Sebastopol Center for the Arts
Two Classes: March 28th and 29th
Distant Voices: An Introduction to Asemic Writing
SATURDAY, MARCH 28; 10 am–4 pm
282 S HIGH ST., SEBASTOPOL, CA
COST: $150 + $15 materials fee
(Bring a brown bag lunch.)
Asemic writing is the practice of creating artwork through marks that resemble handwriting, yet carry no literal meaning or readable text. It is the word before words form—the voice too distant to be understood—a cosmic expression without country or dialect.
We’ll begin with a slideshow exploring the depth and range of asemic writing. Looking at ancient scripts, global languages, symbols, the calligraphic line, and the work of contemporary asemic artists, we’ll expand our understanding of what is possible.
From there, you’ll begin your own asemic journey. These marks can infiltrate and transform your current artwork, or stand alone as independent works of art.
Using ink and watercolor with a variety of tools, we’ll explore how to express what does not need to be said in words. My intention is to guide you toward authentic marks—marks that arise from the heart and move beyond casual scribbling into something deeply felt and uniquely your own. All levels welcome.
Sherrie Lovler holds a B.A. in Studio Art and has been teaching calligraphy and related arts for several decades. She is well known in the Western calligraphy world, having taught at Ghost Ranch in New Mexico, La Romita School of Art in Italy, accredited classes at Northern Arizona University, calligraphy guilds including San Francisco’s Friends of Calligraphy and New York City’s Society of Scribes, and International Calligraphy Conferences.
She is the author, illustrator, and designer of On Softer Ground: Paintings, Poems and Calligraphy, winning a gold medal for Most Outstanding Book Design from Independent Publishers Book (IPPY) Awards. Her newest book, Distant Voices, is a meditation on art as collaboration—with nature, memory, disruption, and the unseen voices that guide us.
Sebastopol Center for the Arts
Wabi Sabi Ink Painting: Finding Beauty in Imperfection
SUNDAY, MARCH 29; 10 am–4 pm
282 S HIGH ST., SEBASTOPOL, CA
COST: $150 + $15 materials fee
(Bring a brown bag lunch.)
Step into a creative space where intuition leads and imperfection becomes beauty. This workshop invites you to explore abstract art through both Eastern and Western perspectives, blending meditation, movement, and mark-making to create finished, expressive paintings.
Rooted in the Japanese aesthetic of wabi sabi, we will release the desire for perfection and welcome the unexpected. Discover the quiet magic that happens when ink meets water, when gestures emerge without planning, and when the body and breath guide the brush.
The session begins with gentle centering and meditation, allowing you to work from the heart and engage your whole body in the creative process. You will practice painting the ensō—the Zen circle that expresses wholeness, presence, movement, and stillness. Using Asian brushes, ink, and watercolor, you will create calligraphic paintings with layered accents that bring depth, atmosphere, and emotion to your work.
Open to all levels. No prior experience required. Ideal for artists, writers, and anyone seeking a mindful, embodied approach to creativity.
Sherrie Lovler holds a B.A. in Studio Art and has been teaching calligraphy and related arts for several decades. She is well known in the Western calligraphy world, having taught at Ghost Ranch in New Mexico, La Romita School of Art in Italy, accredited classes at Northern Arizona University, calligraphy guilds including San Francisco’s Friends of Calligraphy and New York City’s Society of Scribes, and International Calligraphy Conferences.
She is the author, illustrator, and designer of On Softer Ground: Paintings, Poems and Calligraphy, winning a gold medal for Most Outstanding Book Design from Independent Publishers Book (IPPY) Awards. Her newest book, Distant Voices, is a meditation on art as collaboration—with nature, memory, disruption, and the unseen voices that guide us.