2 New Courses for Spring 2022!

Natural Artists (for Adults or Families) –  4 Saturdays: March 26, April 2, 9, & 16

Make your own art supplies from nature


Visions in Nature (for Adults) 
5 Sundays: April 10, 24, May 1, 8 & 15

Connect to your Vision and Creativity in Nature

 

“The more time I spend with my skin close to the earth, the rain in my hair, following the wind, the more that nature works on me, filling my heart and my senses with whispers of wisdom and hope. These whispers carry my hand across the page when I make art. And they will carry yours too.”  ~ Sofia Jain-Schlaepfer

Visions from Nature (Adults) – 5 Sundays
Starts April 10

Immerse Yourself in Art and Creativity
in the Natural World

In this experiential course you will be guided to:

  • Connect with nature deeply and let it teach and inspire you

  • See the importance and sacredness of your vision, inspiration and creativity

  • Refine your visual arts skills to be able to communicate your vision and inspiration

Modalities: Pencil rendering, acrylic painting, plant eco-printing, creative writing, nature journaling, visionary art.

All materials are supplied.

For adults of all artistic experience and ability (teens 16+ are also welcome to apply).

 

Location: Outdoors, in varying locations on Salt Spring Island

Dates & Time: 5 Sundays
from 10am to 2pm

April 10  –  Taking Shape

April 24  –  Nature as Teacher

May 1  –  Looking to the Shadows

May 8  –  Life in Color

May 15 –  Communicating Visions

 

Cost:  $325 plus GST.
All materials are included.

 

What can I expect in this course?

Each workshop day of the program will include connecting to our vision through various nature connection practices, exploring our intuitive creativity, as well as spending time on visual arts skills. With the skills we will be progressing from pencil drawing, to shading, to exploring color through painting. There will also be a day focused on eco-printing using natural plant material. There will be both group and one-on-one mentoring during the session. A group culture of inspiring, supporting and sharing with each other will be cultivated, and you’ll learn life-long practices to connect you to nature and your creativity.

 

Testimonial

“This course offers the chance for immersion in both art and the natural world. Sofia is a fantastic guide for this experience! Her embodied presence and passion for both art and nature comes through in this beautiful offering. If you are looking to connect more deeply to yourself and the world this program is a wonderful way. I highly recommend it!”     ~  Leanne Morris

 

“Creating art in and from nature has a way of creating connection. Through observing, coming into your senses and opening yourself to the flow of creation, connection to yourself, nature and the others around is a natural result.”   ~ Sofia Jain-Schlaepfer

Natural Artists (For Adults or Families)– 4 Saturdays
Starts March 26

Make Your Own Art Materials from Nature
and Connect to Your Creativity

In this experiential course, you and your child/ren (ages 7+)
will be guided to:

  • Create your own art supplies from natural material

  • Connect with nature

  • Follow your creativity

  • Learn artistic skills

Modalities

Spring 2022 session: Charcoal, plant fiber paper, rock pigment paint, wild clay processing and pit firing pottery

(Fall session: plant inks, wooden and quill pens, animal hair paintbrushes)

 

 

All materials are supplied.

 

For those all artistic experience and ability. Kids must be 7 years and up.

 

Location: South End of Salt Spring

Dates & Time: Saturdays
10am to 2:30pm

Spring Session 2022:

March 26

April 2

April 9

April 16

Cost for Spring Session:  $340 plus GST.
All materials are included.

Fall Session 2022: Coming soon.

What can I expect in this course?

During our time together you will get to create your own art kit made from natural materials. Rather than using art material that contributes to environmental issues when being manufactured and disposed, you will learn a way to make art that materials that contributes to the thriving of nature. Using the art material we make, we will practice various forms of artistic expression and tap into our creativity. A group culture of inspiring, supporting and sharing with each other will be cultivated, and you’ll learn life-long practices to connect you to nature and your creativity.

 

Instructor:  Sofia Jain-Schlaepfer

As a young adult, Sofia completed several visual arts programs in fine art and scientific illustration. She then took a break from visual arts for a time to pursue biology and environmental science (BSc, MSc), driven by her love of nature and the desire to create positive change in the world. After several years as a successful research scientist, she left the profession realizing that change starts in the heart, not the mind. Sofia has spent the last few years delving into art as a medium to reach people’s hearts, while immersing herself in nature connection practices and 2 years of mentoring with Wisdom of the Earth., as well as working at Cahoots Outdoor Programs for children Sofia’s art now comes almost exclusively from her time in nature.

“Time spent tuning my senses to the rhythms of nature and my own nature, also tunes me to the creative forces that run all natural processes. In these times when I am tuned to nature, visions arise and I become the paintbrush of creativity itself, expressing something larger than myself. It is, in a sense, a spiritual practice in which there is no distinction between me and the Creator. It is of great importance to me to help connect people with nature and creativity as each one of us has a unique hand and perspective, and the world needs our visions now more than ever.”

 

Check out Sofia’s art and blog here.

If you have questions about course content, email Sofia at sofia.jain.schlaepfer@gmail.com

 

Photography Credits: Katrina Rain, Dwane Roberge, Sydney Woodward, Vanya Laporte, Celeste Morris, Ingrid Bauer, Ayden Catry-Bauer, Charles Purvis Photography