Kindling Creativity Returns: Adult Art Classes at SJIMA This Spring
- SJIMA
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
By popular demand, Kindling Creativity is back. After two successful seasons in 2025, SJIMA's beloved adult art class series returns this spring with eight Tuesday evening classes — each one a chance to create something beautiful, connect with your own creative spirit, and share the experience with a welcoming community of fellow makers.
Beginning Tuesday, April 7 and running weekly through Tuesday, May 26, 2026, the series offers eight evening classes, each from 4–8 PM in the light-filled loft of SJIMA. Classes are taught by artist and educator Simona Burla, and refreshments will be served. All materials are provided. Each class is $25 and open to adults of all artistic abilities — no prior experience required.
About the Classes
Each class in the Kindling Creativity series stands on its own, with a unique project and its own creative focus. Whether you're drawn to painting, mixed media, bookmaking, or something more reflective and personal, there's a class — or several — that will speak to you. Space is intentionally intimate, with each class limited to just 10 participants, and classes from past seasons have filled up quickly — so early registration is encouraged.
Create a personalized deck of cards capturing your own wisdom and intuition, using acrylic paints, stencils, and paint pens on mixed-media paper. Every deck will be one of a kind.
Discover the serendipitous art of "found poetry" — crafting original poems from words found in old books and magazines, then bringing them to life with paint, collage, and color on mixed-media paper.
A sweet homage to spring. Paint an imaginary garden in bloom while reflecting on the season just passed — setting intentions and planting creative seeds for what's ahead.
Create a whimsical handmade booklet that captures your core values, painted with watercolors and assembled with silk ties. Part art project, part personal journal.
Connect with a sense of joy and channel it into a set of hand-painted cards — each one an activity that brings you happiness — collected in a jar you'll decorate yourself and draw from for inspiration.
Relax into the meditative rhythm of mandala-making. Working on watercolor paper, you'll build a rich, detailed mandala using watercolors, pencils, and paint pens — freehand, with stencils, or both.
Draw and paint a mixed-media portrait that is an expression of you and what you love, layering collage papers, acrylic paints, and watercolor pencils on canvas panel.
Close out the series by creating a handmade art journal to take home and keep filling. You'll paint the cover, select your pages, and assemble everything with metal rings — ready for whatever creative adventures come next.
What to Know Before You Register
All classes meet on Tuesdays, 4–8 PM at SJIMA, located at 540 Spring Street in Friday Harbor. Each class is $25 per person, and all materials are provided. Refreshments will be served. Classes are designed for adults and welcome all skill levels — from first-time painters to experienced makers looking for a creative outlet and some good company.
Since you'll be working with paint, wear clothes you don't mind getting colorful. Most classes invite you to bring a smock or apron, and some suggest a journal or a few personal items specific to that class — check the individual event pages for details on what to bring.
Register for One — or All Eight
Each class can be registered for individually. Click any class title above to reserve your spot, or visit SJIMA's events page at sjima.org/calendar-events to browse and register.
Whether you join us for one evening or all eight, we look forward to making something beautiful together this spring!
🎨 About the Instructor: Simona Burla
Born and raised in Rome, Italy, Simona Burla grew up surrounded by art and beauty. Her artistic journey began at Scuola D’arte, where she studied art history, drawing, painting, metalwork, and jewelry design. Now a longtime resident of San Juan Island, Simona has been a dedicated member of the local artist community for over 30 years, creating, teaching, and inspiring others.
Simona’s artwork spans multiple mediums, including wood, paper, canvas, and clay, with a particular love for acrylic and watercolor painting. She often incorporates mixed-media techniques such as collage, oil pastels, and handwritten text into her work. Her mission is to offer opportunities for self-discovery and reflection through creative exploration, helping others connect with their own artistic expression.
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