#27 Take Three Art Workshops

Some items on my 40 Under 40 list feel like a stretch. This one felt like coming home.

#27 was all about creativity, curiosity, and making time for art in a way I often don’t during everyday life. The goal was to take three different art workshops this year, each one introducing me to a new medium and a new challenge.

As expected, I fell completely in love with the experience.

Workshop One: Glassblowing

Up first was glassblowing, something I have always been fascinated by. My husband and I signed up for a private lesson through the Ottawa Glassblowing Co op, and it was such an unforgettable experience.

In their private classes, students are introduced to the tools and traditional techniques used to gather, shape, and inflate molten glass. The focus is not only on creating something beautiful, but also on safety and teamwork inside the hot shop studio. Depending on the lesson, participants may create items like ornaments, paperweights, bowls, or small vessels, with guidance from an experienced glassblower.

We made two pumpkins and two ornaments, and we were able to choose our colours and take part in different parts of the process.

If anything, the class gave me a whole new appreciation for how complex glassmaking truly is. It can look effortless when done by professionals, but it is anything but simple.

I love the pieces we created together and that we have a little memento of our day together that I can look back on every fall when I put our pumpkins out and every Christmas when I hang the ornaments.

More information can be found here:https://ottawaglassblowing.ca/

Workshop Two: Paint Night

Next was a paint night, which I will never stop loving. We turned it into a date night, and it ended up being one of the most fun evenings of the year. Wine + Paint + Live music and bar atmosphere = good time.

There was something so joyful about sitting side by side, learning as we went, and creating something together. I especially loved working in black and white, which felt like a new style for me.

Were we accidentally teachers pet? Yes haha. The instructor was very impressed with us and how quickly we 'mastered the techniques', which made it even a little bit more fun for us!

It was simply a genuinely fun night with my favourite partner.

Workshop Three: Stained Glass

The final workshop was my introduction to stained glass, something I have wanted to try for years.

I took an introductory course through Stained Glass Stuff, and the experience completely exceeded my expectations. The class teaches the full stained glass process from start to finish, and by the end you go home with a finished piece of art.

Before the course begins, participants select a pattern and glass in advance so they can dive right into the work on class day. The workshop runs over two full days, and when I say full days, I truly mean it. I barely even stopped for lunch because I was so focused on finishing.

But I did finish, and I created a beautiful sunset piece that I am incredibly proud of.

I loved every part of stained glass so much that I already know I will be continuing with it. I am even planning to set up a small studio space at home so I can keep learning and eventually explore more three dimensional projects.

Class details are here:https://stainedglassstuff.com/

A Checkmark That Felt Like Me

Overall, I completed this goal quickly, just like I knew I would, because art and creativity are where I feel most myself.

These three workshops were such a reminder of the joy that comes from trying something new, learning with your hands, and remembering that making time for creativity is always worth it.

✅ #27 Complete. Three art workshops. And honestly, I hope it is only the beginning.