Color Outside the Lines

A January mindset shift for authors

Fri. Jan. 8, 2027 • 6 to 9 p.m. • The Art House in Downtown Gilbert

First drafts are meant to be messy. But too often, writers aim for first draft perfection. We write and edit in the same breath, trying so hard to get it right on the first try. Ready to rewire your writing muscle? This fun paint night is also a mindset shift all about learning to let go of perfectionism and trust the process.

Join us at this in-person workshop, where a skilled painter teaches the group to sketch, then paint, then detail an image each participant can proudly hang on their wall. Think of it as year-long inspiration to let yourself write outside the lines.

WHAT’S INCLUDED FOR $50

  • All the supplies needed for your creation

  • A fun three-hour event filled with other authors

  • A new way to look at the power of drafting

TICKETS TO THIS EVENT ARE NON-REFUNDABLE.

While the majority of our programs are free, some require participants to pay for supplies. This is one of those cases. The cost of your ticket goes directly to the venue to cover supplies and art instruction.

WHAT TO EXPECT AT THIS WORKSHOP:

  • Check in starts at 6PM, with casual networking for the first half hour

  • Painting class led from 6:30PM - 8:30PM

  • Stay from 8:30PM - 9PM to chat with fellow authors

  • You’ll take your painting home with you that night

Workshop Hosts

Artist Ginger Hamilton, owner of the Art House in Gilbert, wants it to be a creative hub in the east Valley. Her love for art began at a young age, coming from two parents that are both incredibly creative. Her work includes murals, custom canvases, brand design, streetwear, and more. A kind, encouraging teacher, Ginger’s painting classes regularly sell out.

Tracy Skochil is a fiction author and executive director of PHX Oasis Press. Last year at a painting event at The Art House something clicked and she finally understood the connection between pencil drafting and finished product. A perfectionist who used to write and edit in the same breath, she’s applying a mindset shift to her drafting approach in 2027.

Thank you to our venue, The Art House Gilbert. Located in the Heritage District of Downtown Gilbert, The Art House is fast becoming a community hub for all things creative. They offer public and private classes for people of all ages. Check them out >