Why I host climate art workshops 🎨

I’m doing 3 climate art workshops next week!

1. High School Environmental Science Class (Virtual)

   • Theme: Drawing Your Dream Sustainable Farm

2. College in Massachusetts (Virtual)

   • Theme: Imagining a Sustainable Campus

3. Clean Energy Conference in Brooklyn

   • Theme: Coloring pages from my book about clean energy

It feels pretty special that these workshops are becoming a regular part of my life. When I host these it feels like a full circle moment for me. 

Before my climate art “career,” I spent years in classrooms running an after school program to teach kids how to code. During that time, my co-founders wrote the curriculum and I learned how to code through teaching it. 

I did a presentation during Hour of Code in Brooklyn and it was one of my favorite memories 😍

This time, I’m writing the curriculum and it feels so joyful! I love bringing together my experience from that era of my life with this new subject I care so deeply about. 

It warms my heart to facilitate magical experiences where folks leave with a piece of art they created for themselves. 

photos from my book launch! a magical night indeed 🎉

As adults, there isn’t a designated time for art built into our days. As kids we have art class at school, but that stops after 12th grade. I want to make it easy for art to be a part of our lives. There are so many benefits of having a daily art practice in whatever form art means for you (music, dancing, painting).

In the book “Your Brain on Art,” they share research about how creating 20 minutes of any art form can improve mood and lower stress levels. One quote I particularly like from an interview with the author is

“It took a while to get people to exercise 20 minutes a day, and now it’s drilled into our heads that you have to find a way to walk or get on the treadmill. We hope with this book to create a movement of people who understand that what art does to rewire your brain is just as important as those 20 minutes, and that every day is an opportunity for some kind of self-expression.”

The simplest version of being able to inspire folks to create more art has been the launch of my coloring book. Seeing photos of people of all ages coloring those in brings me so much joy.

I’m excited to continue creating spaces for creating art! Let me know if you have ideas on what kind of workshops you’d like to see more of or if you want one hosted for your community.

I’m also curious what creating art looks like in your world? Feel free to reply with a photo or tell me a little story about your artistic practice!

Ways to support me:

• If you have a coloring book, I’d love to see how you color your pages! I’d love if you could write a review on Amazon 😍

• Buy yourself something from my shop- my book, a mug, a onesie. Whatever your little heart may desire. Apparently holiday season has begin now that Halloween is over, soooo…

Stickers here

• I’m open for commissions. I help climate organizations simplify their messaging into pretty art

• I obviously host climate art workshops! I customize these workshops or coloring parties to your group- these are a great team-building activity.

Ok my climate cuties, thanks for reading and making it possible for me to keep making climate art!