Hands On Art! - Encaustic Workshops

TL;DR I’m looking for venues in Sonoma and Marin to host encaustic art workshops where people create layered wax and collage pieces in hands-on group settings.

I know a venue!

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Earlier this year, I hosted a series of encaustic art events across Sonoma and Marin County, and they ended up being such a rewarding creative experiences. Encaustic art, for anyone unfamiliar, is a technique that combines collage and using heated beeswax. The process usually starts with a wooden panel as the base. From there, paper, oil pastels, and mixed media elements are layered on top. Then melted beeswax + resin is brushed over the surface and fused with heat. Artists can build up many translucent layers, then carve, scratch, or embed materials into the wax. The final result has a soft, dreamlike quality that feels both tactile and atmospheric, almost like looking through memory rather than a regular collage or painting.

The events I hosted took two different forms. Some were public workshops where people purchased tickets and came together for a guided creative session. Others were private gatherings, hosted in people’s homes for groups of friends who wanted a shared creative experience in a more intimate or private setting. Both formats worked beautifully.

Across all of them, the feedback was incredibly positive. People surprised themselves with what they made, and there was a real sense of meditation, focus, but a bit of play, as well, in the room. I had just as much fun as everyone attending.

These sessions bring me back into a physical, hands-on art space, similar to an art classroom environment. I missed that so much. Watching people experiment, make unexpected choices, and build confidence through materials was genuinely inspiring. I absolutely love seeing people's choices and hearing their creative and symbolic reasoning.

The main challenge is finding the right kinds of venues. Encaustic work involves a bit of setup that not every space is prepared for. It is a hands-on process that includes paper, glue, mixed media, and wax. I also use heat tools like heat guns to fuse layers, which means open and thoughtful spacing are important.

Ideally, I am looking for studios, community spaces, or creative venues that are comfortable with slightly messy, process-driven art.

I have already submitted an application for Santa Rosa city programs for upcoming fall and winter opportunities, and I am hoping to hear back shortly. In the meantime, I am actively looking for additional spaces or collaborators who might be interested in hosting something like this.

If you know of galleries, studios, schools, community centers, creative businesses, or even private spaces that might be open to a hands-on encaustic workshop, I would love to hear from you. I have all of my own supplies, and I am always excited to share them.

More than anything, I am hoping to keep building spaces where people can step away from right-and-wrongs, get a little messy, and reconnect with imagination and play in an environment that encourages creativity.