Events
It’s time to unleash the wise brilliance within you!
Our soulfully creative workshops are currently held at Clarus Center in Warrenville, IL. Private retreats and group offerings are available by request throughout the Chicagoland area.
No prior experience required!
It’s courage and openness, not skill, that stirs our creative juices. We provide the safe, encouraging environment that roots your potential to bloom.
See upcoming events below.
“A creative life is an amplified life.”
—Elizabeth Gilbert
On a Wing and a Prayer | Mixed Media Collage
Enjoy some “me” time with a Joy-filled Mid-Week Retreat! Uniquely designed by our own Nancy Gelband, this beautiful butterfly wing collage lets you include your own color scheme, photos, magazine clippings, colors, and personality to create a composite of things you love.
The Road Ahead: Create Intentions and Envision 2024
Bring clarity and momentum into the new year! After identifying and setting intentions, we’ll roll up our sleeves and construct a vision board. Start the year off on the right foot!
3 Part Workshop Series / The Art of Letting Go: In Conversation with Paintings from The Art Institute of Chicago
Join us for an exciting journey of self-discovery as we deep dive into the topic of letting go by incorporating works from the famed Art Institute of Chicago. This 3-part workshop series includes a Saturday trip to The Art Institute of Chicago.
4 Week Journal Series / Lost and Found: Discovering Ourselves Through Loss
Join us for a 4-week journal and discussion experience and discover the wisdom you’ve gained through the various losses in life.
Windows into Our Sacred Selves
Like mosaic tiles or stained glass windows, our lives combine many different pieces, parts and experiences. Using photos, cards, fabric, small momentos and other clippings, we’ll create the "Window into Our Sacred Selves"
Writing as a Healing Practice: The Transformative Power of Journal Writing
Feeling overwhelmed? Stuck in a loop? Discover the transformative power of journal writing!
Meet Your Angels: Palette Knife Painting
A palette knife and a unique paint layering technique to reveal your angel! You’ll be amazed at how this angel takes shape by following this intentional, step-by-step process. No prior paint experience necessary.
On the Road Again: Revisiting Your Intentions for 2023
We’re nearly halfway through 2023. Are you where you thought you’d be on the journey? Using a roadmap metaphor as our guide, we’ll use clarifying questions, discussion, and colorful, hands-on visuals to chart our course for the next segment of 2023.
Tell Them Now! A Process to Let Your Heart Speak
Do you struggle to write the right words…even on joyous occasions? This workshop can help! Share your gratitude, appreciation, or deepest wishes for someone by following Katie’s step by step process.
Spring Tulip Painting Class | Session Two
What makes tulips so loveable? They are lovely to look at and easy to paint! We’ll show you how easy in this step-by-step acrylic paint class! The 10 x 20 canvas looks lovely in pairs, so attend both classes and create a set (at a discount!)
Spring Tulip Painting Class | Session One
What makes tulips so loveable? They are lovely to look at and easy to paint! We’ll show you how easy in this step-by-step acrylic paint class! The 10 x 20 canvas looks lovely in pairs, so attend both classes and create a set (at a discount!)
Full Hearts: Paper Mache’ Heart Rattles
These sweet, three-dimensional hearts remind us of what makes our hearts full! Join us for some creativity in community.
Winter Shadows | Soft Pastel Drawing Class
Explore the light and dark with this soft pastel drawing! This fun class gets your fingers messy and your mind cleared! As always, we’ll begin with a short meditation on the stillness of the winter season.
Snow in the Woods | Acrylic Painting Class
Our January theme of Stillness continues with this peaceful acrylic paint class! Gather some friends and come explore the peaceful winter woods with us!
The Road Ahead: Create Intentions and Envision 2023
Bring clarity and momentum into the new year! After identifying and setting intentions, we’ll roll up our sleeves and construct a vision board. Start the year off on the right foot!
I Think I Think Too Much! | Mixed Media Collage
This fun class is designed to help us recognize how much we think-think-think by creating a mixed media piece representing our thoughts. A bit silly and a bit revealing, this colorful class brings fun to clearing your mind.
Bountiful Blessings Plate | Acrylic Paint Class
Join us to express your abundance and welcome the season’s bounty by creating a beautiful, decorative blessings plate. Don’t be deceived; this beauty is easier to create than you think!
Write to the Heart | Journal Skills Workshop
Discover the transformative power of journal writing and its ability to help us problem-solve and heal. No experience necessary.
On a Wing and a Prayer | Mixed Media Collage
YOU incorporate your own photos, magazine clippings, colors, lettering, and personality to create a butterfly wing representing the emerging YOU. No experience necessary.
Beyond the “Bless You!” | Creating a Written Blessing
A true blessing recognizes the gift of another’s purist essence. Be guided through a step-by-step writing process to create your own personalized blessing that will be cherished for years to come.
Meet Your Angels | Palette Knife Painting
Through an intentional, step by step process, you’ll create a palette painting of your very own angel. No experience necessary.
Coming Soon!
All of This Is Us: Honoring the Fragments of Ourselves | Women’s Workshop at The Art Institute of Chicago
Other Opportunities
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Start dates and location: TBA
Midlife often opens women to big questions. Who am I? Am I living as fully as I’d like? What are my next steps on this journey?
Our Inner Compass Writing and Discussion Circles provide an opportunity to creatively explore those questions in a supportive community. Each month, we’ll gather around a theme to discuss and use a variety of creative modalities to investigate how it appears in our lives. Circles will include time for personal reflection, small group or partner shares, and group interaction. Join us for discussion; leave with more of you!
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By request
Looking for a small retreat-oriented gathering for your tribe of friends?
Our Soul Care Retreats offer a refreshing change from the usual “girl’s weekend” experience. We offer an intentional, creative experience to enjoy your friendships in a deeper, more connected way. Guided meditations, creative arts and crafts activities, facilitated sharing circles, and plenty of fun bonding activities allow you to enjoy your sisterhood in a retreat-like experience. Add-on options such as yoga and onsite massage are available.
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By request
Use the creative process to promote team building at your organization’s next meeting.
Inner Compass Creative offers unique opportunities for teams seeking personal, intentional growth and team connection. Our workshops and courses require no prior experience or skill, and are tailored to your needs and goals. We ask only for courage and openness to what the creative process wants us to learn.