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Meditation and Drawing: "Drawing in Presence"
The following description was submitted by the event organizer.
Church of Art is pleased to announce the 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 that offers a gentle settling into the body, breath, and the 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. Participants are invited to notice the movement of the hand, the rhythm of mark making, and the ongoing conversation between seeing, sensing, and responding. The workshop will wrap up with a final hour of unguided drawing time.
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.
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
Think of Church of Art as your new favorite hangout, a place to make new friends, and a space to unleash your creative side. An art-centered approach to community building offering affordable, low-pressure art workshops in NW Portland for adults who want to play with art supplies alongside other adults, in person, with snacks. No need to “be an artist”-just come as you are, make some art, and walk away with that sweet feeling of personal connection.
Ellen Stern is an artist and meditation facilitator whose work is informed by ancestral lineage and contemplative practice. Influenced by the elders in her life, who worked in photography, woodworking, fibers, and color, she learned early about the importance of 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.