Westcoast Expressive | Art Therapy | Art Workshops | Comox Valley, British Columbia

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Upcoming Workshops

Grungy Tiling Transparent

Lora McNeil RCAT-S, MTC, BFA

Registered Art Therapist | Master Therapeutic Counsellor | Registered Art Therapy Supervisor

Grunge Wall

My

Story

Welcome, I am so glad you're here!

Offering Individual Art Therapy & Therapeutic Art Workshops, Online and In-person from my studio nestled in the forest on the unceded lands of the K'omoks First Nations otherwise known as Courtenay, BC.

Individual

Art

Therapy

Upcoming Workshops

Youth & Adult

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Book Appointment Online

Ever taken an art class and left with something that looked “nice”… but didn’t quite feel like you?

This is a different kind of space.

Here, creative expression becomes a form of meditation — not something to get right, but something to gently be with. We focus on the process over the product, using art as a way to regulate, explore, and reconnect with ourselves.

You’ll get to experiment with different materials, noticing what supports you, what softens you, what helps you feel a little more grounded in your body.

No pressure. No expectations. Just space to show up as you are. Come to one or come to all.

✨ Weekly 70 minute Workshop
✨ Come to unwind, reset, and reconnect
✨ No experience needed

🗓 Various times throughout May
💲 $30 drop-in (discount when you sign up for whole month)
📍 Online + in person
🎨 All materials provided (in person)
👥 Ages 16+

Spots are limited — sign up through my website.

#courtenaybc #comoxvalley #vancouverisland #islandcommunity #yqq #courtenayarts #islandcreatives #islandwellness #createonvanisle #westcoastcreative

Ever taken an art class and left with something that looked “nice”… but didn’t quite feel like you?

This is a different kind of space.

Here, creative expression becomes a form of meditation — not something to get right, but something to gently be with. We focus on the process over the product, using art as a way to regulate, explore, and reconnect with ourselves.

You’ll get to experiment with different materials, noticing what supports you, what softens you, what helps you feel a little more grounded in your body.

No pressure. No expectations. Just space to show up as you are. Come to one or come to all.

✨ Weekly 70 minute Workshop
✨ Come to unwind, reset, and reconnect
✨ No experience needed

🗓 Various times throughout May
💲 $30 drop-in (discount when you sign up for whole month)
📍 Online + in person
🎨 All materials provided (in person)
👥 Ages 16+

Spots are limited — sign up through my website.

#courtenaybc #comoxvalley #vancouverisland #islandcommunity #yqq #courtenayarts #islandcreatives #islandwellness #createonvanisle #westcoastcreative

Going with the flow isn’t always easy — it can feel messy, uncertain, even chaotic.
But there’s something powerful in learning how to soften into it.

This May, join me for a series of Creative Meditations where we’ll tap into mindful moments using simple, supportive creative tools. A space to explore, unwind, and reconnect — without pressure or expectation.

Weekly drop-ins at various times/days. Come to one or come to all!
Virtual & in Studio.

Pre-registration is required as spaces are limited (minimum and maximum group sizes).

More info & to reserve a spot on my website.

#ComoxValley
#CourtenayBC
#ComoxValleyEvents
#VancouverIslandLife
#IslandWorkshops
#CreativeHealing
#ArtAsTherapy
#MindfulCreativity
#CreativeWellness
#TraumaInformed

Going with the flow isn’t always easy — it can feel messy, uncertain, even chaotic.
But there’s something powerful in learning how to soften into it.

This May, join me for a series of Creative Meditations where we’ll tap into mindful moments using simple, supportive creative tools. A space to explore, unwind, and reconnect — without pressure or expectation.

Weekly drop-ins at various times/days. Come to one or come to all!
Virtual & in Studio.

Pre-registration is required as spaces are limited (minimum and maximum group sizes).

More info & to reserve a spot on my website.

#ComoxValley
#CourtenayBC
#ComoxValleyEvents
#VancouverIslandLife
#IslandWorkshops
#CreativeHealing
#ArtAsTherapy
#MindfulCreativity
#CreativeWellness
#TraumaInformed

This is 50. A little more me.
A little less everything else.

This chapter feels like exhaling…
like I’ve finally stopped trying to shape myself into something that fits,
and started living in a way that feels true.

Less caring about expectations.
More listening inward.
More choosing what feels like peace.

Water has always been where I return to myself. Where things soften, settle, make sense again.

So this surprise forest bath, built with love by my family, feels like the most beautiful reflection of that.

Care. Intention. Being seen and held.

This is what matters to me now.
Simple things. Real things. Chosen things.

This is 50. Such a level up.

#ThisIs50 #QueenEra #BuiltWithLove #WaterHeals #SimpleLiving #ComeHomeToYourself #FamilyLove #OutdoorBath #RootedAndFree

This is 50. A little more me.
A little less everything else.

This chapter feels like exhaling…
like I’ve finally stopped trying to shape myself into something that fits,
and started living in a way that feels true.

