Leader
Kathie MacDuff - BiographyKathie MacDuff is an artist, graphic designer, and journalist who captures her artistic passions within her signature program, Creative Journaling. For the past 27 years, she has been teaching creative journaling as well as courses in watercolour, mixed media, and a wide assortment of paper arts including book binding.
She is the Expressive Arts Team Lead at Wellspring Alberta where she’s been a regular facilitator offering many and varied courses over the past fourteen years in person and on Zoom.
She was a forerunner instructor with the Tom Baker Cancer Center leading to the establishment of their Medicine in Art initiative and was involved with a year-long research program with the Primary Care Network Pain Clinic studying the effects of creativity on pain and depression.
She facilitated classes at the Good Shepherd Art Studio in Calgary since its inception in 2006 to 2022 and is a regular guest instructor and speaker at many retreat and conference centres throughout Alberta and British Columbia. Most recently, she relocated to Sorrento Conference and Retreat Centre in British Columbia where she is the Associate Director, overseeing Expressive Arts programming amongst other things. She was happy to discover the Blind Bay Painters and has become a member.
Her vision is to facilitate creative experiences that encourage connections, validate emotions, and nourish the soul. She finds fulfillment of these goals thanks to the wonderful people she gets to hang out with!
Creative Journaling: Cultivating Wonder
“People travel to wonder at the height of mountains, at the huge waves of the ocean, at the circular motion of the stars…and they pass by themselves without wondering at all.” St. Augustine Wonder should not be reserved for the amazing, the awesome or the spectacular. To live as though everything is a miracle, or a wonder, is to have the gift of seeing something special in the ordinary. Wonder, when done right, reminds us to stop taking the precious pieces of our lives for granted. Join us as we intentionally “get our wonder on”!
In Creative Journaling, a theme is presented and participants use words, images and a variety of mixed media techniques to unearth, explore and record their responses, thoughts and emotions. This program unites participants in hope, support and camaraderie as they journey towards creativity and spirit. In this safe creative space, negativity is banished leaving only room for meaningful connection, self-expression and healing.
Basic kit/supply list: Pencil, pen, permanent marker (s), journal (I will bring some of the ones I have made for $15), notepaper or a note book, ruler, eraser, UHU Glue Stick(s), spray bottle/mister for water, old credit or gift card, self-healing cutting board, xacto knife, scissors, baby wipes and paper towels. Please do bring any of your favourite materials such as coloured pencils, markers etc. Specifics for each class will be sent closer to the time but please do not purchase anything new for these programs.
