Enjoy this cozy, luminous craft over a cup of tea with artist Meg Kaczyk. Transparency stars are special German kite papers folded in segments — origami-style — then attached together forming beautiful translucent star shapes. Meg will provide instruction, handouts, and all materials for an afternoon of companionable and festive star-making. These pieces are beautiful in windows and as gifts from the heart. This is a great workshop for multi-generational art-making for all levels.

TOTAL COST: $60

Course Fee: $60

Materials Fee: $0

LEVEL: Beginner to Advanced

AGE GROUP: Ages 15+

SUPPLY INFORMATION

All supplies included (including kite paper, glue stick, directions).

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR

Meg Kaczyk guides artists of all levels in classes and workshops based on her own studio process. Her work is fed by daily life, the natural world, poetry, and a long-standing meditation practice. Originally trained as an illustrator and graphic designer, Meg has enjoyed a long creative career including art direction, graphic design, arts administration, and teaching. She exhibits her paintings across the region.

Artist website: Meg Kaczyk, @megkaczyk

The practice of art journaling can be profoundly and quietly helpful. Designed for those who are interested in journaling as a tool for reflection and response to life, this workshop will spark the possibilities of words and images that are uniquely yours. Through writing prompts and art-making exercises, Meg will guide the creation and completion of your own small journal – an expressive, flexible process that can inspire your future journaling.

TOTAL COST: $130

Course Fee: $120

Materials Fee: $10

LEVEL: Beginner to Intermediate

AGE GROUP: Ages 15+

SUPPLY INFORMATION

A high-quality art journal will be provided to all students.

Students should bring:

Notebook or notepad and pen for writing;

Art supplies of your choice – any wet or dry media, collage materials, etc.;

Images you like from your phone, or printed materials;

A snack for break time.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR

Meg Kaczyk guides artists of all levels in classes and workshops based on her own studio process. Her work is fed by daily life, the natural world, poetry, and a long-standing meditation practice. Originally trained as an illustrator and graphic designer, Meg has enjoyed a long creative career including art direction, graphic design, arts administration, and teaching. She exhibits her paintings across the region.

Artist websites: Meg Kaczyk, @megkaczyk

In this 4-hour workshop, you’ll create a trio of mosaic trees in three sizes (8, 6, and 4 inches) that group together into a striking tabletop or mantel display. Expert teaching artist Barbara Henderson is your guide as you choose your own colors and layout for each piece, so your finished trio feels uniquely yours.

Using mosaic tiles, you'll design each flat wood triangle however you like, whether that's classic stripes, a diagonal design, or a pattern entirely your own. You'll tile all three trees with guidance from Barbara, then grout them at home. You'll leave with clear, step-by-step grouting instructions and a take-home grouting kit, so you can finish the project with confidence. Once grouted, your trees will fit into the slotted wooden stands provided in class. To complete the look, you'll finish the back of each tree with decorative art paper..

No prior mosaic experience is needed. Just bring your creativity!

TOTAL COST: $125

Course Fee: $105

Materials Fee: $20

LEVEL: Beginner to Advanced

AGE GROUP: Ages 15+

SUPPLY INFORMATION

All materials and tools are provided.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR

Barbara Henderson is a passionate mosaicist dedicated to helping others discover their creativity through the art of mosaics. Having embraced art later in life after a career in the corporate world, she now loves guiding students as they uncover their unique artistic vision. Barbara's favorite motto is "Perfection can be purchased at the dollar store. Art and beauty are found in the unique and flawed." She lives in Gig Harbor with her husband, along with an ever-growing collection of dogs and chickens.

Artist website: Henderson Arts

Celebrate the New Year with an open studio for creative play and exploration! Artist and community builder Glo Lamson invites you to explore & play with a variety of collage materials provided for you - or bring your own creative materials and projects. Come with an idea of something you'd like to make or simply follow your curiosity and see what emerges. Let yourself be inspired by the moment, the materials, and what others are making. You never know what might show up when you give yourself time and space to explore!

Drop in, pop in and out, stay for the whole time, or simply stop by to say hello. This is a welcoming opportunity to begin the New Year with creative play, reflection, and connection in a fun, supportive community setting.

