Keeper of Curiosities

Early Registration Price

Only $57.00 $67.00

Class Opens February 12th

The Keeper of Curiosities is more than a sketchbook or art journal; it is an archive of your sacred ideas and inspiration—a true collaboration of your head, heart, and hands. A profoundly personal artist book where you can be curious, experiment, play, and practice without focusing on the outcome.

Imagine the feeling of freedom in finally exploring all the beautiful ideas that are swelling inside you as you set them free onto the pages of your one-of-a-kind artist's book. You will find yourself returning to this book repeatedly to be reminded of the importance of the creativity that flows through you. When you choose to play, practice, and experiment, you release doubts and gain confidence in the art you want to create.

The lessons in this class will prompt you and ignite your heart. Set free your stories, ideas, and truths of who you are as a person and an artist. Feel free to get messy, paint, scribble, draw, collage, and stitch everything you're curious about on every page.

Join the talented Renee Mueller for this beautiful creative experience where you're the author of your artistic story.

Early Registration Price

Only $57.00 $67.00

Class Opens February 12th

{ LIFETIME ACCESS & DOWNLOADABLE VIDEOS }

Here's a description of each of our special projects:

project 1 - Selecting a used book that is right for you.

Follow your inner creative muse when selecting a book that is right for you. Suggestions for resources are included in the art supplies.

Renee also discusses options for your cover if you don't want to use a hardcover book.

project 2 - Artistic Themes

Discover what makes your heart light up and bring those themes to your artwork. We connect with artmaking on a deeper level when we're mindful of our experiences, thoughts, memories, and the things that inspire us to create. For some, it may be traveling to beautiful places, hiking in the mountains, reading, or baking your grandmother's famous blueberry pie.

You will notice a difference in your artwork when you take inspiration from the themes you're most drawn to, reflect on them, and make them a necessary component of your creative process.

A short workbook will be included in the class to assist you as you make discoveries about yourself and what you want to create as an artist.

Project 3 - Ink & Paper

Put on your favorite music, grab a handful of brushes, pens, and mark-making tools to fill pages with rich, velvety, inky strokes. Renee loves how this exercise can set you free. Splash, drip, splatter, and spill to your heart's content. Later, we will use your inky pages to enhance your artist book with stylistic marks and unexpected page layouts.

project 4 - Color Story Collages

Paint, paper, ribbons, textiles, and natural elements are stitched together to create collages that are overflowing with texture, color, and storytelling for your beautiful artist’s book.

project 5 - Flower Love

Flowers are one of Renee’s favorite subjects to draw and paint. She’s always working towards free, loose, expressive florals. The two-part lesson will explore different backgrounds to experiment with color and mood. Then we will paint carefree and joyful flowers to add to our book.

Project 6 - Mini Landscapes

Take inspiration from places you've traveled, near or far. Create small expressive landscape paintings to tuck inside your book. They will always remind you to pause and capture the beauty right before you.

Project 7 - Mini Landscapes

Our body, heart, and mind are an archive of our experiences. In this lesson, Renee created a small dress out of washed canvas and added stitches to symbolize and honor all her life experiences. And to be reminded to always look to that archive for a constant stream of inspiration. Feel free to use your imagination in this lesson and choose a symbol that suits you.

Project 8 - Putting It All Together

Renee will walk you through every step of the way. Explaining how to put together her signatures, create a new spine for the book, and use a simple pamphlet stitch to put it all together.

bonus projects - Block Printing

Creating a simple block print is fun and can also add a beautiful rhythm to your artwork. Create a stylistic symbol that represents who you are as an artist.

Early Registration Price

Only $57.00 $67.00

Class Opens February 12th

{ LIFETIME ACCESS & DOWNLOADABLE VIDEOS }

“I can only draw what I see”

— Claude Monet

What will you learn in this class?

How to transform a found book into a deeply personal artist book
Ways to uncover meaningful themes and symbols that fuel your creative voice
Techniques for expressive mark-making with ink, paint, collage, and stitch
How to build rich pages using color stories, florals, and mini landscapes
Simple bookbinding methods to assemble and finish your artist book
How to release perfection, trust intuition, and create with freedom and confidence
And more...

HERE ARE JUST A FEW EXAMPLES OF Renee's WORK

Early Registration Price

Only $57.00 $67.00

Class Opens February 12th

{ LIFETIME ACCESS & DOWNLOADABLE VIDEOS }

Supply List

It is easy to get swept away with art supplies, especially when you begin a new class. You don't need everything on the list! I suggest that you substitute with what you have on hand. I've made my best discoveries through substitution. I always recommend watching the video first; if there is something new, decide if you want to try it. I have put an asterisk next to my favorites and items you might enjoy using in the class.

Please feel free to substitute any color, brand, or supply for something you already have.

Old Book - I look at local thrift shops and on Etsy for great deals on used books. Look for a cover that appeals to your creative sensibilities.
Unprimed Canvas or drop cloth.
An assortment of fabrics, ribbons, and other textiles.
*Arches Oil Paper (9x12) Note: In addition to oil paint, this paper is wonderful for all mediums, my favorite paper! Feel free to substitute with watercolor paper or mixed media paper.
Assorted papers that you may have on hand - I will use vintage paper, tracing paper, old ledger sheets, old music sheets, and vintage book pages.
*Drawing Paper or Sketch Pad - anything you have on hand will work.