Sumac Arts

01/14/2025

Did you know? Mandala drawing has been shown in peer reviewed studies to support well-being, boost mindfulness, and alleviate symptoms of anxiety! Join our class and see how mindful art can be an easy, positive way to spend some time (taking home your framed masterpiece is a bonus!)

Only a few spots left, grab yours today! Tickets & info: sumacarts.com/store/p/mandala-drawing-class

01/12/2025

Thank you Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbia, SC for hosting all of us as we shared a moment of unity and renewal at yesterday's sound bath. What a beautiful group of people who gathered for this event, from near and far! I so enjoyed talking to many of you afterward and am grateful for the community we are building around creativity, curiosity, and connection 🧡

01/07/2025

More than half of the spaces have been filled for our upcoming Mandala Drawing course, which starts in 3 weeks. Don't wait, our last two workshops sold out! Sign up here: sumacarts.com/store/p/mandala-drawing-class

01/06/2025

Start 2025 with peace and renewal and join us this Saturday 1/11 for a ✨free sound bath✨ and guided meditation in Columbia, SC!

This special event is generously sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbia, SC, and is open to all.

While donations will be collected to support future events like this one, they are not required to attend. Your presence is what matters most!

Spaces are limited, so reserve your spot today!

Join us for an immersive sound bath and meditation experience that blends the power of sound with guided mindfulness practice.

12/18/2024

Check out this awesome feedback from our last Mandala Drawing workshop. That's the power and long-lasting benefit of meditative art! Get tickets for our next course at our website: https://www.sumacarts.com/store/p/mandala-drawing-class I can't wait to see what YOU create!

12/16/2024

Looking for a last minute, special holiday gift? Or maybe you'd look forward to some mindful relaxation through art in the new year? Join us for Mandala Drawing and take home YOUR unique framed artwork! Get tickets at our website: https://www.sumacarts.com/store/p/mandala-drawing-class

Our last two workshops sold out, grab your spot today!

12/12/2024

Mandala Drawing is back! Wouldn't this make a great holiday gift? Grab tickets at our website (and check out our other services while you're there -- did you know we also do private events and stress management workshops??) https://www.sumacarts.com/store/p/mandala-drawing-class

We'll dive deep into all things mandala in a 4 week course on Tuesday evenings, starting January 28. Get expert instruction in constructing grids and designing your very own mandala. Learn mindfulness techniques to find your flow and express yourself through this relaxing art form! EVERYONE can create a display-worthy mandala! You'll take home your one-of-a-kind artwork on archival paper in a matted frame.

12/10/2024

FREE art workshop this Sunday! Join us for The Art of Breathing: A Creative Mindfulness Workshop and take home several unique artworks inspired by your breath. Register here: https://bit.ly/3Zf9480

12/09/2024

This weekend, I had the privilege of leading a special meditation session for kids in our community focusing on mental health and the power of our voices.

Using my shruti box, we explored the way sound can calm and center us. We talked about how the shruti box works similarly to our voices, using air to make vibrations and create sound. Afterward, we vocalized and hummed together, tuning into the soothing sound of our voices in unison.

It was heartwarming to witness the children describe their responses to this simple meditation: "calm," "happy," "relaxed," "like I'm resting on a grassy hill in the sunshine." We learned that when we use our voices with purpose and presence, we can create a peaceful, connected energy that’s good for our minds and bodies.

At Sumac Arts, we believe in the power of creativity, art, and sound to inspire positive change—whether you're 5 or 95.

Thank you to Tracey Oakman who invited me to lead this session at OneColumbia through her organizations Princess Empowerment and Boyz II Men. It was such a joy to share this experience with all of you.

12/04/2024

Take a deep breath and let your creativity flow at The Art of Breathing: A Creative Mindfulness Workshop! We'll combine mindful breathing with simple, expressive drawings.

Spend a while practicing calming breathing exercises to clear your mind and restore balance. Explore your creative side through easy, expressive line drawings—no experience necessary!

Here’s an exercise to connect your breath with your creativity:

Find a comfortable seat with a piece of paper and a pencil or pen.
Close your eyes for a moment, and take a few deep, calming breaths—inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth.

Now, open your eyes and choose a simple subject like a leaf or a flower. It can be something you see in front of you, or just an image you hold in your mind.

As you inhale, start drawing the main shape of the object — let the lines expand gently as you breathe in. Imagine your breath filling the shape, bringing it to life.

As you exhale, continue drawing, allowing your lines to soften or flow outward, following the rhythm of your breath. Let the edges of your drawing flow naturally, as though your breath is guiding the movement of your pen or pencil.

Keep breathing slowly and deeply as you continue drawing, feeling the connection between your breath, your body, and the object you are drawing. Don’t worry about perfection—just let the process unfold naturally.

This exercise is a gentle way to connect your breath with your creativity—and it’s a simple way to relax and reset your mind.

I’ll be guiding you through more breathing and drawing techniques like this in The Art of Breathing: a peaceful, creative space to unwind and reconnect. Tickets are pay-what-you-can, grab yours here: https://bit.ly/3Zf9480

12/03/2024

Three very different ways to draw the breath, but all have the same result: I'm feeling centered and ready to face what life throws at me. We'll explore these techniques and more at The Art of Breathing: A Creative Mindfulness Workshop next Sunday, 12/15 at Seven Oaks Park. Tickets are pay-what-you-can, all materials provided. Won't you join me for an hour of mindful scribbles? Sign up here: https://bit.ly/3Zf9480

12/02/2024

Have you ever noticed how your breath and state of mind seem linked? I breathe faster, shallower when I'm stressed, and much more slowly and deeply when I'm relaxed. Did you know that your breath is a powerful tool for transformation?