Less caring about expectations.
More listening inward.
More choosing what feels like peace.

Water has always been where I return to myself. Where things soften, settle, make sense again.

So this surprise forest bath, built with love by my family, feels like the most beautiful reflection of that.

Care. Intention. Being seen and held.

This is what matters to me now.
Simple things. Real things. Chosen things.

This is 50. Such a level up.

#ThisIs50 #QueenEra #BuiltWithLove #WaterHeals #SimpleLiving #ComeHomeToYourself #FamilyLove #OutdoorBath #RootedAndFree

I’ve always believed creativity helps us understand ourselves in ways words can’t.This elemental series has been a reminder of that

It’s never about the final piece.

It’s in the moments of curiosity, the mess, the shifts, the surprises…
that’s where the real work happens—where imagination takes flight.

This week, we’re exploring air.
Allowing things to move through in their own time and way.
Practicing being the listener and not the leader.

I can’t wait to see what unfolds.

#arttherapy #creativekids #processoverproduct #elementalart #mindfulmaking #expressivearts #kidsworkshops #vancouverkids #artastherapy

I’ve always believed creativity helps us understand ourselves in ways words can’t.This elemental series has been a reminder of that

It’s never about the final piece.

It’s in the moments of curiosity, the mess, the shifts, the surprises…
that’s where the real work happens—where imagination takes flight.

This week, we’re exploring air.
Allowing things to move through in their own time and way.
Practicing being the listener and not the leader.

I can’t wait to see what unfolds.

#arttherapy #creativekids #processoverproduct #elementalart #mindfulmaking #expressivearts #kidsworkshops #vancouverkids #artastherapy

Friendly reminder ✨

April 17th is the last day to sign up for our April 26th Green Theme lino printing workshop so we can prepare all the materials for you 🌿

If you’ve been thinking about joining, this is your nudge to grab your spot. We’d love to create with you 💫

More info and to sign up is on my website. Link in bio

#artworkshop #linoprint #creativecommunity #courtenaybc #comoxvalley #vancouverislandart

Friendly reminder ✨

April 17th is the last day to sign up for our April 26th Green Theme lino printing workshop so we can prepare all the materials for you 🌿

If you’ve been thinking about joining, this is your nudge to grab your spot. We’d love to create with you 💫

More info and to sign up is on my website. Link in bio

#artworkshop #linoprint #creativecommunity #courtenaybc #comoxvalley #vancouverislandart

Imagine you’re sitting here, looking out at the sea.

You can hear the birds, smell the salt air, feel the breeze on your face.
Your body softens. You are so incredibly comfortable.

Then… someone sits down beside you.
In the other chair.

It’s exactly who you want to see.
The person you want to share this moment with.

Who is there with you?

Are they someone you can reach out to today, in real time, and connect with? And if not… connection can still be felt through creative expression.

Write them a letter.
Make them a picture.
Sing them a song.

Let creativity become the bridge between you.

Who we invite into this moment has a lot to teach us about what we may be needing today. Honour that gently, in whatever way feels possible today 🤍

#creativeexpression
#artastherapy
#imaginationpractice
#mindfulcreativity
#connectionthroughart
#healingthroughart
#creativewellbeing
#embodiedcreativity
#slowdownandcreate
#artfulreflection

Imagine you’re sitting here, looking out at the sea.

You can hear the birds, smell the salt air, feel the breeze on your face.
Your body softens. You are so incredibly comfortable.

Then… someone sits down beside you.
In the other chair.

It’s exactly who you want to see.
The person you want to share this moment with.

Who is there with you?

Are they someone you can reach out to today, in real time, and connect with? And if not… connection can still be felt through creative expression.

Write them a letter.
Make them a picture.
Sing them a song.

Let creativity become the bridge between you.

Who we invite into this moment has a lot to teach us about what we may be needing today. Honour that gently, in whatever way feels possible today 🤍

#creativeexpression
#artastherapy
#imaginationpractice
#mindfulcreativity
#connectionthroughart
#healingthroughart
#creativewellbeing
#embodiedcreativity
#slowdownandcreate
#artfulreflection

Join us April 26th for a playful, hands-on dive into lino carving and fabric printing ✨

This session carries a gentle green theme—an invitation to create with intention, reconnect with the earth, and reimagine what you already have. If you feel called, bring a piece of fabric or clothing to upcycle into something new 🌿

Get a little inky, a little curious, and a lot creative as you design, carve, and print your own unique pieces. No experience needed—just bring yourself and a willingness to try something new.

We’ll guide you every step of the way, from your first carve to your final print, so you leave feeling confident (and maybe a little obsessed) to keep creating at home.

Expect good vibes, creative flow, and that satisfying moment when your design comes to life 💫

Located at my Studio in North Courtenay, co-hosted with the amazing Beth of Little Bad Wolf Designs. Sign up via my website! Cut off date is April 17th...so don't wait

Join us April 26th for a playful, hands-on dive into lino carving and fabric printing ✨

This session carries a gentle green theme—an invitation to create with intention, reconnect with the earth, and reimagine what you already have. If you feel called, bring a piece of fabric or clothing to upcycle into something new 🌿

Get a little inky, a little curious, and a lot creative as you design, carve, and print your own unique pieces. No experience needed—just bring yourself and a willingness to try something new.