This event is free to attend, and Glo is generously donating her time and knowledge. If you’re able, there is a suggested donation of $10 to $20 to Northwind’s Scholarship Fund, which provides free or reduced-cost camps and classes to youth & adults. Donations can be made when you register or in cash at the door.

TOTAL COST: $0

LEVEL: Beginner to Advanced

AGE GROUP: Ages 15+

SUPPLY INFORMATION

Northwind has a wide array of collage materials that will be provided. You are welcome to bring your own project of any medium to work on. 

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR

Glo Lamson is a local interdisciplinary artist with more than 50 years of experience working in a variety of mediums. She holds an MFA in Arts and Consciousness and enjoys supporting people in exploring hands-on creative play, personal reflection, and the possibilities of art for growth and healing. Glo often thinks of her life itself as her medium, with art and image-making as ways to connect, explore, and reconcile the interplay between her inner world and the world around her. Her work draws inspiration from prehistoric mark-making, alchemical processes, contemporary art, and spiritual and healing practices. She believes everyone is inherently creative, and that conscious creative work can help us cultivate greater presence, peace, and well-being—both personally and collectively.

Artist website: Gloria Lamson, is under construction but you can see some of her activities on her blog or Instagram @glolamson

Take some of the mystery out of creating an exciting abstract painting in this 3-hour class with teaching artist Rebecca Nerison. Using acrylics and the water-soluble paint of your choice, you’ll collage paper and fabric scraps into your paint, guided by basic design principles. Prefer to focus on painting alone? That’s welcome too, and the collage element is entirely optional.

The emphasis is on play, experimentation, and expressing your individuality in an atmosphere of acceptance and joy. No prior experience is needed. Just bring your curiosity.

TOTAL COST: $80

Course Fee: $80

Materials Fee: $0

LEVEL: Beginner to Intermediate

AGE GROUP: Ages 15+

SUPPLY INFORMATION

Northwind will have a variety of supplies on hand, so you’re welcome to just show up and experiment. If you’d like to bring your own, we encourage:

Acrylic paints in colors you like (white, black, red, yellow, and blue at minimum). Tube or liquid acrylics are fine, and other water-based paints are okay too.

Canvases: gessoed canvas supports or wood, no smaller than 8x10" and no larger than 12x14." Bring two if possible. Gessoed heavy watercolor paper also works.

Brushes in a few sizes.

Paper or fabric scraps you love, such as ticket stubs, old music, or patterned paper. No need for magazine photos or pictures.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR

Port Townsend artist Rebecca Nerison is a largely self-taught abstract and multi-media artist who has been painting off and on for 30 years. She says, “I paint because I love color, line, and texture. Making abstract paintings is a way for me to feel deeply into my essence, to discover things I don’t yet know about myself and the world. To become more myself.” She values the freedom of abstract art, with its license to play, experiment, make a mess, cover over and uncover. “There is great joy as I engage in the process of painting without thought to the ultimate outcome.”

Artist website: Rebecca Nerison 

This weekend workshop is completely free of toxic fumes and designed for artists who are new to oil painting as well as experienced artists who’d like to learn how to paint without toxic fumes. No prior experience is needed. Over a day and a half, you’ll learn to control the consistency of your oils and develop proper brushwork, while digging deep into value, color theory, and painting from observation.

You’ll paint still lifes in class, and the skills you build can then be applied to workshops in any other subject. Veteran teaching artist Anne Pfeiffer will guide you through each step, and all materials are provided, so you can simply show up ready to paint.

SCHEDULE

Saturday,1/23, 10am to 4pm

Sunday, 1/24, 10am to 1pm

TOTAL COST: $265

Course Fee: $225

Materials Fee: $40

LEVEL: Beginner to Intermediate

AGE GROUP: Ages 15+

SUPPLY INFORMATION

All materials are provided. You are encouraged to bring food for your lunch break. 

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR

Anne Pfeiffer has a graduate degree in painting and decades of experience as a high school art teacher, community college art instructor, and adult and teen workshop instructor. She currently lives in Port Angeles and paints landscapes and still lifes, often plein air, and participates in regional and national exhibitions and events.

