Maps are fascinating. They’re visual tools that can tell us where we’re going, or record where we’ve been. They can be analytical or whimsical, realistic or imaginary, historical or futuristic. No matter what, they always tell some kind of story: of the people who make them, the places they depict, and the time period they were made in.

If the story of your life was a map, what would it look like? This class will be a journey of imagination and discovery for artists and enthusiasts at any level, as you create personalized mixed-media maps based on your own history and experiences. Stephanie will use some guided writing exercises to help you dig up images and stories from your life, then help turn what you find into an expressive piece of art. She will also demo techniques for creating map-like imagery with found papers and acrylic paint, including collage, image transfer, and drawing.

“This workshop freed up my inhibitions, let me just play, try stuff, no pressure, no right or wrong, it was a wonderful, freeing and immersive experience.” Susan Reid

 About the Instructor:  Stephanie has a BA from the UofA, and has studied traditional weaving arts under several teachers in Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina. She is an artist, writer, and traveler; when she’s not working on art you can find her on some kind of adventure — riding her motorcycle through small towns, backcountry camping, or flying to another country. Her current mission is to help people who have lost touch with their creativity find their way back to their creative selves. She blogs about creativity and her own creative adventures at www.stephaniemedford.com. She teaches workshops in printmaking, mixed media, and mindfulness and the creative process.

$80 + Supply List - Participants get 20% off supplies at The Paint Spot

10007 80 Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta

Register here

New exercises to promote mindfulness through drawing.

Mindfulness is the practice of being in the present moment and developing an awareness of what’s happening within us: our emotions, physical sensations and thoughts. In a world that can’t stop moving, it’s a great way to slow down and find some peace. It’s also the perfect accompaniment to any art practice since it helps to calm the judgmental voice in your mind that says your work isn’t good enough.

In this class, we’ll practice slowing down and enjoying the moment. We’ll start with a guided breathing exercise to help us get calm and centred. Next we’ll experiment with blind contour and drawing by touch, watching what happens in our minds and bodies as we draw. Stephanie will then demonstrate how to draw mandalas, which promote meditation and contemplation. Finally, we’ll practice letting go of judgment and our inner critic by drawing a series of 50 faces on Post-its. Throughout the class we’ll learn to move through resistance and focus on the process rather than the end result.

Whether you have taken Mindfulness through Drawing with Stephanie Medford or not – or even if you are a complete beginner at drawing – this is an enjoyable and useful class.

Where: The Paint Spot's Artelier, 10007 80 Ave

Cost: $80 + Supplies. Participants get 20% off supplies at the Paint Spot.

Register here

How often do you walk around your neighborhood without really noticing what’s there? What wonders might you discover if you started to pay more attention to your surrounding? Elizabeth Gilbert says that, “When you are attentive you see that every hour is different. It's a new universe every minute."

In this workshop, we’ll go for a walk around the neighborhood and use all our senses to explore and discover. Then we’ll return to the gallery to create a mixed media artwork based on what we found. We'll learn to open up our eyes and ears to the creative inspiration that is all around us as we practice observation, mindfulness, and non-judgement.

Supplies for mixed media artwork will be provided.

Where: Bleeding Heart Art Space, 9140 118th Ave

Cost: $25

Register here

Mindfulness is the practice of being in the present moment and developing an awareness of what’s happening within us: our emotions, physical sensations and thoughts. In a world that can’t stop moving, it’s a great way to slow down and find some peace. It’s also the perfect accompaniment to any art practice since it helps to calm the judgmental voice in your mind that says your work isn’t good enough.

In this workshop, we’ll practice slowing down and enjoying the moment by experimenting with mark-making and following our intuition. Along the way, we’ll learn to move through resistance and judgment and focus on the process rather than the end result.

Where: Bleeding Heart Art Space, 9140 118th Ave

Cost: $25

Register here

Maps are fascinating. They’re visual tools that can tell us where we’re going, or record where we’ve been. They can be analytical or whimsical, realistic or imaginary, historical or futuristic. No matter what, they always tell some kind of story: of the people who make them, the places they depict, and the time period they were made in.

