Kathleen KvernSpirit of Fire: Cultivating Authenticity Through Creativity

October 12-15, 2025 Go back
a woman holding a painting

Creativity is an expression of our originality and helps us make meaning in our lives. In the Spirit of Fire workshop we will carve out time to explore encaustic painting and through a combination of learning (head) and doing (heart) cultivate authenticity through our creative practice.

Check In: October 12, 2025

Check Out: October 15, 2025

Tuition + Meals: $775
With TreeHaus Twin Lodging Package: $1,372
With TreeHaus Queen Lodging Package: $1,402
With RicePod Twin Lodging Package: $1,552
With RicePod Queen Lodging Package: $1,642
With Nest Lodging Package: $1,732

 

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  • Class description
  • Bio
  • Supply List
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Class description

In this unique three-day participatory workshop experience you’ll be introduced to the exciting processes and techniques of encaustic painting (hot wax) painting. The workshop is appropriate for beginners as well as those with more advanced encaustic painting experience. Participants will learn the history of encaustic painting, studio safety and setup, and a variety of techniques including incising, pouring, collage, mixing paint, color theory, creating texture and working with stencils. There will be ample studio time and one-on-one instruction. You will be guided to deepen your authentic creative voice through a combination of encaustic techniques (head) and intuitive art exercises (heart). We will integrate spiritual practices such as walks in nature, journaling, star gazing, yoga, quiet contemplation, and meditation to cultivate authenticity in our creative practice. 

Participants will leave with confidence in their abilities to continue the exploration of encaustic painting and the joy of cultivating authenticity through creativity. 

biography

Kathleen Kvern is an abstract painter based in Minnesota where she has a studio in the Grain Belt Arts building in Northeast Minneapolis. She works primarily in encaustic and mixed media and her work has been juried into exhibitions at the Nicolet College Art Gallery, Northfield Art Gallery, Artistry at the Bloomington Center for the Arts, Hopkins Center for the Arts, and the Minnesota State Fair Fine Art Exhibition among others. Her work is represented at Bell Street Collective in Bayfield and on Madeline Island and at Cappaert Contemporary Gallery in Door County, WI. She has been featured in Wax Fusion, a digital publication of International Encaustic Artists and was the recipient of the 2019 Emerging Artists Grant and a 2024 Project grant from the IEA and a 2024 Minnesota State Arts Board grant. She teaches encaustic workshops to beginning students as well as those with experience in encaustic painting at the Chicago Avenue Arts Center in Minneapolis, at Dillman’s Art Center in Lac du Flambeau, WI, Wild Rice Retreat in Bayfield, Wi, and in her studio in the Grain Belt Artist Studios in Northeast Minneapolis.

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Supply List

BRING MATERIALS LIST

  • 10 wood cradled or un-cradled panels--Ampersand, Encaustibord, Claybord, Wood, plywood, Blick Premium wood panels
  • 6-8 Natural bristle brushes: different sizes-flat and round.
  • Oil pastels and/or pan pastels (optional)
  • Collage materials (lightweight papers)
  • Journal
  • Pens, all types of pencils, etc for writing
  • Apron
  • Feel free to bring your favorite encaustic paints

 INCLUDED MATERIALS:

  • Encaustic Paint
  • Encaustic Gesso
  • 1 – 12” x 12” cradled panel
  • Oil pigment sticks
  • Encaustic medium
  • Scraping tools
  • Blue tape
  • Nitrile gloves