2026 The Path of Drawing: Mindfulness & Technique with Patricia Watwood
ABOUT THE PROGRAM:
In this five-day workshop, we will combine concepts of mindfulness with studio projects of drawing, watercolor, visualization and composition to learn skills to build a sustainable practice of creativity that nurtures our individual voice.
Art projects in this studio class will guide participants to find inspiration through collage, intuitive flow exercises, drawing from imagination and the natural world. We will delve into the voice of the Censor, which tries to derail us on our creative path and practice shadow work to integrate the positive and negative emotions we encounter when making art.
One full day will be dedicated to building our chops in realist techniques, using graphite, observational drawings from nature and a live model. Through these drawings, we will explore the state of flow gained with a receptive open mindset.
Each project will offer insights into challenges we confront in our creative work. We will strengthen our habits of practice by understanding intentions, beginning rituals, prioritization, and immersion.
The use of basic materials, such as a mixed media sketchbook with thick paper suitable for graphite and wet media, is recommended. This class incorporates representational graphite drawings, imaginative pen and wash drawings, intuitive watercolors with a three color palette, and collage, using creative compost to build a personal sketchbook as a template for your ongoing drawing path.
WHAT TO EXPECT:
There are no prerequisites for this class, open to ALL levels.
Participants will develop:
- Strategies and concepts for maintaining a meaningful and regular drawing practice
- Practices for building a personal source book for ongoing inspiration
- Skills to manage the emotional challenges of creative work.
Technical skills in drawing will be explored, including:
- Observational & realist drawing techniques
- Figure Drawing: practice in drawing volumetric form through light, shadow & gesture
- Compositional strategies and thumbnails for planning larger works
Through this workshop, participants will build confidence in their unique creative journey, and gain joy and fulfillment by cultivating a sustainable relationship with their creative soul.
SCHEDULE:
All times are listed in EDT
Friday, September 11
- 3pm-5pm: Guests arrive by 5pm and check-in to their rooms.
- 6pm: Dinner & Orientation are part of the workshop for all participants.
- 7:30pm: Intro Session—Slide presentation on the Path of Drawing and getting to know each other
Saturday, September 12
- 8am - 10am: Self-serve breakfast in the Dining Hall
- 10am: Honoring Intentions: Rituals of Beginning. Spiral your way in and intuitive watercolor flow exercises
- 1pm: Lunch in the Dining Hall
- 2:30pm: Building a Personal Source Book: creative compost, visualization & creating a vision board for your creative goals
- 6pm: Dinner in the Dining Hall
- 7:30pm: Open Studio in the Art Lab
Sunday, September 13
- 8am - 10am: Self-serve breakfast in the Dining Hall
- 10am: Overcoming Obstacles : meet your Monster and move past fear
- 1pm: Lunch in the Dining Hall
- 2:30pm: Draw your Protector: create a personal symbol of your creative guardian
- 6pm: Dinner in the Dining Hall
- 7:30pm: Open Studio in the Art Lab
Monday, September 14
- 8am - 10am: Self-serve breakfast in the Dining Hall
- 10am: Opening up to Nature: observation, sources of wonder, and realist drawing techniques
- 1pm: Lunch in the Dining Hall
- 2:30pm: Figure Drawing Session: explore gesture, light and shadow with a live figure model
- 6pm: Dinner in the Dining Hall
- 7:30pm: Open Studio in the Art Lab
Tuesday, September 15
- 8am - 10am: Self-serve Breakfast in the Dining Hall
- 10am: From Small Bets to Big Dreams—Learn composition and thumbnail skills to build toward larger work
- 1pm: Lunch in the Dining Hall
- 2pm: End of Workshop
- 4pm: CoSM closes
CoSM & Entheon are open weekly Friday, Saturday & Sunday, 12pm - 6pm when CoSM gates close.
Participation in this workshop includes day passes to CoSM facilities & grounds and to Entheon during open hours, for the duration of the class.
Please note that CoSM will be closed to the public on the final day of the workshop, and Entheon will be closed.
ITINERARY NOTE: You are welcome to arrive early on Friday, March 6th—Day 1 of the workshop— as CoSM will be open to the public starting at 12pm, or the evening before on Thursday, March 5th.
This is a great time to explore Entheon, Grey House Galleries and CoSM grounds before the workshop starts, as the workshop schedule is quite immersive once in session.
YOUR INSTRUCTOR:
Patricia Watwood
PATRICIA WATWOOD
Born in 1971, St. Louis, Missouri
Lives in Milford, PA
Patricia Watwood is a visual artist known for her realist drawings, figurative oil paintings and portraits. In addition to her studio work, she authored the book on creative practice and mindfulness, The Path of Drawing, (Monacelli, 2022), and teaches classical painting and drawing.
