ART Through A Designer’s Eye with Christi Willford
Week of June 27, 2026
Standalone workshops blending design thinking and fine art to spark creativity, reflection, and soulful connection through traditional materials.
– Accessible to all skill levels
– Focus on mindfulness, emotion, and design fundamentals
– Use of traditional fine art materials
– Every class is self-contained and drop-in friendly
These workshops offer joyful grounding and creative connection—reminding us that great design is not only seen, but also felt and experienced.
Class 1: The Power of Composition
Design Principle: Layout, balance, and focal points.
We begin by understanding how designers build visual harmony. Using simple tools—paper, scissors, and collage—we’ll explore how to guide the viewer’s eye through intentional arrangement.
Take-Home: A small abstract collage that captures a mood or memory.
Skills Learned:
– Rule of thirds
– Visual hierarchy
– Contrast and alignment
Class 2: Color with Intention
Design Principle: Color theory and emotional resonance.
This session explores the language of color. We’ll study how designers use color palettes to communicate feeling and meaning, then create personalized color stories using watercolor and ink.
Take-Home: A hand-painted color story cover for a pocket-size sketch journal.
Skills Learned:
– Color harmony
– Warm vs. cool
– Building cohesive palettes
Class 3: Sacred Symbols – Mixed Media Collage
Fine Art Focus: Symbolism + intuitive composition
Using layers of paint, paper, and found materials, we’ll create a personal art piece (or family crest) inspired by a symbol or memory that feels sacred. Includes a grounding meditation to start.
Take-Home: A mixed media piece that can be framed or used on an altar.
Key Concepts:
– Intuition in design
– Creating visual meaning
– Layering techniques
Class 4: Portraits with Personality – Charcoal & Line Drawing
Fine Art Focus: Expressive portraiture
Designers often simplify and exaggerate to capture essence. In this class, we play with proportion, gesture, and mark-making to create expressive, loose portraits using charcoal and ink.
Take-Home: One to two expressive portraits (self or partner).
Christi Williford is the Creative Director and owner of Elemental Studio Design, with 25 years of branding and communication design experience. She has launched over a dozen brands, built 20+ websites, and guided companies of all sizes—from global giants to nonprofits. A graduate of the University of Georgia, Christi blends artistic intuition with strategic thinking, shaped by an upbringing rooted in both science and art. She’s worked with brands like Microsoft, Julep Beauty, and DHL, and is passionate about teaching design principles through fine art. Christi brings clarity, creativity, and heart to every project she leads.
| https://elementalstudio.com |
| LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christi-williford/ Instagram: @elemental_studio_mn Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elementalstudiomn |