Workshops & Events
Upcoming EVENT
DUMBO Open Studios
April 18th and 19th, 1-6pm
45 Main Street, Suite 1001, DUMBO Brooklyn.
Come see me (and my son, Theo who currently shares the space with me) and tour my studio in DUMBO!
Upcoming WORKSHOP
Visual Memory Keeping & Creative Exploration in Your Sketchbook at Stationary Fest
Thursday July 30 from 4-6:30PM and Friday July 31 from 2:30-5PM
This workshop begins with a series of simple, practical drawing exercises designed to loosen your hand and quiet your inner critic. We will warm up with line work, shape studies, and quick observational sketches that help you see more clearly and draw with more confidence. The focus is not perfection. It is momentum, curiosity, and learning to trust your marks. Inspired by ideas from Samantha's books, specifically Draw Your Adventures, we will explore how small details such as a receipt tucked into your bag, a simple street sign, shoes by the door, or the view from your seat can anchor a memory and tell a layered story. You will learn what to look for beyond the obvious subject and how to combine simple drawings, objects, and words to create pages that feel personal and specific. Whether you keep a dedicated sketchbook, a travel journal, or draw in your planner, you will leave with practical tools for turning everyday moments into visual stories. Learn more about Stationary Fest here.
Upcoming Retreats
Anna Tasca Lanza Retreat in Sicily
September 28-October 3, 2026
During this week-long retreat we will work closely together to help guests establish and/or develop their creative journal and sketchbook practice. We will begin with getting to know one another, learning about our backgrounds in the arts, and sharing our goals. Then we will move onto basic drawing exercises that are useful for artists at any level. Contour line drawings, blind contour, practicing ellipses and straight lines are some of the exercises we will practice. We will then discuss the endless ways one can capture their dreams, memories, the mundane everyday, and the extraordinary moments on paper. Using a range of materials provided by Caran D’Ache, Blackwing and Sakura of America. At the end of each day we will share and talk about all we are proud of and what we wish to work on. This workshop retreat is a chance to build on a practice that can transform your days, along with delicious food and the most glorious backdrop. I am so excited to be teaching at Anna Tasca Lanza for the 4th and 5th time! It is such a unique, beautiful, and delicious experience.
“Samantha is a wonderful teacher who meets people where they are artistically, teaching for all skill levels and supporting and celebrating that artist inside of all of us. I loved spending a week in Sicily with Samantha as my creative guide! I have a renewed interest in journaling and sketching to capture the beauty of my every day as well as a renewed confidence in my own style.”
Drawing Your World: A Visual Storytelling Workshop in the French Pyrénées
August 15-22, 2026
This week-long workshop at Atelier Clos Mirabel explores the art of seeing and storytelling through drawing, no matter your experience level. From abstract sketches to detailed renderings, there’s no right way to capture your world. Through hands-on exercises, you will get familiar with tools and materials, practice blind contour and continuous line drawing, as well as experimenting with colour, line, and composition. Samantha’s forthcoming book, ‘Draw Your Adventures’, will be available by the time you meet, providing the opportunity to work through some of its challenges and prompts together. You will learn to organise your thoughts on the page by creating meaningful visual narratives and challenge yourself to draw in new ways – all while capturing your adventures with confidence and creativity.
NOTE: This retreat is paid in two separate payments. One to me, the featured tutor, and the other to Atelier Clos Mirabel for all accommodations, meals, etc. My Substack paid tier subscribers receive 10% off my fee.
“Samantha had kindness and affection for everyone at this workshop. She immediately knew what ideas to suggest to each individual person's work. She calmed this attendee's panic in about 2 minutes and I went on to be filled with joy with my own "unique" abilities. This makes for a natural born teacher who genuinely celebrates every individual she meets.”
Recorded Classes
Skillshare Classes
Fun With Continuous Lines
In this 30-minute class, we’ll explore the magic of one continuous line and discover how this simple yet powerful concept can inspire countless creative projects. From playful lettering to fine art drawings, you’ll learn how to stretch your imagination while keeping your pen (or pencil) in constant motion.
