A visual journal is more than a collection of pages. It is a living field where curiosity, imagination, and possibility can take root and grow.
A field is a place where unseen forces are at work, where seeds germinate beneath the surface, where diverse elements meet and interact, and where new life emerges. It is a place of relationship, mystery, and becoming. It is a place where we learn to notice what is trying to emerge.
In this workshop, we will approach the visual journal as a living field of possibilities—a space where images, intuition, memory, imagination, and questions can encounter one another in unexpected ways. Through collage, mark-making, writing, contemplation, and creative exploration, we will cultivate conditions for insight, growth, and emergence.
Inspired by the wisdom of artists, poets, and the evolving story of the universe, we will practice living with questions rather than rushing toward answers, trusting that what is seeking expression in our lives may reveal itself through the creative process.
Just as the universe is a field of creativity continually bringing forth new forms of life, our visual journals can become fields of emergence—places where the future quietly takes root and begins to find its way into the world.
“The act of creation is an attempt to enter a mysterious realm. A longing to transcend. What we create allows us to share glimpses of an inner landscape, one that is beyond our understanding. Art is our portal to the unseen world.”
Together, we will explore creative practices that invite curiosity, play, and emergence. Through printing, collage, color, shape, texture, and simple mark-making, we will cultivate conditions for insight rather than strive for perfection.
We will create, explore, listen, and reflect, trusting that what is seeking expression through us may gradually reveal itself through the creative process. We will begin by creating a rich collection of handmade papers using gelli printing, collage, and repurposed materials. These layered papers will become the fertile ground from which our visual journals—and the possibilities they contain—can grow. We will explore the symbolic language of shapes and forms, noticing what resonates and what calls for our attention. We will practice trusting the creative process, welcoming surprises and discoveries that arise along the way.
By the end of our time together, you will have started creating a visual journal that is more than a collection of pages. It will be a living field—a record of your explorations, a container for your questions, and a place to which you can return again and again to discover what new possibilities are waiting to emerge.
No artistic experience is required—only a willingness to be curious, to experiment, and to step into the living field of possibility and imagination.
“Entering more deeply into the creative process, the artist begins to receive spontaneous gifts: signs and meanings suggest themselves “from nowhere” - forms previously unimagined, new themes or motifs that seem remarkably fertile. The working faculties and the companion self have come to life, shedding seeds with abandon and generosity ...”
YOU WILL RECEIVE
Each participant will receive their own creative visual journal kit containing a 8 1/2 x 11 inch hard covered journal, a glue stick and scissors. Each day will bring creative practices and surprises to expand your visual journal practice.
You’ll also receive your own book of images and color pages made especially for this retreat to use in your visual journal.
Additional art supplies like paints, gelli printing materials , stencils, collage materials, punches, paper for painted pages, collage materials, circular paint surfaces, and more will also be provided so you can just arrive and play. There is no need to bring any creative supplies with you, unless you would like to! Please make sure you leave space to take your creative kit home in your luggage!
“The universe is only as large as our perception of it. When we cultivate our awareness, we are expanding the universe. This expands the scope, not just of the material at our disposal to create from, but of the life we get to live.”
VENUE
This retreat will be held at the St. Francis Springs Prayer Center, 477 Grogan Road, Stoneville, NC, which is about 30 miles north of Greensboro, NC and the closest airport is Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO). The Center is situate on 140 acres of peaceful wooded land and has a labyrinth based on the Chartres pattern.
You can arrive any time after 3pm on March 21st to check in to your room, and we will officially start after dinner which is served at 6pm. We will end on Thursday at 12 noon followed by lunch at 12.30pm. This lunch is included in the cost. The pace of the retreat will be slow so you can dive deep and all activities will be optional.
COST
The cost of this five day, four night retreat which includes accommodation in a single room with private bathroom, all meals, snacks and an abundance of art supplies including your own personal art supply kit is $1,450.00 per person. If you would prefer to share a room with a friend, the cost is $1,230.00 per person. Please let Catherine know the name of your roommate.
Payment is as follows:
A non-refundable admin fee/deposit of $150 is required to register for the retreat. REGISTER HERE
The balance of $1,300 for a single room or $1,080 for a shared room is due on or before January 17th, 2027.
CANCELLATION POLICY
Should it be necessary for you to cancel your participation in this retreat you will be refunded the retreat costs less the non-refundable deposit and any accommodation fees already due and paid to the retreat center, provided your cancellation is made more than four weeks prior to the start of the retreat. You are also welcome to find someone to take your place in the retreat.
If you do not wish to self-insure, it is highly recommended that you take out a travel insurance policy to cover your cancellation due to unexpected events such as flight cancellations and illness. Travel insurance policies from companies such as Allianz Insurance are available if you are traveling more than 100 miles from home.
Should Catherine need to cancel this retreat for any reason, you will be refunded amounts paid to Catherine for this retreat. Catherine will send registrants a full refund of all monies paid within seven days of notification of cancellation, and accepts no additional liability for travel costs or any other additional costs incurred.