We’ll guide you every step of the way, from your first carve to your final print, so you leave feeling confident (and maybe a little obsessed) to keep creating at home.

Expect good vibes, creative flow, and that satisfying moment when your design comes to life 💫

Located at my Studio in North Courtenay, co-hosted with the amazing Beth of Little Bad Wolf Designs. Sign up via my website! Cut off date is April 17th...so don't wait

When words aren’t enough… art can help.

I was an artist before I became a therapist. Creativity has always helped me make sense of the world—and it became the most meaningful path to support others in doing the same. It still amazes me that I’ve been offering art therapy for over 18 years, working alongside so many wonderful individuals who are called to explore and express through creativity.

I love working with women who feel a little stuck…who are ready to gently untangle old stories, integrate what’s been held, and begin creating new ones. My therapeutic style weaves together expressive arts, somatics, sandtray, mindfulness… and always, space for play.

I offer individual art therapy sessions, clinical supervision for emerging art therapists, and therapeutic art workshops—available both online and in person at my yurt studio nestled in nature.

If this feels like something you’ve been needing, you’re so welcome here 🤍

#arttherapy #traumarecovery #somatichealing #expressivearts #sandtraytherapy #mindfulnesspractice #naturebasedhealing #ecotherapy #courtenaybc #comoxvalley #vancouverislandlife #healingthroughcreativity

When words aren’t enough… art can help.

I was an artist before I became a therapist. Creativity has always helped me make sense of the world—and it became the most meaningful path to support others in doing the same. It still amazes me that I’ve been offering art therapy for over 18 years, working alongside so many wonderful individuals who are called to explore and express through creativity.

I love working with women who feel a little stuck…who are ready to gently untangle old stories, integrate what’s been held, and begin creating new ones. My therapeutic style weaves together expressive arts, somatics, sandtray, mindfulness… and always, space for play.

I offer individual art therapy sessions, clinical supervision for emerging art therapists, and therapeutic art workshops—available both online and in person at my yurt studio nestled in nature.

If this feels like something you’ve been needing, you’re so welcome here 🤍

#arttherapy #traumarecovery #somatichealing #expressivearts #sandtraytherapy #mindfulnesspractice #naturebasedhealing #ecotherapy #courtenaybc #comoxvalley #vancouverislandlife #healingthroughcreativity

Do you ever look up from your life and wonder how the heck you ended up here?
Me too.

Not in a bad way… just that quiet moment of noticing. The surprise of where life has carried you.

What matters isn’t having it all figured out—
it’s how we move through it.

Did you laugh today?
Did you take a breath, even for a moment?
Did you feel yourself, even just a little, in your own skin?

Or are you sitting on the bathroom floor wondering why your ducks seem to have better self-care than you?

Wherever you find yourself today, I hope you can offer yourself a small pocket of you time.
Nothing fancy. Nothing perfect. Just a few minutes to pause, soften, and come back to yourself.

And if you’re craving a little support with that…
come create with me. 💛 New Creative Care Workshops are up on the website.

#youtime #mentalwellbeing #arttherapy #creativehealing #nervoussystemsupport #pauseandbreathe #gentlereminder #perfectlyimperfect #comoxvalley #courtenaybc

Do you ever look up from your life and wonder how the heck you ended up here?
Me too.

Not in a bad way… just that quiet moment of noticing. The surprise of where life has carried you.

What matters isn’t having it all figured out—
it’s how we move through it.

Did you laugh today?
Did you take a breath, even for a moment?
Did you feel yourself, even just a little, in your own skin?

Or are you sitting on the bathroom floor wondering why your ducks seem to have better self-care than you?

Wherever you find yourself today, I hope you can offer yourself a small pocket of you time.
Nothing fancy. Nothing perfect. Just a few minutes to pause, soften, and come back to yourself.

And if you’re craving a little support with that…
come create with me. 💛 New Creative Care Workshops are up on the website.

#youtime #mentalwellbeing #arttherapy #creativehealing #nervoussystemsupport #pauseandbreathe #gentlereminder #perfectlyimperfect #comoxvalley #courtenaybc

Did you miss the last printmaking workshop?

Beth and I would love to welcome you into another full-day printmaking session for adults and mature youth. This time, we’ll be printing on fabric to create simple, reusable household goods—just in time for Earth Day.

Join us on April 26th from 10–2 at the studio in Courtenay (North Courtenay).

It’s a gentle day to slow down, get your hands in the process, and make something both beautiful and useful—alongside others doing the same.

If it’s been on your mind, we’d love to have you. Registration closes April 17th so we can confirm if the workshop will run.