The Business of Drawing
This class focuses on the business side of my art practice, a topic I rarely discuss with my audience! Here I'm excited to share personal stories of how I grew my business, and practical advice on bringing your handmade, analog artwork to life on screen and in print.
Using Shape & Light
Drawing Everyday: Using Shape & Light to Paint Everyday Subjects
This class is designed to help you think differently about harder subjects, and help you see that anything you decide to draw can be broken down into simple shape and form in order to get you started and less afraid.
Drawing Everyday
Motivational Sketchbook Practices for Creative Fulfillment - STAFF PICK!
Keeping a regular sketchbook practice is beneficial for thinking, problem solving, gaining confidence, celebrating small and large victories, and just overall well being for the artist within everyone. Whether you have not drawn since grade school or you are a full time painter, this class is for everyone.
Interactive Sketchbooks
Bring Your Sketchbook to Life: Creating Interactive Sketchbook Pages - STAFF PICK!
In this class you will learn how to bring your own sketchbook or journal pages to life by creating interactive, surprise elements to be discovered as you turn the pages. We will be creating pockets, fold-outs, cut-outs, windows, and more.
Sketchbook Illustration
Sketchbook Illustration for All: Draw Your Day with Watercolor & Pen - SKILLSHARE ORIGINAL!
In this 1 hour class I walk through how to incorporate a journal practice into your routine with three templates to help you get started. You’ll learn to get the most out of your materials, experiment to discover your personal style, and find inspiration everywhere you look.
Illustrated Time Capsule
In this 1-hour class we will be creating illustrated time capsules. Capture your memories through very exact and specific drawings or a mix of writing and abstract art. The idea is to take you back to this time, in a year, two years, or even longer - whenever you decide to open it again. All levels and all ages welcome!
“Samantha is a kind and patient teacher who genuinely cares about her students’ comfort. She is dedicated to creating a joyful, judgment-free, and non-intimidating space where each artist feels safe to experiment and play with drawing, painting, and self-expression. If you have an opportunity to learn from her, don't hesitate to take it!”
Free Recorded Classes with Derwent Art Materials
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Capture the charm of a cozy, classic holiday shopfront! In this one-hour class, I guide you through the steps of drawing a cozy, festive shopfront. Drawing from years of experience sketching beloved city shops, I teach techniques for building structure, adding holiday flair, and infusing personality into each line and brushstroke. Perfect for creating a piece to frame or to turn into holiday cards, this class will leave you with a keepsake to treasure and share! Click here to watch
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In this 1-hour free class we dive into the art of planning, sketching, and painting rocks. Rocks offer a rich subject matter, perfect for honing your skills in light and shading, as well as observing planes, patterns, cracks, and highlights. We start by working in pencil, moving on to pen to demonstrate how to capture the planes, patterns, and depth through crosshatching. Finally, we'll bring our pieces to life with color using Derwent Inktense Paints, adding a vibrant and dynamic finish to our studies. Click here to watch
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In this one-hour FREE class we plan, sketch, and paint a stack of books. We cover two-point perspective, line, color, and how to simplify your lines to create a beautiful and easy to follow project that you can re-create over and over again. Click here to watch
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In this one-hour free class we sketch and paint a few various citrus fruits using Inktense paints and colored pencils. From initial sketch to a fully rendered round fruit with color, shadow and light we go over all of the stages of the process together. Click here to watch
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In this one-hour free class we sketch a coffee mug with some cappuccino/latte art. First we break down how to plan the initial sketch using ellipses to create the mug/cup itself, then we begin to color the drawing with Derwent Inktense paints and Inktense colored pencils. We talk about symmetry and proportions, light and shading, and also how to represent the patterns in the coffee. It is preferrable for students to have Inktense paints for the project but any watercolor paints are ok to use as well. Click here to watch
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In this 1-hour free class, we plan and fill a full spread in your sketchbook with objects and drawings. With uniform space between the items, the drawings cover each page in a fluid and eye-pleasing composition. We discuss the process of working from the outside in. Bring along a pencil to loosely plan the pages, and your Derwent Inktense paints to pull it all together. Feel free to follow along or just watch for inspiration! Click here to watch
