Trip memories with inked monoprint postcards
Luna Luna in Los Angeles
My next workshop is April 6th! These workshop samples capture the memories of a special LA trip last spring. One worth commemorating in my sketchbooks just like a long vacation even though it was only a long weekend.
The impetus for the trip was to visit Luna Luna. Now a traveling exhibit, at the time, it was uncertain if it would be on display again. It’s a celebration and restoration of a 1987 amusement park with rides, attractions, and experiences designed by world-renowned artists spanning multiple generations all brought together and contributing their creativity. The collaboration continued with music by Miles Davis, René Clemencic, and Philip Glass scored and provided for specific amusements.
When I learned about the exhibit I had to go! And everything lined up to visit a friend and have a mini LA adventure.
While not possible to ride on the rides, the exhibit felt immersive and told the story of a unique collaboration in time. I instantly felt 80s nostalgia and could imagine myself being there even though the Luna Luna Park in it’s original existence was far away in Germany while I was a California kid. To hear how the restoration came about I recommend listening to this NPR story and scrolling through all the original artworks including ones not yet restored.
It just recently closed its latest exhibit in Brooklyn and looks like they’re planning for the next.
To complete my LA experience my friend curated a couple of other memorable experiences. We enjoyed mid-spring sunshine at an orange wine tasting event.
And to top it all off we spent the last morning shopping Mathew Weiner’s down-sizing estate sale. It felt very Hollywood perusing through lots of mid-century gems. Now I have gems of memories added to my travel sketchbook.
You’re invited to learn ways to capture your trip memories!
Inked Monoprint Postcards and
Souvenir Sketchbooks workshop
April 6, 2025 11am-2pm, In-person @ Arch Art Supplies
Turn photos into paintings in this all-skill-levels mixed media class!
Using pen, ink, shape, pattern, and color we’ll go on a 3 hour tour of simple sketchbook, watercolor, and monoprinting techniques.
Gain a creative toolbox you can use as warmups to detailed drawings or for quickly capturing a memory on-the-go. Put it all together to create monoprint postcards using photos, ink, and watercolor. This is a great way to document and create your own souvenirs after travel or local touristing.
Workshop takeaways
Basic approach to capturing experiences and memories using shape, pattern, and color
Basics of monoprinting technique and ability to recreate the setup for additional sizes or for use directly in a sketchbook.
Playing with a variety of mixed media tools
Strategies for packing art supplies on-the-go and recommended tools
A wide variety of supplies will be provided for use in the class. Students will take home a micron drawing pen, monoprinting plate, the art they make, and a full supply list for shopping for their favorites. Bonus, both Arch and Shasta offer a 15% discount on any supplies purchased on workshop day!
Tools you’ll play with
Drawing pens
Pointed nib ink pen
Water soluble pencils
Artist grade watercolors
Paint brushes
Ceramic watercolor palettes
A variety of art and watercolor papers
A few more samples of the monoprint technique can be seen in my love letter to The Listening Room substack post.
On the Horizon… a name change!
In the coming weeks I’ll be changing my business name here on Substack and on Instagram. More to share about that in future posts. This is a heads up in case you see an unfamiliar substack title in your email. It’s still me and my profile name on Substack will remain, Shastablasta!