Jessica Kovan (left) and Lauren Everett Finn will be team-teaching this class, bringing you double the expertise, double the creative energy, and double the fun. With sooo many years of combined teaching experience, we offer two unique approaches to problem-solving, different ways of working, and plenty of one-on-one guidance. Plus, expect friendship, laughter, and a whole lot of inspiration as we create together!
Lauren, teaching for the first time at the Alcona Arts Retreat, likes to work in layers, sometimes completely obscuring what’s underneath with paint or collage and sometimes letting the bottom layers peek through. This makes for an interesting surface that shows the process of the work; it also leads to those happy accidents that just can’t be planned. Lauren is a popular instructor, teaching classes in northwest Michigan and in metro Detroit.
You can find her work at:
Synchronicity Gallery in Glen Arbor, MI
Tvedten Fine Art in Harbor Springs, MI
Oliver Art Center Gift Shop, Frankfort, MI
See more about Lauren at her website, LaurenEverettFinn.com.
Jessica, one of the Alcona Arts Retreat’s most popular instructors, is a mixed media artist, environmentalist and educator. She aims to create conversations to foster both collective and personal understanding.
Her art is characterized as thoughtful, storytelling and layered. Drawing inspiration from the world around her, she explores the intersection of art, nature, the environment, and human decision making. Her work is personal, expressive and focused on making the spirit of the times visual.
Jessica’s work is available at
Blue North Arts, Suttons Bay, MI
Betsy Bay Furniture, Frankfort, MI
Lansing Art Gallery, Lansing, MI
Hayley Gallery, New Albany, OH
See more about Jessica at her website, JessicaKovan.com.
Accordion Books – Experiment with a variety of mixed media tricks and techniques to craft a one-of-a-kind accordion book. Then, take it further by adding flaps, windows, and interactive elements to make your book come alive.
Flower Bouquet Paintings – Work in a series as we build vibrant floral compositions, starting with a crazy painted underpainting that will surprise you with unexpected pops of color in your beautiful blooms.
Storyboards – Using collage and paint, we’ll transform a vertical wood panel into a meaningful piece of art for your home or studio—a daily reminder of what brings you joy.
Prayer Flags – To wrap up, we’ll create prayer flags infused with our hopes, dreams, and good wishes, sending them out into the cosmos.
Watercolor paper: 1 full sheet of 90# (30×22) plus 1 sheet of 140# (30×22)
Acrylic paint: Any acrylic paint in your favorite colors. You just need a handful of colors, plus black and white. (For flowers, Lauren uses a warm and a cool of each primary, plus white.)
Brushes: Variety of sizes, one at least 1 inch and one round that can make nice clean strokes.
Gel plate: 5×7 or 8×10. (5×5 or 6×6 is OK) We have extras if you don’t have one; let us know.
Brayer for printmaking: Hard rubber around 4 inches wide (though any size will work)
Adhesives: Acrylic matte medium and/or acrylic gloss medium.
Gesso (white)
Basics: Paper towel, 2 water containers, scissors, pencil, pen, notebook, apron, palette, ruler, expired credit or gift card (to use as a scraper), 2 paper file folders (manila or color)
Collage materials: The following are just to get you thinking: Colored tissue paper, old paintings, old newspapers or magazines, old holiday cards, books, diaries, poetry, sheet music, rice paper, lace, paper doilies, old stamps, letters, receipts, maps, craft paper, postcards, etc. Bring as little or as much as you want to.
Mark-making and embellishing tools (optional): Stamps, stencils, pastels, white pens, inktense or prismacolor pencils, carendache crayons, acrylic markers.
We will also bring lots to share so you can experiment.
Make sure to bring you sense of humor, adventure, and play!
😍 😃