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In honor of the holiday season and gift-giving time, in this one-hour class we sketch and then paint a pile of presents stacked on top of each other. By first establishing an horizon line and then two vanishing points, we are able to render the boxes with proper perspective so we can achieve a realistic final result. Ribbons and patterns are added as you desire. Once the first sketch is made we add some ink, erase some of the pencil, and then paint with the Derwent Inktense paint palette. Watercolor or gouache paints are also fine to use if you do not have the Derwent paint pans. Click here to watch
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To celebrate the fall season, in this one-hour free class we first sketch a few pumpkins and gourds in light pencil, just to plan our composition and to build the shape and form. Then we build layers of color using Inktense pencils and paints. Some details and shading are added with fine line permanent pens, and some highlights added using opaque white paint. We talk about color, light and shading, as we complete our paintings. Click here to watch
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In this 1-hour free class we will work on creating unique and personal invitations using your own handwriting as a starting point. I am so excited to share how even the messiest handwriting can be used with intention to communicate and create keepsake, celebrated and useful pieces of art. We will work with pencils, fine line pens and Inktense paints. Bring an open mind and lets play with our handwriting and transform it into lettering. Click here to watch
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A 1-hour class where we go over a few different ways to capture the patterns in woodgrain with paint and pens. It is so freeing and meditative to paint wood grain patterns, and have the lines flow with ink lines and different shades of brown. I will do a demo in pencil and ink, and then another in paint, building layers to create dimension and enhance the grain and patterns. This is an all-level class. Click here to watch
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A 1-hour class on Michaels.com where we sketch and paint metal objects using the Derwent metallic palette and water-soluble pencils. First, choose a few subjects such as a kitchen knife, a pair of scissors, a metal bucket, or a padlock and chain. We will sketch them with pencil, and then carefully begin to layer the metallic paints to make the objects come to life. This class is open to all levels. Click here to watch
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A 1-hour class on Michaels.com where we will work on building color and form by layering washes of Derwent Inktense paints. Click here to watch
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A 1-hour class on Michaels.com where we will create fun, free-form abstract patterns on kraft, newspaper, or found paper to use to wrap holiday gifts! Grab whatever intense colors you have, pencils, paints, sticks, and I will share how to create the effect of an all-over pattern. A really fun and freeing class where there are no mistakes, and everyone benefits. Click here to watch
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A 1-hour LIVE class on Blick Art Materials Creative Community page on Facebook. A manhole cover, a doorknob, a tree, a mailbox, a street sign… there is always something to draw and paint, and often the most mundane will suddenly become beautiful if we take the time to really look and celebrate it. Even a crack in the sidewalk can be exciting to paint! Click here to watch
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A 1-hour LIVE class on Michaels.com focused on sketching and painting your favorite holiday chocolates. As we go through the lesson, we will talk about perspective, shading, highlights, and layering color to build dimension. Click here to watch
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A 1-hour LIVE class on Michaels.com focused on your natural handwriting and all of the ways you can embellish it, celebrate it, and use even the quirkiest and messiest writing in your artwork and design work! Click here to watch
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A 1-hour class on Michaels.com where we address envelopes in creative and unexpected ways. Snail Mail never looked so good! Click here to watch
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A 1-hour class on Michaels.com where we use our natural handwriting to letter a quote and play with paint and collage to create a finished piece of art Click here to watch
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A 1-hour LIVE class on Michaels.com focused on composition and fitting drawings and words together on a page. We will talk about planning out the space, filling areas, size and angle of drawings, and more. Click here to watch
Private Lessons
Private or semi-private lessons via Zoom or Skype
I am offering private and semi-private lessons via Zoom on a very limited basis. If interested, I am able to answer all questions by email.
Private or semi-private lessons in my studio in DUMBO, Brooklyn
Each lesson is very personal and coordinated together. I am currently teaching drawing, illustration, handwriting and lettering, how to work with different art materials, and how to incorporate a regular art making and journal practice into your daily or weekly routine. 1.5 hour lessons are $250 for 1-on-1, and $300 for 2 people. 2 hour lessons are $285 for 1-on-1, and $320 for 2 people. I am able to answer all questions by email.