Sign up via my website booking system or send me a DM.

with @littlebadwolfdesigns

#CourtenayBC #ComoxValley #NorthCourtenay #VancouverIslandLife #ExploreComoxValley #YQQ #Printmaking #PrintmakingWorkshop #CreativeCommunity #IslandCreatives #arttherapy

Did you miss the last printmaking workshop?

Beth and I would love to welcome you into another full-day printmaking session for adults and mature youth. This time, we’ll be printing on fabric to create simple, reusable household goods—just in time for Earth Day.

Join us on April 26th from 10–2 at the studio in Courtenay (North Courtenay).

It’s a gentle day to slow down, get your hands in the process, and make something both beautiful and useful—alongside others doing the same.

If it’s been on your mind, we’d love to have you. Registration closes April 17th so we can confirm if the workshop will run.

Sign up via my website booking system or send me a DM.

with @littlebadwolfdesigns

#CourtenayBC #ComoxValley #NorthCourtenay #VancouverIslandLife #ExploreComoxValley #YQQ #Printmaking #PrintmakingWorkshop #CreativeCommunity #IslandCreatives #arttherapy

Taking a break as a therapist is not stepping away from the work—it’s part of the work.

It’s choosing to soften the holding, to set down other people’s stories for a moment, and return to your own. It’s allowing space for quiet, for new experiences, for memories that are yours alone.

Breaking routine can feel unfamiliar, even uncomfortable—but in that space, something begins to shift. There’s room to breathe differently, to notice what you need, to reconnect with the parts of yourself that don’t exist in the therapy room.

Because to hold others well, we have to be held too—by rest, by change, by moments that make us...us.

#TakeABreak #FreshStart #NewMemories #BreakTheRoutine #FeelAlive #SlowDown #IntentionalLiving #CreativeLife #ArtTherapy #HealingThroughArt #SpringEnergy #NewBeginnings #MindfulMoments #ResetAndRecharge #arttherapy

Taking a break as a therapist is not stepping away from the work—it’s part of the work.

It’s choosing to soften the holding, to set down other people’s stories for a moment, and return to your own. It’s allowing space for quiet, for new experiences, for memories that are yours alone.

Breaking routine can feel unfamiliar, even uncomfortable—but in that space, something begins to shift. There’s room to breathe differently, to notice what you need, to reconnect with the parts of yourself that don’t exist in the therapy room.

Because to hold others well, we have to be held too—by rest, by change, by moments that make us...us.

#TakeABreak #FreshStart #NewMemories #BreakTheRoutine #FeelAlive #SlowDown #IntentionalLiving #CreativeLife #ArtTherapy #HealingThroughArt #SpringEnergy #NewBeginnings #MindfulMoments #ResetAndRecharge #arttherapy

Taking a break for spring…
Time to wander toward salty places

To be one thing
To wear one hat

To charge up with less
So I can return
And offer more

There’s something powerful in simplifying…
In setting things down, even just for a little while
In remembering who we are underneath all the roles we carry

This is part of the work too
The pause
The breath
The space between

I’ll be back soon, refilled and ready to create, hold space, and wander alongside you again 🌿

#arttherapy #creativehealing #restisproductive #nervoussystemregulation #slowliving #springpause #creativeprocess #healingthroughart #mentalhealthsupport #intentionalrest #womenwhocreate #artistlife #therapythroughart #vancouverislandlife #natureheals

Taking a break for spring…
Time to wander toward salty places

To be one thing
To wear one hat

To charge up with less
So I can return
And offer more

There’s something powerful in simplifying…
In setting things down, even just for a little while
In remembering who we are underneath all the roles we carry

This is part of the work too
The pause
The breath
The space between

I’ll be back soon, refilled and ready to create, hold space, and wander alongside you again 🌿

#arttherapy #creativehealing #restisproductive #nervoussystemregulation #slowliving #springpause #creativeprocess #healingthroughart #mentalhealthsupport #intentionalrest #womenwhocreate #artistlife #therapythroughart #vancouverislandlife #natureheals

Time for change 🌱

This mural wall greets you as you walk into the studio—layered with stories, marks, and moments left behind by many hands.

It’s an alive space. A shared canvas.
A place to create, to witness, to remember we’re not alone.

With spring here, we’re making space to release and begin again.

What would you add to the wall?

#arttherapylife #healingart #communityconnection #comoxvalley

Time for change 🌱

This mural wall greets you as you walk into the studio—layered with stories, marks, and moments left behind by many hands.

It’s an alive space. A shared canvas.
A place to create, to witness, to remember we’re not alone.

With spring here, we’re making space to release and begin again.

What would you add to the wall?

#arttherapylife #healingart #communityconnection #comoxvalley

Welcoming Spring with a little dirt under my nails 🌱

One row for me, one row for the bees…
kids running wild, ducks stealing seeds, and plenty of chaos in between.

Spring always reminds me: growth is messy, unpredictable… and okay.

I picked up a new book to keep me growing, and I’m also holding space for others to explore their own growth—through art, reflection, and gentle creativity.