Her subjects are primarily portraits and figurative narratives, incorporating myth, archetype and symbolism in a classical style. A leading figure in the contemporary figurative atelier movement, she has exhibited at the Beijing World Art Museum, and The European Museum of Modern Art, and is in the collections of The St. Louis University Museum of Art, Seven Bridges Foundation, and The New Britain Museum of American Art. Her commissioned portraits hang in institutions such as St. Louis City Hall, The Rhode Island State Capital, Washington University, and Harvard Art Museums. Her portrait of Ida B. Wells is installed at the Kennedy School of Government and featured in the display on Wells at the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Watwood earned her MFA with honors from The New York Academy of Art.
She is a Signature member of the Portrait Society of America, and named a Living Master by the Art Renewal Center. Watwood has served as the First Vice President of the Salmagundi Club of New York.
Website: patriciawatwoodstudio.com
FB @patriciawatwood & @patriciawatwoodstudio
LinkedIn @patriciawatwood
MATERIALS:
Suggested Materials:
Mixed Media Sketchbook:
- Stillman and Birn Premium Zeta Wirebound Sketchbook - 7”x10” (25-Sheets). I highly recommend this type, it’s important that it’s mixed media and spiral bound 9” x 12” or smaller.
- There are other good brands, like: Fabriano 1264 Mixed Media and Canson Artist Series Mix Media Paper Pads
Drawing Tools:
- Graphite Pencils—HB, 2B, 3B
- Medium Blending Stump medium
- Grey Kneaded eraser
- Razor knife and sandpaper block for sharpening pencils
- Papermate Flair Medium Pen
- Ultra-Fine point sharpie
- Optional: other color markers, colored pencils
Watercolor supplies:
- 2-5 Watercolor or mixed media brushes with gold nylon synthetic, sable like, soft natural hair, or sable: one pointed round #8 and one 3/4 wide wash or mop, either flat or similar
- Watercolor tubes or pans, these primary colors suggested, substitutes are fine:
- Alizarin crimson
- Winsor Yellow
- Winsor Blue (Red Shade)
- Alizarin crimson
Provided Materials:
Mixed Media Materials:
- Magazines and other ephemera for tearing out pictures—nature, art, lifestyle, home, garden, travel, etc.
- Scissors
- Glue stick
- Colored Pens & Pencils
- Water dishes & palettes for watercolors
- Drawing boards & binder clips
- Paper towels
Also recommended: The Path of Drawing by Patricia Watwood
Available at Amazon and in bookstores:
CoSM WORKSHOP SETTING:
Class sessions will take place in the MAGI Art Lab. (Mystic Artists Guild International)
The Grey House, CoSM's Visionary Victorian guest house, provides accommodations for all participants. Residing onsite together is encouraged as part of this immersively creative weekend, providing maximum benefit & enrichment.
Accommodations in Grey House are offered in a variety of economies, in addition to the workshop fee. A $150 commuter’s fee covers use of CoSM facilities for those staying offsite.
Participants are welcome to extend their overnight stay at CoSM by arriving as early as the Thursday before the workshop.
WORKSHOP AMENITIES
Available for the duration of the 5-day workshop:
- Three healthy meals daily provided by CoSM chefs
- Coffee, tea and snacks available in the Art Lab between meals
- Access to Grey House common spaces — The Library, The Parlor, The Dining Hall & Gallery Spaces on all three floors
- Yoga mats for self guided practice
- Accommodations include private rooms and shared dorm rooms—femme only or co-ed options
- The Wisdom Trail offers a contemplative walk through the CoSM woods, including a labyrinth, outdoor sculptural installations by visionary artists
Tuition also includes Day Admission to CoSM: Friday, Saturday & Sunday 12pm - 6pm:
- Access to Facilities, grounds and self-touring Entheon
- Students are welcome to experience Entheon and Grey House Galleries, including both CoSM Shop & Entheon Shop.
- Beverages and light fare will be available for purchase in the Mushroom Cafe, an immersively muraled space with mushroom themed contributions from 19 accomplished visionary artists
TUITION:
- Tuition for the 5-day The Path of Drawing includes meals - $800.00.
- Accommodations are additional.
- Payment plans available, with all funds due one month before the start of the workshop..
- For further information, contact [email protected].
ACCOMMODATIONS:
The Grey House, CoSM’s Visionary Victorian guest house, offers accommodations for all participants. Works of art by Alex Grey, Allyson Grey and accomplished artists of the international Visionary Art community are featured throughout the guest rooms and common spaces of the Grey House.
Onsite accommodations are an enriching part of the course experience and are available in a variety of economies.
Here is the pricing for the four night stay, arriving Friday, September 11 and departing Tuesday, September 15, 2026, reflective of the 10% workshop discount:
- King with ensuite bathroom $990.00
- Queen with ensuite bathroom $900.00
- Private Queen/shared bath $720.00
- Dorm bed: Single $432.00 *co-ed & femme only options available
A $150 commuter’s fee covers use of CoSM facilities for those staying offsite.
Workshop accommodations must be booked directly through the workshop department with confirmation of workshop registration, rather than through the booking engine on the website. After purchasing tuition, you will be contacted regarding accommodations.
Questions about tuition, accommodations, payment plans, travel, retreat amenities, materials, etc.?
Contact us at: [email protected] | +1 (845) 297-2323