This 6 week course will focus on easily accessible artistic practices that will help connect you to your creative self. We’ll delve into the principles behind the creative process and highlight how they can be applied to your everyday life to strengthen your sobriety and spirituality. Giving you tools to live a healthier and fuller life. We’ll introduce some basic color theory and go over mediums and techniques to help you feel confident in creating.

All experience levels are welcome!

About David:

David Swartz is a professional artist living in Denver CO. He works with various water based paints to create bright and energetic artwork with a humorous twist. He strives to use his art to create beauty and connection. Connecting people with each other, nature, and themselves. These connections are what enrich the world, and create a sense of unity that helps dissolve the isolation, hate, and selfishness that pollute so many people's lives.

Get ready to play, experiment, and discover just how magical a simple Sharpie can be! In this six-week, hands-on workshop, you’ll dive into creative techniques that turn everyday markers into powerful art tools. Each week offers fresh prompts and low-pressure exercises designed to spark your imagination as you explore different kinds of marks, patterns, and images on a variety of fun surfaces.

From bold doodles to tiny treasures, you’ll try your hand at:

expressive mark-making

decorating personal objects

designing cards and gift bags

creating “itsy-bitsy” mini art

embellishing photos and magazine images

Along the way, you can expect plenty of art-looking, experimenting, laughing, and practicing new Sharpie techniques in a relaxed, encouraging environment. No prior experience needed—just curiosity, a love of doodling, and a willingness to see where your Sharpie takes you!

About Quána:
Quána Madison is an artist, mindfulness teacher, healing arts workshop facilitator and self-leadership coach. She combines inner wellness practices with expressive arts to promote creative expression, community and holistic well-being. A graduate of New York University and Colorado College, Quána holds a MA in Education and a BA in Philosophy. More information is available at www.quanamadison.com

Journey Writing is a practice of writing and witnessing our truths. We gather in virtual circle to listen to powerful, contemporary poems from a diverse range of poets with themes related to addiction, recovery, and ultimately, self-love. Each circle begins with a heart-opening writing exercise followed by a poem that offers the creative inspiration as well as the prompts for a process of free-flow writing that empties your heart onto the page. We then take turns sharing what we have written out loud and being witnessed in the circle. This work is creative, connecting, and cathartic. 

*No writing experience needed. Everyone is welcome!

There is no feedback or critiquing, only witnessing and thanking.

No Class on Thanksgiving, Thursday Nov. 26th.

In Circle you will: 

• Be supported to express whatever it is you are longing to release or manifest
• Experience the magic of synchronicity as you resonate with other people's stories
• Feel accepted for who you are and where you are at on your recovery journey

Virtual Class on Zoom - You will receive the zoom link once registered.

Shani Raviv Bio:

Shani Raviv is a writer, circle holder, and author of Being Ana: a memoir of anorexia nervosa. Shani has been leading healing Journey Writing Circles for the past six years in her communities and more recently at The Rose House treatment center and at 5280 High School (a recovery high school). Shani believes that writing truth heals, and that recovery is a spiritual journey of learning to love yourself and contribute your soul's gifts to humanity. She lives in a semi-rural co-housing community with her 12-year-old son and her partner and loves to camp in the mountains, drink tea in her garden hammock between the Aspens, and share her 25-year love of yoga with her communities. She feels blessed to bring her passion for Journey Writing to the CAiR community!