 Nights Total
7 nights – at Spannocchia, 1 night in Rome
This year we’ll have a Tuscan Sketch Holiday. We’ll have beautiful, relaxing days at Spannocchia, as well as sketch excursions to two Tuscan hill towns. On the way to Spannocchia, we’ll spend the afternoon is Orvieto.
Each day we’ll explore diverse ideas of composition, technique, and observation, using watercolor, pen and ink, and pencil.
Intuitive Stitching – slow stitching and organic design
September, 2026 – Tenuta San Carlo – Tuscan Coast, Italy
with Erin Lee Gafill & Emily Birmingham
7 nights – at Tenuta San Carlo, 1 night in Rome
Sketching the City – Rome & Orvieto
Erin Lee Gafill & Tom Birmingham
5 days – 4 nights in Orvieto
Introduction to Intuitive Quilting
Coming Soon!
Learn how to stitch, design, and quilt a textile entirely by hand! In this three hour workshop, you will learn new skills, tap into your intuition, enjoy slow-stitching with new friends, and explore a variation of Kawandi-style (outside in) quilt methods. Bust into your fabric stash, up-cycle old garments, and create an individual work of art!
If you’re exhausted from over-thinking, curious about slow-stitching and/or upcycling, have an ever-growing stash of mis-matched textiles, enjoy the companionship of other stitchers, or any of the above, this is the workshop for you! No skills or previous experience necessary.