If the story of your life was a map, what would it look like? This workshop will be a journey of imagination and discovery, as you create personalized mixed-media maps based on your own history and experiences. Stephanie will use some guided writing exercises to help you dig up images and stories from your life, then help you turn what you find into images.  Experimenting with making map-like imagery from found papers and acrylic paint, we’ll use what we learned to make a mixed-media map on canvas.

$80 + Supplies. Participants get 20% off supplies at the Paint Spot. 

Register here

Mindfulness is the practice of being in the present moment and developing an awareness of what’s happening within us: our emotions, physical sensations and thoughts. In a world that can’t stop moving, it’s a great way to slow down and find some peace. It’s also the perfect accompaniment to any art practice since it helps to calm the judgmental voice in your mind that says your work isn’t good enough.

In this class, we’ll practice slowing down and enjoying the moment. We’ll start with a guided breathing exercise to us get calm and centred. Next we’ll experiment with a variety of mark-making exercises, watching what happens in our minds and bodies as we draw. Stephanie will then provide images of very detailed textures to draw from, to see what happens when our minds are overwhelmed by visual information. Finally, we’ll make a drawing using only intuition to guide us, to practice following our impulses.

Throughout the class we’ll learn to move through resistance and judgment and focus on the process rather than the end result.

This class is open to absolute beginner and experts alike: no art experience is required.

$80 + supplies (you get a 20% discount on supplies at the Paint Spot when you register)

Register here. 

Learn to make unique, hand printed cards and take home a stamp that you can use over and over again. We'll learn how to carve out an image of your choice, ink it up, and print it on archival, high-quality cards. Relaxing and meditative, block printing is a great way to relax and learn something new. 

Location: habitat etc, 10187 104 Street, Edmonton, AB

$50 including all supplies

Register here

Celebrate the season and help spread the warmth to your friends and family. Learn to make unique, hand printed Christmas cards and take home a stamp that you can use over and over again. We'll learn how to carve out an image of your choice, ink it up, and print it on archival, high-quality cards. Relaxing and meditative, block printing is a great way to take a moment for yourself this busy holiday season.

habitat etc, 10187 104 Street, Edmonton, AB

$50.00 including all supplies

Register here

Mindfulness is the practice of being in the present moment and developing an awareness of what’s happening within us: our emotions, physical sensations and thoughts. In a world that can’t stop moving, it’s a great way to slow down and find some peace. It’s also the perfect accompaniment to any art practice since it helps to calm the judgmental voice in your mind that says your work isn’t good enough.

In this class, we’ll practice slowing down and enjoying the moment. We’ll start with a guided breathing exercise to us get calm and centred. Next we’ll experiment with a variety of mark-making exercises, watching what happens in our minds and bodies as we draw. Stephanie will then provide images of very detailed textures to draw from, to see what happens when our minds are overwhelmed by visual information. Finally, we’ll make a drawing using only intuition to guide us, to practice following our impulses.

Throughout the class we’ll learn to move through resistance and judgment and focus on the process rather than the end result.

This class is open to absolute beginner and experts alike: no art experience is required.

$60 + supplies (you get a 20% discount on supplies at the Paint Spot when you register)

Register here. 

Learn to make unique, hand-printed pieces of art, and take home a block that you can print from over and over again! We’ll learn how to carve out an image of your choice, ink it up, and print it on fine, archival printmaking paper. Relaxing and meditative, block printing is the perfect way to take a moment for yourself. This is an interesting and practical artmaking process to learn: it requires very little in the way of materials, and, once you know how, you can make any number of blocks and prints at home. The prints you make look great! You might want to choose an image that you want to give others – your prints will make excellent gifts.

$60.00 + supplies (you get a 20% discount on supplies at the Paint Spot when you register)

Register here

I'm excited to partner with Little Button Sewing for this unique card-trading class.

This unique class includes all your materials, and you get to take home a card set of 10-14 cards all made in the workshop! (And a couple we've made for you!) Come and check it out! 

Register here.