Artist website: Anne Pfeiffer, @annepfeifferartist and @annepfeiffer

Ready to quiet your inner critic, and just play with paint? This expanded 4 ½-hour workshop is all about jumping into the colorful world of cold wax and oil painting — with zero expectations and maximum fun. The extra time gives us room to slow down, experiment, build multiple layers, experience the magic of cold wax and oil, and—most importantly—play without feeling rushed.

We’ll explore the magic of making messes, happy accidents, and discovering what happens when you let go of needing it to be “good.” We’ll dive deep into texture, mark-making, and the delicious satisfaction of layering and scraping paint.

In this relaxed yet dynamic class, you’ll learn:

• The Mix: How to blend cold wax with oil paint (it’s like frosting!).
• The Texture: Using tools to build rich, touchable surfaces.
• The Marks: Using everyday objects to create visually interesting patterns.
• The Reveal: The joy of layering — and then scraping it all back to see what’s underneath.
• The Flow: Working on multiple pieces at once to keep the creativity moving.

Perfect for: Total beginners, "stuck" creatives, or anyone who’s ever said “I’m not an artist.” (Spoiler: You are!)

TOTAL COST: $135

Course Fee: $110

Materials Fee: $25

LEVEL: Beginner to Advanced

AGE GROUP: Ages 15+

SUPPLY INFORMATION

All supplies including paints, surfaces, and wax will be provided. You are welcome to bring old paintings to paint over! To prepare them for class, lightly sand the surface and prime with Gesso. 

Students will have a half-hour lunch break and are encouraged to pack a lunch. 

This is a fragrance-free classroom. Please refrain from wearing perfume, cologne, or other strongly scented products.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR

Raised in Washington State by mountaineering and sailing parents, Suz Carroll grew up with nature as her closest companion. Years spent watching clouds shift, water sparkle, and horizons stretch continue to inspire her abstract paintings today.

After a long career in business, art found her. She wasn't looking for it and had never considered herself particularly creative, despite a career filled with creative pursuits.

In early 2023, she began painting daily, discovering a passion for cold wax and oil, a medium that invites exploration, experimentation, and the unexpected.

Her work is inspired by the natural world: its layers, textures, movement, and constant transformation. Through an intuitive process of building, scraping, and revealing, she creates paintings that balance intention with spontaneity.

Suz approaches both painting and teaching with five guiding principles: create without attachment, create with joy, embrace imperfection, know when to step away, and always go with the flow.

Artist website: Horizon and Spice Studio

Travel sketching (also called urban sketching) is a wonderful way to combine stress-free art making with travel, even if that’s just in your own town or state. There’s no right or wrong way to do it, which makes it one of the most freeing forms of observational art. Your sketchbook becomes a portable art studio where you can lean on what feels comfortable while trying out new ideas from other artists.

We don’t always have time to finish a sketch when we’re on the move or the weather isn’t cooperating, so travel sketchers also work from photos, not to copy, but to use as memory prompts. In this one-day workshop with Anne Pfeiffer, you’ll learn how to decide what to sketch, and capture a scene by tapping into your sensory memories.

We’ll start by looking at a variety of styles and techniques, followed by a demo and discussion of composition. Then we’ll spend the day sketching and inspiring one another with our unique approaches.

Bring your lunch, and we’ll eat while sketching our food and each other, as if we were in a cafe in Paris!

Artwork shown is by Anne Pfeiffer and Montana Summers 

TOTAL COST: $165

Course Fee: $165

Materials Fee: $0

LEVEL: Beginner to Advanced

AGE GROUP: Ages 15+

SUPPLY INFORMATION

Students should bring the following supplies; if you need to borrow them, Northwind has some supplies available too. A more detailed supply list with recommendations from Anne will be sent after you’ve registered. 

• Fine-tip waterproof black pens (such as Sakura Pigma Micron)
• Bound watercolor or mixed media sketchbook, 9"x12" or smaller
• Drawing pencil and eraser
• Watercolor set and brushes
• White Posca marker or white gouache
• Optional: other media for adding color, such as acrylic markers, watercolor pencils, and pastels

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR

Anne Pfeiffer has a graduate degree in painting and decades of experience as a high school art teacher, community college art instructor, and adult and teen workshop instructor. She currently lives in Port Angeles and paints landscapes and still lifes, often plein air, and participates in regional and national exhibitions and events.

Artist website: Anne Pfeiffer, @annepfeifferartist and @annepfeiffer