Everyone has stories worth telling.
Artist-led creative storytelling workshops for assisted-living and independent-living communities.
Sometimes a color, a song, a familiar image, or a few carefully chosen words can bring a meaningful memory to life.
In this guided workshop, participants explore their own experiences through music and sensory prompts, short writing exercises, collage, and simple drawing. They create personal journal pages inspired by the people, places, traditions, and moments that mattered to them.
No previous art or journaling experience is needed. There's no right or wrong way to make a page, and artistic perfection is never the goal.
What participants will do
- Respond to gentle prompts that invite memories and personal reflection.
- Use words, images, colors, and collage to tell a story in their own way.
- Create individual art journal pages that reflect their experiences and perspectives.
- Share their work or stories if they wish. Sharing is always optional.
Everyone leaves with a page they can display or share with family.
What makes this different
It's not a step-by-step drawing class, and nobody has to produce the same result. It's a facilitated creative experience that gives participants a welcoming structure for exploring and expressing their own stories through art.
Residents use colors, images, words, and simple collage to represent a favorite place, a meaningful time in their lives, or something they love. Nobody has to be able to draw, and every activity can be adapted to the group's interests and abilities.
More ways to gather
The Stories Objects Tell
Start with something familiar: a recipe card, a garden, a childhood toy, a favorite kind of music, or a vintage advertisement. Participants make a collage inspired by one of them and can share a story if they wish.
Why it works: It's an easy bridge between making art and conversation. Residents who don't want to write can take part entirely through images and color.
Our Community in Collage
The group creates a shared artwork around a theme like “What makes a place feel like home?” or “Things that bring us joy.”
Why it works: The result belongs to the residents together and can be displayed in the community. Activity directors get a visible outcome, and nobody feels like they're competing.
For activity directors and program coordinators
Workshops are available for private group bookings at assisted-living and independent-living communities. Get in touch to talk through availability, group size, materials, and pricing, and we'll shape a session around your residents.
About the instructor
Alquemie Arts is led by Karen Spies, an artist with a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and an MA from Naropa University. Our approach to art journaling is about personal expression, curiosity, and the freedom to make something honest and imperfect.
We also host events for professionals recovering from corporate burnout. See what's open on Eventbrite.