If you’ve been craving a place to slow down, connect with yourself, and explore what’s emerging inside you, there’s room here for you too 🌼

#art therapy#springtime #courtenay #slowlivingforlife

Welcoming Spring with a little dirt under my nails 🌱

One row for me, one row for the bees…
kids running wild, ducks stealing seeds, and plenty of chaos in between.

Spring always reminds me: growth is messy, unpredictable… and okay.

I picked up a new book to keep me growing, and I’m also holding space for others to explore their own growth—through art, reflection, and gentle creativity.

If you’ve been craving a place to slow down, connect with yourself, and explore what’s emerging inside you, there’s room here for you too 🌼

#art therapy#springtime #courtenay #slowlivingforlife

So… I crushed a button.
Not on purpose. Definitely not part of the plan.

And you know what?
It made me smile.
At how perfectly imperfect it is.

This is the messy middle—the place where nothing looks like it “should,”
where hot mess meets curiosity,
and somehow it all starts to feel… right.

See the goal in therapy isn’t to fix the button but to simply love it anyway.

So… I crushed a button.
Not on purpose. Definitely not part of the plan.

And you know what?
It made me smile.
At how perfectly imperfect it is.

This is the messy middle—the place where nothing looks like it “should,”
where hot mess meets curiosity,
and somehow it all starts to feel… right.

See the goal in therapy isn’t to fix the button but to simply love it anyway.

The first thing I remember drawing was a daffodil.

I know I had drawn many things before this, but this memory—sitting in the sun, being around 8 or 9, quietly channeling its image onto the page—was the first time I felt the ease of creation.

There was a sense, deep and steady, that this mattered… that I belonged. My artist self woke up in that moment and whispered, this is why you are here. To create.

Finding our sense of self can take a lifetime, often revealing itself in the most unexpected places. Mine found me in the quiet companionship of a simple daffodil.

And because of this, each spring, when I see them opening their sleepy faces to the sun, I smile...remembering—gently, but firmly—that simply being myself is the most important work I can do

Perhaps you needed to hear this today too ;)

#arttherapy #creativespirit #senseofself #springtime

The first thing I remember drawing was a daffodil.

I know I had drawn many things before this, but this memory—sitting in the sun, being around 8 or 9, quietly channeling its image onto the page—was the first time I felt the ease of creation.

There was a sense, deep and steady, that this mattered… that I belonged. My artist self woke up in that moment and whispered, this is why you are here. To create.

Finding our sense of self can take a lifetime, often revealing itself in the most unexpected places. Mine found me in the quiet companionship of a simple daffodil.

And because of this, each spring, when I see them opening their sleepy faces to the sun, I smile...remembering—gently, but firmly—that simply being myself is the most important work I can do

Perhaps you needed to hear this today too ;)

#arttherapy #creativespirit #senseofself #springtime

Some days, our nervous system just needs space to breathe.

Not a reset button. Not a big change. Just small, quiet moments that help your body soften: a pencil in your hand, a pause between tasks, a walk without screens.

Creativity doesn’t have to be “productive.” It can simply exist for you — to help you come back to yourself.

Which did you need to hear today?

#arttherapy #creativehealing #expressivearts #nervoussystemcare #gentlehealing #slowcreativity #westcoastexpressive #burnoutrecovery #hustleculture

Some days, our nervous system just needs space to breathe.

Not a reset button. Not a big change. Just small, quiet moments that help your body soften: a pencil in your hand, a pause between tasks, a walk without screens.

Creativity doesn’t have to be “productive.” It can simply exist for you — to help you come back to yourself.

Which did you need to hear today?

#arttherapy #creativehealing #expressivearts #nervoussystemcare #gentlehealing #slowcreativity #westcoastexpressive #burnoutrecovery #hustleculture

Something softened in the room today.

Not loudly.
Not all at once.

Just the quiet, steady melt that happens when hands begin to move and the mind loosens its grip. Paint spreading, colour finding its way, paper holding what words sometimes cannot.

In the gentle act of creating, something inside begins to thaw. Edges blur. Shoulders drop. Breath deepens.

Art has a way of doing that.
Of transforming without forcing.

A small glimpse from todays workshop — where the melt wasn’t just on the page, but within us too :)

#ArtTherapy #CreativeHealing #ExpressiveArts #SlowArt #HealingThroughArt #ArtAsProcess #CreativePractice #WestCoastExpressive

Something softened in the room today.

Not loudly.
Not all at once.

Just the quiet, steady melt that happens when hands begin to move and the mind loosens its grip. Paint spreading, colour finding its way, paper holding what words sometimes cannot.

In the gentle act of creating, something inside begins to thaw. Edges blur. Shoulders drop. Breath deepens.

Art has a way of doing that.
Of transforming without forcing.

A small glimpse from todays workshop — where the melt wasn’t just on the page, but within us too :)

#ArtTherapy #CreativeHealing #ExpressiveArts #SlowArt #HealingThroughArt #ArtAsProcess #CreativePractice #WestCoastExpressive

Imperfection matters.

