Art Classes & Workshops
Free art workshops for children and adults, made possible through Cherokee Nation's artist support program.
About the Workshops
Through the Cherokee Artist Recovery Act, I have been able to offer art workshops to children and adults in and around the Muskogee area at no cost to participants.
These workshops are designed to encourage creativity, observation and imagination while giving participants an opportunity to learn and create together. Classes can be hosted by schools, churches, community organizations, events, or even a small gathering of family and friends.
Workshops are generally two hours long, with a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 15 participants. I provide all of the supplies needed for each class. An adult must accompany children participating in a workshop.
Children's Illustration Workshop
Children • Approximately 2 hours • All supplies provided
In this workshop, children learn how an illustrator takes a written story and begins to visualize it. We look for clue words within the story that help us imagine the characters, setting and action, then use those clues to create an original illustration.
The workshop works well on its own, but it can also be paired with a Cherokee story shared by one of our wonderful storytellers. Children then have the opportunity to interpret what they've heard and create their own illustration of the story.
Native Plant Journaling Workshop
Children & Adults • Approximately 2 hours • All supplies provided
This workshop combines art, nature and observation as participants learn more about native Oklahoma plants and pollinators. We spend time looking closely at plants, learning how to sketch what we see and recording information about them in a nature journal.
The goal isn't to create a perfect botanical drawing. It's about slowing down, observing the details and using both words and sketches to record what we discover. In the process, participants become more familiar with the native plants and pollinators that are part of our Oklahoma landscape.
Guided Imagery Painting Workshop
Adults • Approximately 2 hours • All supplies provided
This fun and engaging workshop is less about creating a perfect piece of art and more about letting go, using your imagination and enjoying the creative process. It's a chance to relax, let your hair down and see where your imagination takes you—no judgment and no artistic experience necessary.
We begin with a few simple relaxation techniques followed by a guided imagery exercise. Participants are encouraged to pay attention to the images, colors, places or ideas that come to mind. Afterward, they sketch what they envisioned and use that sketch as the starting point for their painting.
Everyone experiences the guided imagery differently, so even though the group begins with the same exercise, no two paintings are alike. There is no “right” way for the finished piece to look—the fun is in discovering what your own imagination creates.
Host a Workshop
Interested in hosting a workshop? Classes can be scheduled at schools, churches, community organizations, events, or even for a small gathering of family and friends in the Muskogee area and surrounding communities.
Through the Cherokee Artist Recovery Act, I am able to offer these workshops free of charge. Most classes are approximately two hours long, with a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 15 participants. All art supplies are provided. An adult must accompany children participating in a workshop.
If you'd like to host a class or have questions about which workshop would be a good fit for your group, please contact me for availability and scheduling.