Workshop Title:

Found Florals Retreat

Create Florals with Stories

Painted • Layered • Collaged • Stitched • Found

Imagine spending five creative days surrounded by beautiful art supplies, encouraging friends, and the freedom to simply create.

The Artists Rising Retreat is more than a series of art classes—it's an opportunity to step away from everyday responsibilities, slow down, explore new techniques, and rediscover the joy of creating.

Whether you've been making art for years or you're just beginning your mixed media journey, you'll be welcomed into a relaxed, encouraging environment where there is no pressure to be perfect. Every lesson is taught step by step, and I'll be right there beside you with demonstrations, encouragement, and one-on-one guidance whenever you need it.

You'll leave with beautiful artwork, new creative confidence, and a heart refreshed by a week of inspiration and connection.

What Makes This Retreat Different?

It is more than an Art Project. Think of it as a Creative Vacation.

This retreat helps you build an entire creative toolbox.

Each morning we'll begin with our Explore & Play Studio—one of my favorite parts of the week.

These relaxed sessions are all about experimenting, discovering, and giving yourself permission to play. There is no pressure to create a finished piece. Instead, you'll explore a different collection of professional art materials each day while learning how they work, what makes each one unique, and how they can work together in your own artwork.

Throughout the week you'll experiment with: Watercolor paints, watercolor pencils, and watercolor markers ** Soft Pastels and PanPastels ** Alcohol Inks ** Acrylic paints, acrylic inks, and acrylic paint markers ** Gel Plate printing ** Neocolor II crayons and Gelatos ** Vintage papers, fibers, stitching, collage techniques, and found materials

I'm bringing a wide range of supplies from my studio for you to explore, giving you the opportunity to try a wide variety of mediums before deciding which ones you'd like to add to your own creative toolbox.

As we experiment each morning, you'll build a beautiful collection of painted papers, backgrounds, textures, and collage elements—your own handmade library of creative papers.

Those papers become the foundation for the artwork you'll create throughout the retreat.

Create Artwork That Tells Your Story

As your collection of handmade papers grows, you'll transform them into meaningful mixed media artwork that reflects your own creative style.

Together we'll create:

A Keepsake Mixed Media Art Book

Throughout the week you'll fill a beautiful handmade keepsake book with painted papers, floral studies, sketches, techniques, inspiration, and creative discoveries. By the end of the retreat, you'll have not only a finished book but also a personal reference you'll return to again and again.

Handmade Clay Flowers

We'll sculpt delicate clay flowers that add beautiful dimension and texture to your artwork. These handmade embellishments can be incorporated into your retreat projects and inspire future creations at home.

A Signature Mixed Media Collage on Wood

Using your handmade papers, painted florals, layered textures, vintage elements, and dimensional details, you'll create a one-of-a-kind collage on wood.

The design is yours to choose.

Perhaps your painted florals become a whimsical bird, a graceful butterfly, a buzzing bee, an elegant floral vase, or something completely unexpected. I'll have several sample pieces to inspire you, but this project is about discovering your own artistic voice and creating something that is uniquely yours.

More Than Finished Projects

Throughout the week you'll also discover countless ways to use your new skills in future creative projects: Handmade journals ** Art journal pages ** Tags and bookmarks ** Layered collage papers ** Greeting cards ** Frame-worthy mixed media artwork ** Home décor ** Faith journals and creative devotionals

You'll leave with ideas and techniques that continue inspiring you long after the retreat is over.

A Week to Explore, Create & Grow

When was the last time you simply allowed yourself time to play?

To open those art supplies you've been saving...

To experiment without worrying about whether you're doing it "right"...

To discover unexpected color combinations, textures, and techniques...

To create simply because it brings you joy.

That's exactly what this retreat is designed to give you.

You'll never feel rushed.

You'll never feel behind.

You'll never have to wonder if you're "artistic enough."

Instead, you'll experience the joy of learning in a supportive community where questions are welcomed, creativity is celebrated, and every artist is encouraged to grow at her own pace.

You'll Leave With...

A keepsake mixed media art book filled with your original work ** Handmade painted papers and collage elements ** Clay floral embellishments ** A finished mixed media collage on wood ** New skills across a wide variety of art mediums ** Greater confidence in your creativity ** Inspiration for future projects ** New friendships and wonderful memories ** A refreshed creative spirit

Come spend a week creating, exploring, laughing, learning, and discovering the joy of making florals that tell your story.

I can't wait to enjoy a Creative Vacation with you!!

Pam Coxwell is a mixed media artist, creative instructor, and founder of Creative Hearts Studio. Over the past 25 years, she has traveled across the Southeast selling her artwork through shows and has also licensed and sold through national retailers including Hobby Lobby and Kirkland’s.

One of her greatest joys has come from teaching women how to use creativity as a place of rest, renewal, and joyful expression.

Pam is known for her signature blend of watercolor florals, expressive mixed media, and hand-lettering rooted in encouragement and beauty. She teaches thousands of women through online memberships, workshops, and retreats—helping artists of all levels feel confident, courageous, and deeply inspired.

Her approach is gentle and accessible, combining thoughtful instruction with playful experimentation. She often incorporates vintage papers, found objects, stitching, fibers, and unexpected materials to create pieces that feel beautifully layered and story-rich.

When Pam isn’t teaching or developing new collections of art, you’ll find her gathering inspiration from nature, books, antique markets, and her own spiritual and creative journey.

She is thrilled to join Artists Rising and looks forward to sharing a week of creativity, connection, and soulful art-making with fellow artists.