For years I’ve imagined a little stand at the end of our driveway. You know the kind — a sweet farm stand, thoughtfully arranged, filled with lovely offerings, all packaged just so.

Today I realised I’ve mostly just been thinking about it.

So today I began.
Not beautifully. Not perfectly.
Just with what I had and what felt possible.

A cooler.
A few eggs.
A small beginning.

Is it the dream? Not yet.
But it is a step in its direction.
And that feels like something.

New things ask a lot of us.
We build rules, expectations, and invisible thresholds we think we must cross before we are “ready.”

But sometimes beginning looks like this:
a cooler of eggs at the end of a driveway,
a quiet act, a start that is imperfect but real.

What might you begin today, just as you are?

#BeginImperfectly
#ImperfectBeginnings
#ProgressNotPerfection
#SmallBraveSteps
#StartWhereYouAre

Imperfection matters.

For years I’ve imagined a little stand at the end of our driveway. You know the kind — a sweet farm stand, thoughtfully arranged, filled with lovely offerings, all packaged just so.

Today I realised I’ve mostly just been thinking about it.

So today I began.
Not beautifully. Not perfectly.
Just with what I had and what felt possible.

A cooler.
A few eggs.
A small beginning.

Is it the dream? Not yet.
But it is a step in its direction.
And that feels like something.

New things ask a lot of us.
We build rules, expectations, and invisible thresholds we think we must cross before we are “ready.”

But sometimes beginning looks like this:
a cooler of eggs at the end of a driveway,
a quiet act, a start that is imperfect but real.

What might you begin today, just as you are?

#BeginImperfectly
#ImperfectBeginnings
#ProgressNotPerfection
#SmallBraveSteps
#StartWhereYouAre

What light filled moments can you find today?

#ComoxValleyArtTherapy #ComoxValley #CourtenayBC #VancouverIslandWellness #ArtTherapy #CreativeHealing #HealingThroughArt #Resilience #ArtForMentalHealth #QuietHealing #CreativeSelfDiscovery #ComoxValleyMoms #GentleHealing

What light filled moments can you find today?

#ComoxValleyArtTherapy #ComoxValley #CourtenayBC #VancouverIslandWellness #ArtTherapy #CreativeHealing #HealingThroughArt #Resilience #ArtForMentalHealth #QuietHealing #CreativeSelfDiscovery #ComoxValleyMoms #GentleHealing

Some of the most important moments in art therapy happen quietly.

No big breakthroughs.
No perfect words.

Just a brush moving slowly across paper.
Hands busy with colour or thread.
A long pause.

Something shifts in those quiet moments.

A breath softens.
A feeling surfaces.
A part of you that’s been holding so much finally loosens its grip.

Art therapy makes space for what doesn’t always want to be spoken.

Because healing doesn’t always arrive in conversation. Sometimes it arrives in silence, colour, and the gentle rhythm of making.

#arttherapy #expressivearts #traumahealing #nervoussystemsupport #creativehealing #slowart #healingthroughart #neurodivergentaffirming #gentlehealing #comoxvalley

Some of the most important moments in art therapy happen quietly.

No big breakthroughs.
No perfect words.

Just a brush moving slowly across paper.
Hands busy with colour or thread.
A long pause.

Something shifts in those quiet moments.

A breath softens.
A feeling surfaces.
A part of you that’s been holding so much finally loosens its grip.

Art therapy makes space for what doesn’t always want to be spoken.

Because healing doesn’t always arrive in conversation. Sometimes it arrives in silence, colour, and the gentle rhythm of making.

#arttherapy #expressivearts #traumahealing #nervoussystemsupport #creativehealing #slowart #healingthroughart #neurodivergentaffirming #gentlehealing #comoxvalley

There is something deeply grounding about working slowly with wax and dye.

Our 3-hour Ukrainian Egg (Pysanky) Workshop offers space to settle, learn a beautiful traditional technique, and create your own symbolic egg with care. With two instructors and a small group, you’ll be gently supported throughout.

March 29th @ the Studio in North Courtenay. 1:00 -4:00pm
Cost: $90+GST
All materials & tea included.
No experience necessary. (Adults 18+)

A quiet afternoon of colour, meaning, and intention. Sign up via my website.

Group held by @kazimeasokil & Lora McNeil

#pysankyeggs
#mindfulmaking
#slowart
#intentionalcreativity
#comoxvalleyarts
#vanislecreativity
#smallcircleart
#gentleart
#artforwellbeing
#creativepause

There is something deeply grounding about working slowly with wax and dye.

Our 3-hour Ukrainian Egg (Pysanky) Workshop offers space to settle, learn a beautiful traditional technique, and create your own symbolic egg with care. With two instructors and a small group, you’ll be gently supported throughout.

