Winter Renewal Creative Immersion: Fire as Collaborator

from $300.00
Registration Options:

Overview

The Winter Renewal Creative Immersion is a four-day, small-group studio intensive centered on fire, light, material transformation, and focused artistic development.

Working in an intimate group of four, you’ll explore encaustic and mixed media through elemental process, strong technical foundations, and responsive mentorship. This is sustained studio time designed for artists who want depth, experimentation, and real forward movement in their work.

Grounded in strong encaustic technique, we move from ritual into real application. You'll build surfaces with intention, integrate unconventional materials with structural strength, and expand how your work lives on and off the panel. The skills you develop extend beyond encaustic, strengthening your practice across media.

With only four artists, I offer close mentorship and responsive guidance rather than a fixed syllabus — sustained attention in a setting designed for growth and grounded experimentation.

This retreat takes place in my Portland studio, a working space designed for depth, with places to make, reflect, and pause. Each day I prepare a thoughtfully crafted gourmet menu to nourish and support you. Gathering at the table becomes part of how we honor the season and the work we're doing together — a time for connection, nourishment, and quiet care. The studio is fully stocked so you can arrive ready to work.

You'll leave inspired, grounded, and well fed — with work that reflects the depth of the process, new tools to seed the next phase of your practice, and a renewed sense of yourself within it.

ONLY 4 SPOTS AVAILABLE-Intimate Class
Setting

What We’ll Explore

Encaustic + Structural Integration

  • Layering, fusing, embedding, and surface development

  • Working with R&F encaustic paints, pigment sticks, and drawing oils

  • Integrating ash, charcoal, handmade inks, and unconventional materials with structural integrity

  • Working on and off panel

  • Creating light-filled transparencies

  • Alternative edge treatments and expanded display approaches

Fire + Pigment + Ritual Materials

  • Personal ritual fire station

  • Creating vine charcoal, bone black and carbon-rich materials

  • Grinding pigment and binding handmade inks

  • Smoke staining and fire as mark-making tool

  • Burning, charring, and incorporating meaningful materials into wax

Nature as Collaborator

  • Nature walk to gather sticks, foliage, and print materials

  • Making custom mark-making tools from gathered materials

  • Botanical and direct nature printing as time allows

  • Using sun, wind, and rain as creative collaborators when conditions allow

Paper-Based Processes

  • Group ink and ash collage paper making

  • Individual layered print development

  • Waxing, burnishing, and embedding paper into encaustic surfaces

  • Developing a personal library of usable collage materials

Intention + Direction

  • Guided writing prompts

  • Group discussion around intention and material meaning

  • One-on-one mentoring conversations

  • Composition refinement and material troubleshooting

  • Space for incubation and focused studio time

What You’ll Leave With

  • Finished works

  • A personal library of handmade collage papers, pigments, and inks

  • Expanded technical skill in encaustic and mixed media

  • Greater confidence integrating meaningful materials into your work

  • New tools and processes to seed the next phase of your practice

  • Renewed clarity in your direction as an artist

Studio Experience

The immersion takes place in my dedicated Portland studio and garden, designed for focused making and thoughtful exchange. There are multiple work areas and space to reflect both inside and outside.

All materials are provided so you can arrive ready to work without transporting your entire studio-unless you want to. You’re welcome to bring specialty panels or tools if desired and encouraged to bring personal ephemera or meaningful papers to incorporate into your process.

Each day includes a thoughtfully prepared gourmet lunch that I cook personally. Coffee, tea, morning bites, and social-hour beverages are also provided. These meals become part of the rhythm of the immersion—a time for connection, nourishment, and quiet care.

Who This Is For

This immersion is designed for artists with an active practice who are ready to work hard, experiment, and take real risks in their material process.

It is well suited for:

  • Encaustic artists wanting to deepen and expand their technical range

  • Artists wanting to use nature as a collaborator in art making

  • Mixed media artists interested in integrating wax and elemental process

  • Artists ready to push beyond familiar habits and refine their direction

  • Those who value small workshops, close mentorship and focused studio time

Beginners with a strong commitment and willingness to engage deeply are welcome.

What’s Included

  • All encaustic paints and pigment sticks (generously supported by R&F Handmade Paints)

  • Student panels

  • A wide range of mixed media supplies

  • Pigment-making materials and fire station supplies

  • Full use of studio tools and equipment

  • Four gourmet handmade seasonal lunches made by me

  • Morning and afternoon snacks

  • Coffee, tea, and social-hour drinks

  • Close personal mentorship in an intimate setting

What to Bring

  • Comfortable clothes and shoes for studio work and short outdoor walks

  • Notebook or sketchbook for writing exercises

  • Optional: personal letters, writings, or ephemera to burn

  • Optional: larger panels or specialty substrates

  • Optional: bring your torch (or torch head if traveling)-helps keep consistency in work

Tuition & Registration

$1,250 — includes all materials and lunches

A non-refundable deposit of $300 secures your spot.
Balance due by June 1, 2026.

Payment Options

  • Pay deposit or in full (Venmo preferred @kellywilliamsart)

  • Secure your spot with a deposit and pay in installments

  • Contact me to arrange a payment plan or alternate payment method

How to Register

Hit the Register button for deposit and partial payment amounts.
Your registration is confirmed once deposit and waiver are received.

Cancellation Policy

The $300 deposit is non-refundable.
Cancellations made 21+ days in advance receive a refund minus the deposit.
Within 21 days, refunds are only possible if your spot can be filled from the waitlist. Travel insurance recommended if coming from a distance.

