The Art of Creative Reinvention

Multiple Dates Available (See Above)

Class Time:  10:00am - 5:30pm

With Tutor: Jordan Harcourt-Hughes

Sometimes emergence doesn't begin with something new. Sometimes it begins by seeing new possibilities in what is already there.

Have you ever looked at unfinished paintings, painted papers or creative experiments and wondered what to do with them?

Every artist accumulates colour studies, painted papers, texture samples and works that never quite found their final form. Rather than leaving them forgotten in a drawer, what if they became the starting point for something entirely new?

In this immersive full-day workshop, you'll build your own Mixed Media Shoebox Studio—a portable creative system that transforms unfinished artworks, painted papers and found materials into an organised library of creative possibility.

Working with mixed media techniques, painted papers and guided creative visualisations, you'll discover how fresh ideas emerge through layering, experimentation and intuitive making. Along the way, you'll develop a sustainable creative practice that continues long after the workshop has finished.

Whether you're completely new to mixed media or an experienced artist looking for a fresh approach, you'll leave with renewed creative confidence, practical techniques, and a portable studio you can continue using at home.

No experience needed. Just curiosity and a box!

What Are Some Benefits of Doing This Workshop?

• Build your own portable Mixed Media Shoebox Studio—a creative practice you can return to again and again.
• Transform unfinished artworks and painted papers into fresh mixed media pieces.
• Build a reusable library of creative materials for future projects.
• Discover how creative reinvention can become part of your artistic practice.
• Learn to recognise hidden potential in experiments that once felt unfinished.
• Develop a more sustainable studio practice by giving existing materials new life.
• Explore intuitive mixed media techniques that encourage ideas to emerge naturally.
• Experience the restorative benefits of immersive creative practice in a relaxed and supportive environment.
  
  

What You'll Learn:

• Creating expressive painted papers and mixed media surfaces.
• Building and organising your own Mixed Media Shoebox Studio.
• Creative visualisation as a source of artistic inspiration.
• Storytelling through composition, layering and abstraction.
• Framing, layering, and visual contrast
• Creative reuse and innovative thinking through found materials.
  
  

What You'll Take Home:

• Your own Mixed Media Shoebox Studio.
• A completed A3 mixed media artwork.
• A handmade Totem Art Card.
• A practical creative system that helps you continue exploring, experimenting and reinventing your artwork long after the workshop.
  
  

What Your Day Will look Like:

The day begins with our Creative Throw Down. You'll be invited to bring along a handful of unfinished artworks, painted papers, colour studies, textures or creative experiments from home or your studio—anything you'd like to reinvent. Together, we'll create a shared table of creative possibilities, celebrating the idea that nothing is wasted and every experiment has the potential for a second life.

From there, you'll build your own Mixed Media Shoebox Studio, organising materials into a portable creative library of colour, texture and inspiration that you can continue using long after the workshop.

Throughout the day you'll revisit unfinished work, rescue forgotten ideas and discover how layering, composition and intuitive mark-making can transform familiar materials into something entirely new. Two guided creative visualisations will provide fresh starting points for exploration, allowing imagery to emerge naturally rather than beginning with a fixed outcome.

By the end of the workshop, you'll have created a richly layered mixed media artwork and a handcrafted Totem Art Card, while developing a sustainable creative process that encourages you to keep exploring, experimenting and reinventing your work at home.

About Your Tutor:

Jordan Harcourt-Hughes is an artist, author, and creative educator specialising in abstract painting and mindful creative practice. Her workshops combine imaginative prompts with grounded techniques, creating welcoming spaces where participants can explore creativity with curiosity and confidence.

“What if your next artwork didn’t begin with a blank canvas… but with a shoebox?” – Jordan Harcourt-Hughes

What to Bring:

• 3–4 empty shoeboxes (or similar boxes)
• Old artworks, painted papers, magazines, packaging, or scraps you’re happy to cut up.
• Posca pens and permanent markers
• Any other mark making tools that you have handy.
  
  

What Will Be Provided:

• Glue
• Art Card for your compositions
• Acrylic and Watercolour Paints
• Scissors
• Visual inspiration
  
  

Can Anyone Do This Class?

Yes! This workshop is suitable for all levels, and absolutely beginner-friendly. If you love being creative, you’ll fit right in.