Slow Art, Somatic Practice, and Creative Rest

With Shauna Kaendo - Art Therapist | BFA, RCAT

September 10 - 15, 2027

Being in conversation with art, process, and our senses.

This is a therapeutic art immersion.

A space to be in conversation (and collaboration) with our art materials, creative process, and the sensory experience(s) of art making. To focus less on technique, and control — and more on how we FEEL when we’re engaging with art materials.

A space to think about the practice of art making as part of a creative care practice. Something that we build into our lives, that feels good …that nourishes, supports, and grounds us.

Small, simple practices – repeated.

Through creative meanderings with both solo and collective art processes, we’ll work on slowing down, noticing, softening in. Creative rest.

We’ll indulge in curious play — with colour, texture, light/shadow, sound, sensation.

We’ll watch paint move.

We’ll create collaborations with our art materials… ongoing conversations, maps, stories.

We’ll get curious about an expansive understanding (and practice) of mapping, nesting, gathering …documenting our bumblings and creative intersections with the world, with ourselves, and with art. Folded, and layered, glued, wrapped, and stitched together.

This program is an intentional dilly-dally. A space to pause, and play …that is grounded in art-making as a sensory, somatic, mindful, and creative care practice. Something that we can build on, and repeat — to take care of ourselves and our communities.

No experience with art is required to participate.

What You’ll Experience

  • Repetitive mark-making
  • Bilateral drawing
  • Slow stitch (with paper)
  • Leaf stitching
  • Watercolour mucking and blobs
  • Wrapping, crumpling, folding …unfolding.
  • Uncomplicated bookmaking and printmaking
  • Frottage (rubbings)

What You’ll Learn

  • Experience in sensory art making (how does your whole body experience different materials and ways of using them), and material exploration (using materials in some less traditional/formal ways)
  • Develop and deepen your creative care practices, through an expanded understanding of what that can look (and feel) like
  • Experiential understandings of the connection between therapeutic creative arts practices, mental, and physical health. Conversations and learning are supported by contemporary neuroscientific research

Who This Program is For

  • Folks that are curious about exploring art making that’s less about product, and more about process (and sensory/somatic experience). Less about controlling our materials, and more about being in conversation with our materials
  • Folks that maybe don’t think of themselves as artists (or creative) at all, but want to learn about ways they can play with art materials (in a non-judgemental environment)
  • Folks that maybe already integrate art-making in their work (and/or life) and are looking for some new ideas, and inspirations (artists/makers, art therapists, therapeutic arts practitioners, teachers, counsellors, artists…).
  • Folks that might be experiencing creative blocks (in life/work).
  • Folks that want to build more creativity into their day-to-day.

Material Fee

Additional supply costs ($45 CAD) for this program are included in the package pricing.

Daily Schedule

A detailed schedule will be emailed to you about 30 days prior to your program. Click here to view a sample program schedule.

About the Presenter

Shauna Kaendo – Art Therapist | BFA, RCAT

Shauna Kaendo‘s art and clinical work is rooted in creative process and therapeutic art making as part of building creative care practices …things that we can repeat, to tend to and soothe the frazzle of living in a world that often overwhelms. Learning to practice creative curiosity – a curiosity that we can feel and carry around in our bodies, and that informs everything we do. Learning (and practicing) how to play in our art-making, how to think less about what we’re making, and FEEL more.

Read more
Shauna’s workshops and retreats are INCLUSIVE – all genders, colours, orientations, binary & norm busting, queer minded & bodied, divergent, curious and creative folks are welcome and respected. In their private practice, Shauna offers online and in-person workshops, support groups, supervision/mentorship, private sessions/therapy, and is the founder of ohHEY community – an online space rooted in making more time for community/collective art making and care.

Shauna is a registered Art Therapist in Victoria BC – the ancestral territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən speaking people, Songhees, Esquimalt and WSÁNEĆ nations – in awe and gratitude of their historical and ongoing stewardship and collective care.

heyshauna.com | @heyheyshauna | ohHEY Community

Date & Time Details


Program begins: September 10, 2027 6:30pm
Program ends: September 15, 2027 1:30pm
View a sample program schedule.

Package Pricing

Click Register Now to view availability of accommodations and all-inclusive pricing. Learn more about our accommodation types.

Scholarships

Early registration in this program guarantees that you will pay the 2026 room and meal rates. Programs that are booked with 2026 room and meal rates are not eligible for scholarship funding.

Cancellation Policy

If you need to cancel more than 30 days before the start of the program, you'll be refunded the balance minus the 20% non-refundable deposit. No refunds or credits within 30 days of arrival. Please see Full Terms and Conditions for more information.