Bella Figura calligrapher Sarah Hanna recently taught a custom map workshop at The Windmill Paper Boutique in Boca Raton, Florida, and took some beautiful photos of the class! Today we’re sharing a recap of the workshop – take a look! 

Sarah developed her class to help other artists create personal, hand illustrated maps like the ones shown below. She designed it to help artists expand their business by using technology without losing their artfulness. Each student received a personalized workbook with the class notes and space to take their own notes during the lecture. 

The workshop curriculum was designed to blend fashion and function – a love story, a wedding, a family history, or, as the above commission illustrates, a personal story. Each student came to class with a storyline prepared.  The class was split 50/50 with professional artists and students who were interested in using the techniques for personal gifts. It was a fantastic group of creatives!

Blending the artist’s human touch with the digital world was the order of the day….an artist in Colorado even took the course via FaceTime! We love how Sarah coordinated her outfit with the workshop theme (thanks to the Gap in California!). 

       

Sarah got in touch with her catering roots (the kitchen is the only place she is happier than in an art studio) and catered lunch. After all, food is art, isn’t it? We love the artist’s palette cookies that Sarah had as a treat for workshop participants – she worked with Kathy Scharmann to create them and they were so cute!  

 

At the end of the class, Sarah provided an art supply petting zoo, where the students had hands-on time to play with pigment, brushes and various types of archival paper.  Sarah also went over her recommended art supplies to use for master copies and which techniques to use – and the ones to avoid. 

Many thanks to Sarah for sharing a peek inside of her beautiful workshop at the Windmill!