Kula Creatives: Open Sketchbooks - June

Open Sketchbooks

In an age of AI and instant perfection, it’s easy to forget that art comes from artists — real people that pour their hearts and souls into creating works that inspire and invoke emotions.

Open Sketchbooks is a celebration of art and the artists that create. It’s an interactive, virtual gathering where artists of all abilities can share their sketchbooks and talk honestly about how their work began, evolved, and continues to move forward. This is a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process — from messy first sketches to everything that came after.

At Kula, we believe in supporting artists and celebrating the humans that bravely moved beyond their imperfect beginnings. We want to show you that every artist starts somewhere -- and that beginnings aren’t always pretty. It might start with hesitant lines… Funky colors… Half-formed ideas… and pages we’d rather hide than frame. But those pages matter — because they’re proof that someone started, and more importantly that they kept going.

What to Expect

• A peek inside artists’ sketchbooks — from humble beginnings to current works
• Honest conversations about what it’s like to be an artist
• Space to reflect, create, and take your own next steps
• If time permits, creative exercises that encourage creativity — not perfection

Why We’re Doing This

• To remind people that art is made by humans!
• To support and showcase artists, and honor their process and their work
• To inspire anyone who creates (or wants to) by showing "messy starts" are normal
• To normalize doubt, fear, failure and resilience as part of the artist’s journey
• To explore how creativity starts, grows, and changes over time
• Explore where creativity and inspiration come from

Bring your curiosity, your supplies, and your sketchbook
This is not an art lesson or instruction. It's a space where creative people get together to share their sketchbooks and inspiration. We welcome artists of all levels and abilities.

Our Sketchbooks Artists for June

In May, artists Rachel O'Hanlon (New Jersey) and Jackie Dishner (Arizona) will give us a glimpse inside the world of their art. You'll see where they started, what inspires them and where they are in their art practice today.

About Rachel O'Hanlon