March 29th @ the Studio in North Courtenay. 1:00 -4:00pm
Cost: $90+GST
All materials & tea included.
No experience necessary. (Adults 18+)

A quiet afternoon of colour, meaning, and intention. Sign up via my website.

Group held by @kazimeasokil & Lora McNeil

#pysankyeggs
#mindfulmaking
#slowart
#intentionalcreativity
#comoxvalleyarts
#vanislecreativity
#smallcircleart
#gentleart
#artforwellbeing
#creativepause

This Friday’s Mend: Slow Stitch workshop has been cancelled.

Thank you to those who expressed interest. Sometimes the rhythm just isn’t quite right — and I trust that.

A quick note about the new booking system: you’re now able to register for workshops without payment upfront. If something calls to you, please do put your name down. Your registration truly helps me gauge interest.

I review numbers the week prior to each event, and if there isn’t enough interest to hold the circle well, I’ll cancel at that time.

Your early sign-up truly makes a difference and helps these offerings come to life.

Our next gathering is March 29th, where we’ll explore Pysanka — the traditional Ukrainian art of decorating eggs using a wax-resist method. This layered, intentional process is both meditative and richly symbolic, marking the season of renewal with colour and care.

I hope you’ll join us. 🌿 Sign up via my website

This Friday’s Mend: Slow Stitch workshop has been cancelled.

Thank you to those who expressed interest. Sometimes the rhythm just isn’t quite right — and I trust that.

A quick note about the new booking system: you’re now able to register for workshops without payment upfront. If something calls to you, please do put your name down. Your registration truly helps me gauge interest.

I review numbers the week prior to each event, and if there isn’t enough interest to hold the circle well, I’ll cancel at that time.

Your early sign-up truly makes a difference and helps these offerings come to life.

Our next gathering is March 29th, where we’ll explore Pysanka — the traditional Ukrainian art of decorating eggs using a wax-resist method. This layered, intentional process is both meditative and richly symbolic, marking the season of renewal with colour and care.

I hope you’ll join us. 🌿 Sign up via my website

Saturday intuitive painting night. A seal emerged on my canvas, inviting me to remember that playfulness can exist even in the darkest places. #paintingnight #intuiitiveart #arttherapylife

Saturday intuitive painting night. A seal emerged on my canvas, inviting me to remember that playfulness can exist even in the darkest places. #paintingnight #intuiitiveart #arttherapylife

I’ve been quiet on here lately. Instead, I’ve been quietly mending.

Slowing the pace of my days.
Decreasing the load.
Stretching into the quiet that remains —
not to fill it,
but to listen.

Inside that quiet, I found a whisper guiding me to remember…
who I was,
what I loved,
where I felt most alive.

Mending, isn’t only about fabric.
It’s about tending to the worn places.
Softening what has been stretched thin.
Returning to ourselves, stitch by stitch.

If you, too, are craving a gentler pace…
If your nervous system longs for calm…
If you feel the quiet calling…

I invite you to join me for Mend: An Evening of Calm, March 6th at the studio.

We’ll gather in circle, slow our breath, and practice the art of Slow Stitching. No experience needed. Just your presence.

Come mend with me. ✨

#comoxvalley #courtenay #therapeuticart #slowstitch

I’ve been quiet on here lately. Instead, I’ve been quietly mending.

Slowing the pace of my days.
Decreasing the load.
Stretching into the quiet that remains —
not to fill it,
but to listen.

Inside that quiet, I found a whisper guiding me to remember…
who I was,
what I loved,
where I felt most alive.

Mending, isn’t only about fabric.
It’s about tending to the worn places.
Softening what has been stretched thin.
Returning to ourselves, stitch by stitch.

If you, too, are craving a gentler pace…
If your nervous system longs for calm…
If you feel the quiet calling…

I invite you to join me for Mend: An Evening of Calm, March 6th at the studio.

We’ll gather in circle, slow our breath, and practice the art of Slow Stitching. No experience needed. Just your presence.

Come mend with me. ✨

#comoxvalley #courtenay #therapeuticart #slowstitch

Slow down, carve lino, and upcycle something old into something new 🌿
In this beginner-friendly printmaking workshop, you’ll learn to carve your own lino block and print on fabric to create one-of-a-kind, sustainable house goods.

Choose to create one of the following:
tea towel, 2 napkins, or some beeswax wraps—plus bring some old textiles from home to refresh and reimagine.

🕙 April 25th, 10am–2pm @ the Studio
👥 Adults 18+
💲 $105(materials included)
🗓 Register by April 18th

No experience needed—just curiosity and a willingness to play.

#LinoPrinting #PrintmakingWorkshop #HandPrinted #CreativeArts #MakeArtDaily #ArtForAdults#mindfullmaking #comoxvalley

Slow down, carve lino, and upcycle something old into something new 🌿
In this beginner-friendly printmaking workshop, you’ll learn to carve your own lino block and print on fabric to create one-of-a-kind, sustainable house goods.

Choose to create one of the following:
tea towel, 2 napkins, or some beeswax wraps—plus bring some old textiles from home to refresh and reimagine.

