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Wednesday, Oct. 14th | 6:30-9:30pm Create a pop art portrait of a pet using a reference photo. In this evening workshop, artist Lou Ely will teach you how to capture the spirit of your furry pal, whether large or small. You'll learn how to simplify shapes, use color, and build a painting inspired by the pop art style. Keep it all to yourself or make a present for a loved one! No experience is necessary. You'll receive step-by-step instructions and complete one 14x14" pet portrait to take home. $60 for a 3-hour class | All materials included | Scholarships available. Have your photo ready to upload when you register. One pet per painting is recommended. About the Teaching Artist: Louis Ely Artist, Art Teacher, Husband, & UW Badger Basketball Alumni "Every child seeks to be part of a community. A community where they feel accepted and recognized for their contribution. As a child, my community of peers valued the artistry of drawing cars. Unfortunately, my graphics of cars were not deemed worthy of accolades from my peers. Crestfallen, but not defeated, I persevered. With each drawing, I elaborated on each detail of a car. I remember the day when my peers responded with positive affirmations of my artistic skills. I knew then that there is an artist in everyone; it just needs to be nurtured and cultivated. My perseverance in developing my art skills followed me to the basketball court. The basketball court became my canvas which provided me with a basketball scholarship to UW Madison. When I wasn’t playing basketball for the Badgers, I was earning my teaching degree in art from UW-Madison. Creating art is my passion. Recently one of my paintings was commissioned by the City of Madison to be displayed on an electrical box. As an African American man, I am honored to be representing my culture. My hope is that my art will inspire young African American males to pursue their dreams. They need to remember they are the masters of their fate, captains of their souls, no one can take their dreams away. The child who dreamed of being an artist became one and has taught countless students to express themselves through art. That child is me."

Each class will feature one of a relaxed rotation of creative experiences such as collage, neurodrawing, paper weaving, mark making, zine-making, and more. Explore the process and the materials without attachment to the product -- and meet new people along the way. Paper Weaving: Use a wide array of textured, colorful strips to create beautiful weavings that can become greeting cards or simply enjoyed as they are. Mark Making: We’ll experiment with using found objects and acrylic paints to create patterns and shapes. It's chill — we're getting our hands dirty, appreciating color and texture, and maybe even expressing ourselves. No brushes allowed! Collage: Join us for a casual collage get-together! Meet other cool humans and play with a huge assortment of unusual materials. Neurodrawing: Did you know that experiencing the arts changes the wiring of our brains? In this class, we'll get in touch with our wiring using a mindfulness drawing exercise – and connect with others through creativity. Vision Boards: Take a break to connect with your inner life and envision your goals. Use a wide variety of paper goods to memorialize your vision and keep it in your line of sight. Zine-Making: Learn to cut and fold a little book that's ready for collage, storytelling, or ideas. About the Teaching Artist Karisa Johnson is an arts facilitator who centers creative openness and experimentation to foster an accessible space for making. As the owner of Slate Blue Studios and co-founder of ART House 360, Karisa views the creative process as a critical pillar of mental wellness. Her teaching style emphasizes stripping away perfectionism to make room for the actual act of creating. Rather than offering rigid instructions, Karisa acts as a lab host, inviting you into a safe, expansive environment designed for exploring and connecting with yourself and those around you.

Each class will feature one of a relaxed rotation of creative experiences such as collage, neurodrawing, paper weaving, mark making, zine-making, and more. Explore the process and the materials without attachment to the product -- and meet new people along the way. Paper Weaving: Use a wide array of textured, colorful strips to create beautiful weavings that can become greeting cards or simply enjoyed as they are. Mark Making: We’ll experiment with using found objects and acrylic paints to create patterns and shapes. It's chill — we're getting our hands dirty, appreciating color and texture, and maybe even expressing ourselves. No brushes allowed! Collage: Join us for a casual collage get-together! Meet other cool humans and play with a huge assortment of unusual materials. Neurodrawing: Did you know that experiencing the arts changes the wiring of our brains? In this class, we'll get in touch with our wiring using a mindfulness drawing exercise – and connect with others through creativity. Vision Boards: Take a break to connect with your inner life and envision your goals. Use a wide variety of paper goods to memorialize your vision and keep it in your line of sight. Zine-Making: Learn to cut and fold a little book that's ready for collage, storytelling, or ideas. About the Teaching Artist Karisa Johnson is an arts facilitator who centers creative openness and experimentation to foster an accessible space for making. As the owner of Slate Blue Studios and co-founder of ART House 360, Karisa views the creative process as a critical pillar of mental wellness. Her teaching style emphasizes stripping away perfectionism to make room for the actual act of creating. Rather than offering rigid instructions, Karisa acts as a lab host, inviting you into a safe, expansive environment designed for exploring and connecting with yourself and those around you.

