Good art and writing draw us into the experiences of another. But what if it jolts the reader or viewer out, making them feel othered instead? We will explore blind spots, stereotypes, and biases in popular media (and ourselves) that may alienate audiences. We will then explore techniques to create, instead, authentic inclusivity to draw and maintain a wider audience. Bring a sketchbook and/or notebook.

Born in Egypt, Mary Silwance lives in Kansas City and is a mother of three daughters. She works in adult education and facilities workshops on writing as well as ecology. Mary serves on the editorial teams of Whispering Prairie Press and Flying Ketchup Press. Through FKP,  she conceptualized and was editor of Of Our Own Accord, an anthology of women’s embodied experiences. Mary recently published her first full-length collection of poetry, We Remember Ourselves. You can find her publications, radio, and zoom presentations as well as workshop offerings at https://www.marysilwance.com. Mary’s work focuses on the intertwining of personal and collective emancipation to create a lush future for all beings.

During the first part of our workshop, we will utilize a speed dating format to generate robust material that captures your essence. We will then chisel the material generated from quirky interview questions and hilarious freewriting prompts into vivid, precise, and compelling artist bios and statements. Bring a sketchbook and/or notebook.

Born in Egypt, Mary Silwance lives in Kansas City and is a mother of three daughters. She works in adult education and facilities workshops on writing as well as ecology. Mary serves on the editorial teams of Whispering Prairie Press and Flying Ketchup Press. Through FKP,  she conceptualized and was editor of Of Our Own Accord, an anthology of women’s embodied experiences. Mary recently published her first full-length collection of poetry, We Remember Ourselves. You can find her publications, radio, and zoom presentations as well as workshop offerings at https://www.marysilwance.com. Mary’s work focuses on the intertwining of personal and collective emancipation to create a lush future for all beings. 

Encaustic Collage Workshop with Robin VanHoozer

$75 per student

Participants should bring collage materials and basic art supplies to the class.

Adding encaustic to your collage making can take many forms. This workshop will use encaustic throughout the collage process. Encaustic items can also be added to other collages made from other materials by several different techniques, such as, nails, tacks, threads, etc.

Encaustic paint is beeswax, resin, and pigment and has been used since ancient times. The paint is heated and the layers are fused with heat. Encaustic medium is beeswax and medium without the pigment.

The beauty of encaustic is that it is very versatile and lends itself well to collage making. We will learn various techniques and best practices for adding encaustic to your studio practice. The goal of this workshop is to demonstrate how to incorporate elements of encaustic to your work.

Tired of muddy colors or struggling to achieve the hues you envision? Kansas City artist

Vanessa Lacy (Leopold Gallery, Crossroads Studio) invites you to gain the color confidence

you've always wanted in this engaging workshop offered through the Kansas City Artist

Coalition.

Vanessa, a seasoned artist with a decade of teaching experience, will guide you through her

proven process, revealing the secrets to mixing vibrant and accurate colors every time. You'll

discover the three fundamental "levers" that unlock the entire color spectrum, empowering you

to create any shade you desire.

Imagine:

● Confidently mixing the exact colors you need for your paintings.

● Understanding color theory in a practical and accessible way.

● Creating richer, more dynamic artwork.

● Learning from a successful Kansas City artist in a supportive environment.

This workshop is designed for all levels! Beginners will gain a solid foundation in color theory,

while experienced painters will discover advanced concepts to elevate their work. You'll create

your own color gamut map and then put your newfound knowledge into practice by painting a

piece of your own.

For just $75, you'll receive:

● Expert instruction from professional artist Vanessa Lacy.

● All necessary painting supplies.

● A deeper understanding of color theory and mixing.

● A completed painting to take home.

Bring your enthusiasm and get ready to transform your painting practice! You're welcome to

bring a pre-sketched canvas (up to 11" x 14") and a reference photo, or utilize the provided

Arches Oil paper and still life setup. Students can bring their own paint and palette knives or use

those provided in the class. Students are also encouraged to bring a lunch to have during the mid class break.

Unleash your inner artist in our exciting Spontaneous Realism painting workshop!

Courses led by artist Matthew Paden

Tickets are $60 per student (Supplies provided)

Over four hours, you'll dive into this bold and expressive art style that blends realism with vivid, abstract colors. Guided by an experienced instructor, you'll explore creative techniques, unleash your imagination, and transform your unique vision into stunning artwork.

Whether you're a seasoned painter or just starting out, this workshop promises inspiration, creativity, and a lot of fun. Don't miss this chance to add a splash of spontaneity to your artistic journey!

*Spontaneous Realism is a contemporary abstract style of acrylic painting with palette knives on canvas. Bright vivid colors and expressive marks define this style of painting. The idea is to get the student artists to cut loose and get them to paint expressively, but with intent.

Supplies provided: Canvas, brushes, palette knives, and acrylic paint plus water cups and spray bottles. Sourced reference image will also be provided to each student to work from.

Where does identity come from? How can language eclipse or amplify who we are? We will playfully disassemble common markers of identity to reconstruct identity from our wildest dreams and highest hopes for ourselves. Bring a sketchbook and/or notebook.

Born in Egypt, Mary Silwance lives in Kansas City and is a mother of three daughters. She works in adult education and facilities workshops on writing as well as ecology. Mary serves on the editorial teams of Whispering Prairie Press and Flying Ketchup Press. Through FKP,  she conceptualized and was editor of Of Our Own Accord, an anthology of women’s embodied experiences. Mary recently published her first full-length collection of poetry, We Remember Ourselves. You can find her publications, radio, and zoom presentations as well as workshop offerings at https://www.marysilwance.com. Mary’s work focuses on the intertwining of personal and collective emancipation to create a lush future for all beings. 

Tired of muddy colors or struggling to achieve the hues you envision? Kansas City artist

Vanessa Lacy (Leopold Gallery, Crossroads Studio) invites you to gain the color confidence

you've always wanted in this engaging workshop offered through the Kansas City Artist

Coalition.

Vanessa, a seasoned artist with a decade of teaching experience, will guide you through her

proven process, revealing the secrets to mixing vibrant and accurate colors every time. You'll

discover the three fundamental "levers" that unlock the entire color spectrum, empowering you

to create any shade you desire.

Imagine:

● Confidently mixing the exact colors you need for your paintings.

● Understanding color theory in a practical and accessible way.

● Creating richer, more dynamic artwork.

● Learning from a successful Kansas City artist in a supportive environment.

This workshop is designed for all levels! Beginners will gain a solid foundation in color theory,

while experienced painters will discover advanced concepts to elevate their work. You'll create

your own color gamut map and then put your newfound knowledge into practice by painting a

piece of your own.

For just $75, you'll receive:

● Expert instruction from professional artist Vanessa Lacy.

● All necessary painting supplies.

● A deeper understanding of color theory and mixing.

● A completed painting to take home.

Bring your enthusiasm and get ready to transform your painting practice! You're welcome to

bring a pre-sketched canvas (up to 11" x 14") and a reference photo, or utilize the provided

Arches Oil paper and still life setup. Students can bring their own paint and palette knives or use

those provided in the class. Students are also encouraged to bring a lunch to have during the mid class break.