🕙 April 25th, 10am–2pm @ the Studio
👥 Adults 18+
💲 $105(materials included)
🗓 Register by April 18th

No experience needed—just curiosity and a willingness to play.

#LinoPrinting #PrintmakingWorkshop #HandPrinted #CreativeArts #MakeArtDaily #ArtForAdults#mindfullmaking #comoxvalley

Gathered: Womens Creative Circle series starts tomorrow!

We gather once a month (virtual) to explore a new theme rooted in self discovery and creative care. This is a small closed group of women, traveling through the dark season together from January-May, to emerge as the light returns supported and inspired.

If this sounds interesting to you there are just two spots left! Reach out to me directly or head to my website for more information

#womensgroup #arttherapy🎨 #creativecare #artishealing #creativecommunity

Gathered: Womens Creative Circle series starts tomorrow!

We gather once a month (virtual) to explore a new theme rooted in self discovery and creative care. This is a small closed group of women, traveling through the dark season together from January-May, to emerge as the light returns supported and inspired.

If this sounds interesting to you there are just two spots left! Reach out to me directly or head to my website for more information

#womensgroup #arttherapy🎨 #creativecare #artishealing #creativecommunity

What makes you feel at home in your life? Whatever that things is I hope you get to do it...a lot:)

I often struggle to find the space to do the things that I love. Life gets busy and time just slips away, unless I schedule it! This is my life hack; to join or create groups to support creating. It is way easier to show up when there is companionship.

For those that might like to keep me company, my new Women's Creative Circle starts this Sunday! Monthly virtual meet ups to create together. 2 spots left...

Details on my website.

#creativecommunity #arttherapy #expressiveart #womencircle #

What makes you feel at home in your life? Whatever that things is I hope you get to do it...a lot:)

I often struggle to find the space to do the things that I love. Life gets busy and time just slips away, unless I schedule it! This is my life hack; to join or create groups to support creating. It is way easier to show up when there is companionship.

For those that might like to keep me company, my new Women's Creative Circle starts this Sunday! Monthly virtual meet ups to create together. 2 spots left...

Details on my website.

#creativecommunity #arttherapy #expressiveart #womencircle #

I have wanted to create this space for a while. A women’s creative circle for moving through the dark season together.

From January–May, we’ll gather once a month to slow down, root in, and explore what’s quietly taking shape beneath the surface. Using expressive arts—drawing, painting, collage, movement, and writing—we’ll practice taking the time to show up and nurture what is needed as we move toward spring.

This is more than a workshop—it’s a steady rhythm of grounding, reflection, and growth, held in a closed, supportive small group of women seeking the same. The village we might be seeking . Come join us and unfurl into spring.

🌑 January–May once a month
🗓 Sunday @ two times
💻 Virtual + 🏡 In-person
⏳ 1.5–2 hrs per gathering
✨ No art experience needed

Details + exact dates in the signup link in bio: Upcoming Workshops

#Gathered
#creativecircle
#artaspractice
#darkseason
#rootingdown
#womenincommunity
#creativehealing
#ritualandart
#thresholdseason
#thevillage
#comoxvalley

I have wanted to create this space for a while. A women’s creative circle for moving through the dark season together.

From January–May, we’ll gather once a month to slow down, root in, and explore what’s quietly taking shape beneath the surface. Using expressive arts—drawing, painting, collage, movement, and writing—we’ll practice taking the time to show up and nurture what is needed as we move toward spring.

This is more than a workshop—it’s a steady rhythm of grounding, reflection, and growth, held in a closed, supportive small group of women seeking the same. The village we might be seeking . Come join us and unfurl into spring.

🌑 January–May once a month
🗓 Sunday @ two times
💻 Virtual + 🏡 In-person
⏳ 1.5–2 hrs per gathering
✨ No art experience needed

Details + exact dates in the signup link in bio: Upcoming Workshops

#Gathered
#creativecircle
#artaspractice
#darkseason
#rootingdown
#womenincommunity
#creativehealing
#ritualandart
#thresholdseason
#thevillage
#comoxvalley

Taking the time
to step into alignment.

Slowing down, the hurried pace loosens,
dissolves.

At the centre: presence.
Dreams feed the flames.
Hope takes root.

We spiral out,
carrying the light forward—
lit from within.

Feeling so fed by last nights gathering. Thank you to all for sharing this night filled to the brim with all the good things.

Amazing capture by @euphoriasoundhealing

#comoxvalley #solsticecelebration #arttherapylife #creatingcommunity

Taking the time
to step into alignment.

Slowing down, the hurried pace loosens,
dissolves.

At the centre: presence.
Dreams feed the flames.
Hope takes root.

We spiral out,
carrying the light forward—
lit from within.

Feeling so fed by last nights gathering. Thank you to all for sharing this night filled to the brim with all the good things.

Amazing capture by @euphoriasoundhealing

#comoxvalley #solsticecelebration #arttherapylife #creatingcommunity

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