In yoga, pranayama—the ancient practice of controlling the breath—is not just about how we breathe in response to our surroundings, it's about how we can shape the way we experience our surroundings through our breathing. What if you could use the simple act of breathing to find creative flow and create art from a place of calm?

Try this exercise at home:

Sit comfortably and take a few slow, deep breaths in through your nose. Exhale through your mouth if it's comfortable for you.

As you breathe, let the air guide you—feel the rise and fall of your chest, the expansion of your ribs.

On your next breath, pick up a pen or pencil. With each inhale, draw a small, flowing line. With each exhale, let the line change direction. Don’t think about what you’re creating—just follow the rhythm of your breath.

This exercise is just the beginning of the mindful creativity you’ll experience in The Art of Breathing: A Creative Mindfulness Workshop.

Join me for a unique, one-hour event where we combine the transformative power of breathwork with intuitive drawing. No artistic experience is required—this session is all about mindfulness, not technique. Together, we’ll explore how to quiet the mind and tap into a deep, creative space, simply through the rhythm of your breath.

You’ll leave feeling inspired, relaxed, and with several unique pieces to call your own.

Sign up here: https://bit.ly/3Zf9480

Breathe deeply, create freely, and embrace the present moment with art that’s as unique as you are!

12/01/2024

Every mandala drawing class follows a familiar rhythm, one that always brings a smile to my face. It begins with a mix of curiosity and doubt: rulers? compasses? protractors? "I didn’t sign up for a math class!" There’s hesitation, a lot of chatter, and a sense of uncertainty as participants draw their first lines. The pencils tremble, the minds wander, and the room buzzes with questions.

I always start by sharing a little bit about the neuroscience of mindful art. I explain how it helps quiet the brain’s default mode network, freeing up energy and creating a sense of calm. It's fascinating, but even with this knowledge, many people are still skeptical that they'll actually feel any different as they draw.

Then comes an instruction no one is prepared for: “I want you to put aside your pencil, and draw using your pens.” A few eyebrows raise. I can almost hear the collective thoughts: “No pencil? What is she doing? Is she serious?" But slowly, the room quiets. The chatter fades. The pens start moving, and something begins to click. Ten minutes in, the air is filled with focus. The smooth flow of ink on paper replaces the initial doubts, and designs begin to take shape.

It’s a magical moment—each design unfolding in its own unique way. People start to look up and notice: "Oh, look at this! Yours is so beautiful! Look how different they all are!” It’s as though they’re discovering parts of themselves in the patterns they create, one stroke at a time. Time slips by unnoticed. I have to remind everyone, "Only a few minutes left!" but no one wants to stop. The flow has taken over, and they’re reluctant to let it go.

When we frame our artwork and the class finally wraps up, there’s a shared sense of joy, peace, and accomplishment in the room. They may think it’s the art, but really, it’s them — it’s the way the experience allows that quiet, creative energy to rise up from within.

For me, there’s nothing more rewarding than watching people move from doubt to delight, from uncertain to amazed by their own creation. It’s a gift to witness that journey.

If this sounds like something you’d love to experience, I’d love to have you join me in an upcoming class! The Art of Breathing: A Creative Mindfulness Workshop is coming up soon, grab your spot and let's create something good together 🌺

11/30/2024

I’m still buzzing with gratitude and joy after yesterday’s sound session! It was truly an experience to remember, and I’m so honored to have shared it with such incredible people.

The stories I heard were nothing short of amazing:

*One participant shared that they reached a deep meditative state for the very first time.
*A physical therapist felt relief from muscle pain—such a powerful shift from time spent meditating.
*And a heartwarming message from someone living with chronic illness, feeling held and uplifted by the sound vibrations and supportive atmosphere.

I can’t wait to do it all again! Thank you for your trust, your energy, and your openness. I’m already looking forward to hosting more sound baths and sharing this power of sound with you all. Stay tuned for upcoming dates!

11/29/2024

Black Friday Reset: 90 min Sound Bath at Saluda Shoals is tomorrow! 9:30, 11:30 and 2:00 sound baths with gongs, singing bowls, and more, led by a musician and meditation facilitator. Get tickets here: http://bit.ly/3ZtlNVX

11/27/2024

Thank you for sharing in creativity and mindfulness experiences with Sumac Arts! I am so excited to continue this journey of creativity, growth, and connection with you all. 💛

To celebrate Thanksgiving, a limited quantity of tickets are buy one get one FREE for our 90 min Sound Bath at Saluda Shoals!

Get tickets here: http://bit.ly/3ZtlNVX

11/27/2024

Just knowing you've got a 90 min Sound Bath at Saluda Shoals booked for the day after Thanksgiving will help you stay grounded during the busy times. A sound bath experience is a GREAT gift for the ones you are grateful for... or for yourself! See you there 🧡

11/26/2024

I love seeing these gorgeous mandalas in their homes! This participant was new to mandala drawing, too, but she trusted the process and her ability and created this amazing piece of art that's all her own (using just a pen, NO pencil)!

We are going to make many more mandalas this Saturday at our second installment of Mandala Magic: a Mindful Drawing Experience. Keep an eye on our page for more mindful drawing events coming up soon.