Each class will feature one of a relaxed rotation of creative experiences such as collage, neurodrawing, paper weaving, mark making, zine-making, and more. Explore the process and the materials without attachment to the product -- and meet new people along the way. Paper Weaving: Use a wide array of textured, colorful strips to create beautiful weavings that can become greeting cards or simply enjoyed as they are. Mark Making: We’ll experiment with using found objects and acrylic paints to create patterns and shapes. It's chill — we're getting our hands dirty, appreciating color and texture, and maybe even expressing ourselves. No brushes allowed! Collage: Join us for a casual collage get-together! Meet other cool humans and play with a huge assortment of unusual materials. Neurodrawing: Did you know that experiencing the arts changes the wiring of our brains? In this class, we'll get in touch with our wiring using a mindfulness drawing exercise – and connect with others through creativity. Vision Boards: Take a break to connect with your inner life and envision your goals. Use a wide variety of paper goods to memorialize your vision and keep it in your line of sight. Zine-Making: Learn to cut and fold a little book that's ready for collage, storytelling, or ideas. About the Teaching Artist Karisa Johnson is an arts facilitator who centers creative openness and experimentation to foster an accessible space for making. As the owner of Slate Blue Studios and co-founder of ART House 360, Karisa views the creative process as a critical pillar of mental wellness. Her teaching style emphasizes stripping away perfectionism to make room for the actual act of creating. Rather than offering rigid instructions, Karisa acts as a lab host, inviting you into a safe, expansive environment designed for exploring and connecting with yourself and those around you.

Sunday, October 11 | 10am-4pm Join Traci from Make Creativity a Habit for a full-day creative retreat designed to help you build sustainable, joyful creative habits through playful exploration and hands-on making. This retreat is not about perfection or creating finished masterpieces—it’s about practicing creativity in small, approachable ways within a supportive creative community. We will work in two beautiful spaces within ART House 360: Slate Blue Studios and Verona Maker Space. Throughout the day, participants will explore a series of guided activities that encourage experimentation, curiosity, and creative confidence. Using an abundance of supplies in some unexpected ways, we'll try techniques such as painting with yarn, mini collage (including typewriter poetry), sgraffito with oil pastels, meditative watercolor exploration, and other playful creative exercises designed to spark inspiration and lower creative resistance. Whether you’re a seasoned artist, a curious beginner, or simply someone craving dedicated time to create, this retreat offers space to slow down, reconnect with your imagination, and discover practical ways to make creativity a regular part of your life. A taco bar lunch, snacks, and plenty of supplies are included, along with materials to take home so you can continue your creative practice beyond the retreat. $125 for an all-day workshop | All materials included | Scholarships available If you are interested in this class, but cost is holding you back, we offer tuition assistance scholarships! Complete the form at slatebluestudios.com/scholarship About the Teaching Artist: Traci McLachlan is a maker and teaching artist in the Verona, Wisconsin area. As the founder of Make Creativity a Habit, she is passionate about making creativity a regular part of life. Traci has been on a creative journey to explore and learn as much as she can about different art techniques. Over the years Traci has realized the greatest satisfaction in making art comes from focusing on the process rather than product. With a deep belief in the power of creativity for wellness, Traci guides people through art workshops that encourage free expression and playfulness to help everyone make creativity a regular habit in their lives. You can learn more about Traci and her creative practice at www.makecreativityahabit.com