Overview

The Winter Renewal Creative Immersion is a four-day, small-group studio intensive centered on fire, light, material transformation, and focused artistic development.

Working in an intimate group of four, you’ll explore encaustic and mixed media through elemental process, strong technical foundations, and responsive mentorship. This is sustained studio time designed for artists who want depth, experimentation, and real forward movement in their work.

Grounded in strong encaustic technique, we move from ritual into real application. You'll build surfaces with intention, integrate unconventional materials with structural strength, and expand how your work lives on and off the panel. The skills you develop extend beyond encaustic, strengthening your practice across media.

With only four artists, I offer close mentorship and responsive guidance rather than a fixed syllabus — sustained attention in a setting designed for growth and grounded experimentation.

This retreat takes place in my Portland studio, a working space designed for depth, with places to make, reflect, and pause. Each day I prepare a thoughtfully crafted gourmet menu to nourish and support you. Gathering at the table becomes part of how we honor the season and the work we're doing together — a time for connection, nourishment, and quiet care. The studio is fully stocked so you can arrive ready to work.

You'll leave inspired, grounded, and well fed — with work that reflects the depth of the process, new tools to seed the next phase of your practice, and a renewed sense of yourself within it.

ONLY 4 SPOTS AVAILABLE-Intimate Class
Setting

What We’ll Explore

Encaustic + Structural Integration

  • Layering, fusing, embedding, and surface development

  • Working with R&F encaustic paints, pigment sticks, and drawing oils

  • Integrating ash, charcoal, handmade inks, and unconventional materials with structural integrity

  • Working on and off panel

  • Creating light-filled transparencies

  • Alternative edge treatments and expanded display approaches

Fire + Pigment + Ritual Materials

  • Personal ritual fire station

  • Creating vine charcoal, bone black and carbon-rich materials

  • Grinding pigment and binding handmade inks

  • Smoke staining and fire as mark-making tool

  • Burning, charring, and incorporating meaningful materials into wax

Nature as Collaborator

  • Nature walk to gather sticks, foliage, and print materials

  • Making custom mark-making tools from gathered materials

  • Botanical and direct nature printing as time allows

  • Using sun, wind, and rain as creative collaborators when conditions allow

Paper-Based Processes

  • Group ink and ash collage paper making

  • Individual layered print development

  • Waxing, burnishing, and embedding paper into encaustic surfaces

  • Developing a personal library of usable collage materials

Intention + Direction

  • Guided writing prompts

  • Group discussion around intention and material meaning

  • One-on-one mentoring conversations

  • Composition refinement and material troubleshooting

  • Space for incubation and focused studio time

What You’ll Leave With

  • Finished works

  • A personal library of handmade collage papers, pigments, and inks

  • Expanded technical skill in encaustic and mixed media

  • Greater confidence integrating meaningful materials into your work

  • New tools and processes to seed the next phase of your practice

  • Renewed clarity in your direction as an artist

Studio Experience

The immersion takes place in my dedicated Portland studio and garden, designed for focused making and thoughtful exchange. There are multiple work areas and space to reflect both inside and outside.

All materials are provided so you can arrive ready to work without transporting your entire studio-unless you want to. You’re welcome to bring specialty panels or tools if desired and encouraged to bring personal ephemera or meaningful papers to incorporate into your process.

Each day includes a thoughtfully prepared gourmet lunch that I cook personally. Coffee, tea, morning bites, and social-hour beverages are also provided. These meals become part of the rhythm of the immersion—a time for connection, nourishment, and quiet care.

Who This Is For

This immersion is designed for artists with an active practice who are ready to work hard, experiment, and take real risks in their material process.

It is well suited for:

  • Encaustic artists wanting to deepen and expand their technical range

  • Artists wanting to use nature as a collaborator in art making

  • Mixed media artists interested in integrating wax and elemental process

  • Artists ready to push beyond familiar habits and refine their direction

  • Those who value small workshops, close mentorship and focused studio time

Beginners with a strong commitment and willingness to engage deeply are welcome.

What’s Included

  • All encaustic paints and pigment sticks (generously supported by R&F Handmade Paints)

  • Student panels

  • A wide range of mixed media supplies

  • Pigment-making materials and fire station supplies

  • Full use of studio tools and equipment

  • Four gourmet handmade seasonal lunches made by me

  • Morning and afternoon snacks

  • Coffee, tea, and social-hour drinks

  • Close personal mentorship in an intimate setting

What to Bring

  • Comfortable clothes and shoes for studio work and short outdoor walks

  • Notebook or sketchbook for writing exercises

  • Optional: personal letters, writings, or ephemera to burn

  • Optional: larger panels or specialty substrates

  • Optional: bring your torch (or torch head if traveling)-helps keep consistency in work

Tuition & Registration

$1,250 — includes all materials and lunches

A non-refundable deposit of $300 secures your spot.
Balance due by June 1, 2026.

Payment Options

  • Pay deposit or in full (Venmo preferred @kellywilliamsart)

  • Secure your spot with a deposit and pay in installments

  • Contact me to arrange a payment plan or alternate payment method

How to Register

Hit the Register button for deposit and partial payment amounts.
Your registration is confirmed once deposit and waiver are received.

Cancellation Policy

The $300 deposit is non-refundable.
Cancellations made 21+ days in advance receive a refund minus the deposit.
Within 21 days, refunds are only possible if your spot can be filled from the waitlist. Travel insurance recommended if coming from a distance.