Creative drop-in day

Often, when we do creative work, it is a solitary process that takes place in an enclosed room. On November 20th, we opened our doors to the community to take part in our open studio, where people came by, created, and worked on any projects. During this time, people connected with one another with the common ground of their love for the arts. 

We had different working stations from journaling, air dry clay, and drawing and painting. There was also a section for light refreshments for when people need to refuel. 

Here are some activities that took place during this time.

Junk Journaling

We provided the materials needed for the activity; the rest is about one’s imagination and creativity. Junk journaling is creating a journal where you can collage various pieces from magazines, printouts, fabric, ephemera, and more. It’s a great way to put upcycling to use on any pieces that are lying around. Collaging is also an effective method for overcoming artist’s block since most pieces are already laid out, all that’s left is putting it together. Here, we had a mother and daughter join us by adding pieces to their journal, a practice they’ve been doing for years. 

Air-dry clay

Using a lump of clay, the imagination is limitless on what we can create. The table was full with various projects, ranging from creating a garden gnome, mushrooms, a lighthouse, and more. In this hand-building activity, participants use their hands or sculpting tools to sculpt their desired product. After 24 hours, the clay fully sets and becomes ready for display. It was beautiful seeing how differently each person’s imagination came to life.

Creative writing and drawing challenge

With a prompt jar, this section allowed individuals to push the confines of their comfort zone by having a prompt guide their creative process. Some of these prompts include: 

• write a story around someone trying to change a prophecy, 
• draw a city built on the backs of enormous sleeping turtles, 
• draw a portrait of someone, but their shadow tells a different story. 

Prompts are a nice way of bringing various ideas to life that we may not have previously thought about. It also lets in experimentation with a new writing style or subject, allowing one to step out of their comfort zone.

Soft pastels

If you want to experiment with creating soft texture while also achieving a realistic look, using soft pastels can be the next medium to explore. During the creative drop-in day, we had an instructor Angel lead a workshop on using soft pastels. Here, people were able to learn about layering and blending for smoothness, and using techniques for light reflection and composition balance. There was also someone who used these soft pastels to create a large portrait drawing entirely using soft pastels. An impressive feat considering the open hours was only 2 hours long! 

Conclusion

By creating with the community, we explore more parts of ourselves, explore our passions, and ignite that same passion in others. Open Studio Day was a warm and inspiring gathering, reminding us how meaningful it is to create alongside others. If you’re looking for a fun way to meet new people while working on a creative project, our open studios offer a special opportunity to connect with art and community.

To stay updated on upcoming sessions, follow us on Instagram or check our upcoming one-day workshops.

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