Explore the history of color and create a monochromatic mixed media artwork! Did you know that pink was “for boys” until the 1950’s? We’ll playfully dive into the emotional and social histories of different hues, looking at how the meanings of color have shifted over time. Once we’ve sparked some inspiration, it’s time to get messy. You’ll choose one single color to be your focus for the day and then we’ll: • Start with a layer of collage using a wide variety of unusual materials. • Add depth by using your color in different mediums such as paints, pencils, pastels, and markers. • Finish with details in tints (mixed with white) and shades (mixed with black). By limiting our palette to one color, we’ll discover an infinite world of tones, tints, and textures. Whether you’re a seasoned artist or just looking to play with some paint, you’ll leave with a unique mixed-media piece and a new perspective on the colors that surround us. About the Teaching Artist Karisa Johnson is an arts facilitator who centers creative openness and experimentation to foster an accessible space for making. As the owner of Slate Blue Studios and co-founder of ART House 360, Karisa views the creative process as a critical pillar of mental wellness. Her teaching style emphasizes stripping away perfectionism to make room for the actual act of creating. Rather than offering rigid instructions, Karisa acts as a lab host, inviting you into a safe, expansive environment designed for exploring and connecting with yourself and those around you.

Sat. 8/15 & Sun. 8/16 from 10-3. Join educator and mixed-media artist Andrea Lindberg for a playful exploration of collage using acrylic paint, handmade materials, and layering to create texture and dimension. You’ll be encouraged to work in layers by creating your own collage fodder, painting with a variety of tools, and trying methods of removal to explore value, design and color. Andrea will provide self-reflection exercises, model techniques, and support you as you create. The multiple sessions will allow your work to fully dry and give you space to ponder in-between. You’ll be working on three 12x12 wooden cradleboards, which will make your intuitive layering and modifying possible – and they’re easy to hang without frames. Come and enjoy artistic play to explore your authentic self – and the pure joy that art brings! $120 for 2-day workshop | All materials included | Scholarships available. We will take a lunch break from 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm. Bring your own lunch. Snacks and drinks will be provided throughout the day. If you are interested in this class but cost is holding you back, we offer tuition assistance scholarships! Apply at slatebluestudios.com/scholarship About the Teaching Artist "I have always created things. As an adult, I became an educator after a brief run with social work. Working with students of all ages and creating were a natural pairing. As a professional, I created secure environments for students to take risks, play and experiment to support their learning endeavors. I am a life-long learner and I believe in taking risks, play and experimentation for myself. I hold a BA in Social Work, a BS in Education and a Teaching English as a Second Language certificate. As an artist, I have tried many forms of media but a constant was drawing. I draw a lot, constantly sketching or doodling. In the summer of 2019, I decided to try my hand at painting. Not too long after the world shut down to Covid, I signed up for a 14-week online art course called the Creative Visionary Program taught by Nicholas Wilton and his team at Art2Life and I was off! I became a painter! I took the whole course again and became a mixed media artist. I also took classes from Louise Fletcher, abstract artist and educator and Catherine Rains, collage artist and educator. I know we are all creative. I know we all benefit enormously from play, it’s not just for children. And I know we all experience release from creative endeavors, it’s good for you! Come!"

Each class will feature one of a relaxed rotation of creative experiences such as collage, neurodrawing, paper weaving, mark making, zine-making, and more. Explore the process and the materials without attachment to the product -- and meet new people along the way. Paper Weaving: Use a wide array of textured, colorful strips to create beautiful weavings that can become greeting cards or simply enjoyed as they are. Mark Making: We’ll experiment with using found objects and acrylic paints to create patterns and shapes. It's chill — we're getting our hands dirty, appreciating color and texture, and maybe even expressing ourselves. No brushes allowed! Collage: Join us for a casual collage get-together! Meet other cool humans and play with a huge assortment of unusual materials. Neurodrawing: Did you know that experiencing the arts changes the wiring of our brains? In this class, we'll get in touch with our wiring using a mindfulness drawing exercise – and connect with others through creativity. Vision Boards: Take a break to connect with your inner life and envision your goals. Use a wide variety of paper goods to memorialize your vision and keep it in your line of sight. Zine-Making: Learn to cut and fold a little book that's ready for collage, storytelling, or ideas. About the Teaching Artist Karisa Johnson is an arts facilitator who centers creative openness and experimentation to foster an accessible space for making. As the owner of Slate Blue Studios and co-founder of ART House 360, Karisa views the creative process as a critical pillar of mental wellness. Her teaching style emphasizes stripping away perfectionism to make room for the actual act of creating. Rather than offering rigid instructions, Karisa acts as a lab host, inviting you into a safe, expansive environment designed for exploring and connecting with yourself and those around you.