Saturday February 14th from 1-3:30 pm (Ellen will be with us until 2:30 pm however participants are welcome to continue drawing in the studio until 3:30pm)
Church of Art is pleased to announce our first guest artist event! Portland artist and meditation facilitator, Ellen Stern, will lead the first 1.5 hours of this workshop combining meditation and drawing for a luxuriously calming and creative experience. This gathering is an invitation to slow down, listen inwardly, and experience drawing as a contemplative practice. No meditation experience required and–as with all Church of Art workshops–openness to creative exploration is more relevant than artistic skills.
The workshop will begin with a 20-minute partially guided meditation offering a gentle settling into the body, breath, and present moment. Guidance will be light, leaving space for silence and personal inquiry. Following the meditation, participants will move into a period of quiet, guided art-making called “Drawing in Presence.” This practice emphasizes attention over outcome and brings meditation into the movement of the hand. We draw as a way of noticing sensation, thought, and stillness as they arise. Attention itself is the teacher. The workshop will wrap up with a final hour of unguided drawing time. Participants are invited to notice the movement of the hand, the rhythm of mark making, and the ongoing conversation between seeing, sensing, and responding.
What We’ll Use:
Meditation will be seated at the art tables (bring a yoga mat if you prefer to relax on the floor). For the drawing portion, graphite and colored pencils will be provided. Please bring your own sketchbook.
Where:
1801 NW Upshur St., Suite 310
***** Studio phone: 503-213-0878 *****
The studio is in a secured building, so Erika will meet you in the lobby 20 minutes before the start of the workshop.
If you are running late, please call the studio–do not text– when you arrive to be let in:
503-213-0878
Please CALL rather than text– in the commotion of people arriving and getting settled in, your text messages are likely to be missed.
Price:
$35 for workshop + $5 materials cost = $40 per person
Includes:
→20 minutes of guided meditation in a spacious, airy, and light-filled art studio
→Up to 2 hours of contemplative drawing time in a supportive, friendly environment
→Access to a beautiful array of high-quality graphite and colored pencils
→Light snacks + non-alcoholic beverages
→A feeling of calm connectedness and creativity to see you through the remainder of the day!
About Ellen:
Ellen Stern is an artist and meditation facilitator whose work is informed by ancestral lineage and contemplative practice. Influenced by elders in her life, who worked in photography, woodworking, fibers, and color, she learned early about attention, silence, and presence. Today, she weaves these inherited threads through her art and meditation, where making and awareness meet. To learn more about Ellen and see her gorgeous artwork and gallery schedule, please visit her website.
