Reconnect with your creative spark! ✨

Welcome to The Creativity Digest, a monthly newsletter series from Akin! We’re bringing you some of the most interesting creative classes, workshops, events, and pop-ups around New York City every month so that you can find your own creative community.

Monthly Musings

Throughout the years, I’ve noticed how often I feel “stuck”. I sway back and forth between two modes: paralyzing overstimulation or extreme boredom. Sometimes that looks like zoning out at work during a meeting, drifting off into a string of thoughts while watching Netflix, or feeling alone in a big group of people. It made me realize that I wasn’t spending enough time being present with myself!

Something that I’ve been trying to intentionally build into my week is a ritual called the “Artist Date”. I learned about this idea from The Artist’s Way, a workbook by Julia Cameron that helps you tap into your innate creativity by accessing new ways of thinking. (I highly recommend it if you want to unblock your life and discover what you’re passionate about!)

In the Basic Tools of The Artist’s Way, Cameron describes the practice — ‘An artist date is a block of time, perhaps two hours weekly, especially set aside and committed to nurturing your creative consciousness, your inner artist. In its most primary form, the artist date is an excursion, a play date that you preplan and defend against all interlopers.’**

Incorporating this creative tool into my routine allows me to reconnect with myself by remaining playful, joyful, and free to experiment! Centering creativity helps nurture my creativity and continually challenges me to be more vulnerable and courageous in my everyday life. It’s the most exciting part of my week and I look forward to setting intentions and building creative practices in little ways.

This summer, we challenge you to take yourself out on a “Creativity Date”. This includes anything from creating a vision board, painting en plein air, going to an estate sale, to viewing a foreign film in your local theater. This practice might just be the best way to add that creative spark back into your life!

We would love to see your Creativity Dates! Send us any photos or videos through DM at @discoverakin and we’d love to feature you.

Happy creating~

Your Creativity Guides

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Creative Happenings

Studio45 in Bushwick

Spark your creativity with a workshop:

July 25th: Introduction to Embroidery by making a sampler with a third-generation fiber artist at this class. ($45) Brooklyn Brainery in Prospect Heights

July 27th: Build your own flower bouquet with Petite Fête Table and Commune NYC at this workshop. (FREE) Commune NYC in Bed-Stuy

July 31st: Explore the relationship between Hawaiian quilts, post-colonialism and ecological disaster with Tatter and Common Threads Press in conversation with research curator Marenka Thompson-Odlum in this virtual book talk. (FREE) Tatter Blue Library in Gowanus

August 2nd: Find balance and help navigating emotional challenges in this Emotional Wellness Workshop. (FREE) Yu and Me Books in Chinatown

August 5th: Let go of your perfectionism and draw a funky still life in this 2 hour guided Drawing Club workshop. ($35) ReCreate Collective in Clinton Hill

August 15th: Find a safe space to collaborate on, create, and write songs with other like-minded musical folks at this Collaborative Songwriting Circle (Donation Based) Gaia Music Collective in Koreatown

August 17th: Learn the art of painting interiors with watercolor at this workshop ($80) Happy Medium in Chinatown

August 23rd: Try your hand at the espresso machine! Learn how to tare, tamp, pull, pour, and repeat in this Barista Intensive workshop. ($250) The Academy at Coffee Project in Long Island City

August 25th: Open art studio time with rotating art stations like collage, paint, mini stamp, crochet. Come craft and meet new friends! ($15) Studio45 in Bushwick

Multiple dates in August: Learn how to sew your own lingerie in this Lingerie Making Workshop ($150) Rue du Paradis Lingerie in Sunset Park

Up-level your creativity with a class series:

August 13th-Sept 17th: Ever wanted to try pottery but didn’t know where to start? Take this 6 week, Complete Guide to Wheel Throwing class to learn the fundamentals! ($490 for 6 weeks) Dirtbag Arthaus in Bushwick

***July 29th-October 19th: ***Take down your DSLR camera that’s been collecting dust on the shelf and learn about the fundamentals of Digital Photography in this 2-hour class that meets for 6 weeks. You’ll learn the basics of aperture, shutter speed, the rule of thirds, exposure and more! ($390 for 6 classes) Photo Uno in Midtown

August 12th-16th: Learn an important skill in Jewelry making by taking this Soldering in Depth class series! ($350) Brooklyn Metalworks in Prospect Heights

August 4th-25th: Ignite your inner creativity and express yourself through painting in this Flower Watercolor Class Series ($175) The Art Studio NY in Upper West Side

Sept 27th-Sept 29th: Hurry! Only one week left to apply to this upstate NY retreat where you can fully immerse yourself in writing, drawing, and exercising all those creative muscles we rarely have the time and space to activate in our everyday lives. ($400-$900) Little Nights

Attend a fun creative event:

July 28th: Meet some new friends, grab some food at Smorgasborg, and watch the sunset at this Sunset Sunday event in Prospect Park! (FREE) Soma Sunset in Prospect Park

July 31st: Join a music-filled drawing session by Disco Draw and Bobblehaus as instructor Zac Crawford guides a live figure drawing session! Beginner-friendly event that includes all materials at the McCarren Parkhouse ($30) Bobblehaus x Juicebox in Williamsburg

August 6th: Immerse yourself in local music, art, and lifestyle vendors at the McCarren Market Mashup (FREE) McCarren Park House in Williamsburg

August 11th: Kickstart your Sunday with yoga, mindful journaling, and a nourishing breakfast at this Sunday Sanctuary workshop (FREE) Journaling Classes in Williamsburg

July 25th/August 1st/August 8th: Start your mornings with doodling sessions and low stakes art making at this weekly Thursday workshop. (FREE) Art Gurl in Williamsburg

Every Weds: Create a charm necklace or bracelet while sipping on some wine during happy hour at Haricot Vert! (Varies) Haricot Vert in Williamsburg

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Happy creating and thank you for joining us on this creative journey!

Visit Akin to access the directory and learn more about us.

Until next time,

Your Creativity Guides 👨‍🎨