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Back in September, I held a retreat for a group of women. We set intentions. We journaled. We made art. And the entire time, there was one woman who felt completely closed off.Guarded. Arms crossed. Distant. It seemed like nothing I was offering was getting through. Until the very end. During a silent, meditative labyrinth walk, she approached me quietly and said,“I’m actually a cop. And I haven’t felt this relaxed in decades.” That moment stayed with me. At first, I thought

As the year comes to a close, many of us feel a particular kind of fatigue—the kind that rest alone doesn’t fix. It’s the exhaustion of constant giving, producing, managing, and holding things together. What I notice, both in myself and in the people who walk through our doors, is how unfamiliar receiving  can feel. Receiving time. Receiving beauty. Receiving an experience simply because it nourishes us. And yet, the moment someone sits down to paint, something shifts. Breath

For the past three years, each night before going to bed, I’ve been writing down the same four things: Three wins from the day Three gratitudes Three things I’m ready to release And three reminders of what makes me valuable It’s a small ritual—almost unremarkable on its own. And yet, it has become one of the steadiest anchors in my life. I genuinely look forward to it every night. What continues to surprise me is this: even with that kind of consistency, I don’t always see my

There’s a particular kind of joy that arrives when we allow ourselves to be little again—when we step away from the outcome, soften the expectations, and rediscover the freedom of color, line, and play. I watch this every day in my studio in Brookline: adults who haven’t touched a brush in years suddenly exhale; kids who thought they “weren’t good at art” find themselves glowing; teens drop their guard and let intuition lead. As someone who teaches hundreds of students each y

I’ve been carrying a lot these days. Two major conference presentations, end-of-year goals for my business, and the sting of slower gallery sales have all piled up at once. And everywhere I look—whether in my classes, among my clients, or in conversations with friends—people are stretched thin. Job losses, world events, uncertainty about the future…it’s weighing on everyone. On nights like these, I barely sleep. The night before anything big has always been a lost cause. So h

The need for safe havens is acute now, places where we can truly connect with each other, and in turn with ourselves. Join our painting classes in Boston.

Reconnect with calm and creativity through plein-air painting in New England. Diana Stelin shares how art and mindfulness help us slow down and realign.

Discover how art reveals life beyond black and white. Join our Brookline art gallery for workshops, talks, and community events that spark creativity.

In painting, I am always chasing balance—between reality and imagination, comfort and chaos, the familiar and the unknown. Patterns give...

A little girl grew with us and taught us lessons in our two years in Brookline

Unexpected feedback on the relaxing yet resetting quality of our full day retreats!

What does it feel like when you're trying to master a new skill and it just doesn’t click? You ask for instructions, study the...

"Take a rest and find who you are", is a Shinto monk saying that I carried with me on this trip

There’s a quiet magic in stepping outside and simply observing—no agenda, no rush. The wind brushes your face, the light shifts subtly,...

"Art is essential to our humanity. It helps us understand ourselves and connect with others."  – Omar, recent adult art class...

I just returned from a winter trip to Colombia, and it felt like the exact reset my soul needed. In a world that constantly pulls us...

I recently worked with an actress preparing for a role as an artist, and our conversations kept circling back to an unexpected...

Last night, I attended a breathwork session with over 20 participants. Each of us came seeking relaxation, self-reflection, and a deeper...

January is a time for fresh starts and bold ideas. As I reflect on the start of 2025, I’m embracing this season of renewal by leaning...

Looking back on the past month, it feels like everything I’ve done has revolved around three guiding principles: creativity, community,...