-- Make Real Moments

-- Make Real Moments

Two people touching fingertips with colorful paint on their fingers, focus on their hands.

ArtPlay

Unforgettable Creative Play that awakens presence, connection, and confidence.

step into artplay

What IS ArtPlay?

ArtPlay is a guided creative experience rooted in one simple truth: when the hands are busy, people open up.

It doesn’t ask you to be an artist. It invites you to be human.

Using thoughtfully creative prompts and mindfully held space, ArtPlay creates moments to connect, reflect and build confidence without perfection or pressure.

Three people, two children and one adult, sit at a table decorated with pastel-colored items in a cozy room with white walls and festive decorations, including dreamcatchers and hanging ornaments.
Child with painted legs lying on a green surface surrounded by open paint pots and paint splatters.

“We left our session feeling closer together and deeply seen…it’s Dana's heart centered creativity and care”

A.K.

ArtPlay is for you if you want…

  • space to slow down and connect with yourself

    • shared creative moments that feel alive and unhurried

    • a gentle alternative to “just talking”

    • real connection with a partner or friends

    • kids & families a calm, no-pressure space to explore together*

    • are curious about anger, joy, grief, disgust, fear, or love without needing to “figure them out”

Whether it’s a moment with your partner, a gathering of friends, or time with your child or teen, ArtPlay is designed to bring people closer without pressure.

schedule an artplay session
Group of young girls and a woman holding a colorful canvas with various drawings including a yellow cat, a gray bunny, a blue wave, and the name Shayna written in the center, outdoors with green fields and mountains in the background.
Two children at a table drawing and coloring with various markers, crayons, and pastels in containers on a white tablecloth.

What happens in an ArtPlay session:

People participating in a paint and sip class around a long table covered with a blue tablecloth, various art supplies and bare canvases in a kitchen setting.
A person is drawing with white chalk on a dark chalkboard, creating illustrations of large leaves with detailed veins. The person's right hand is visible, holding the chalk, and they are wearing a dark long-sleeve shirt or sweater. A wooden floor and a container of pastel chalks are also visible.
A woman with sunglasses on her head and a white shirt drawing with a multicolored marker on a large sheet of paper. There is a bowl of colorful markers on a small table nearby.

ArtPlay unfolds in a way that feels natural and easy rooted in playful, heart-opening creativity:

A Gentle Landing

We begin with a short prompt that helps you shift out of your day and into the present moment with ease.

Creative Flow

Using accessible materials like paint, collage, or simple mark-making, you’ll be guided through intuitive expressions that invite exploration without judgment. No skills needed.

Meaningful Moments

A laugh. A shared look. A conversation that lands deeper than expected - these naturally emerge when people create together in held space.

Your Takeaway

You leave with:

  • Something you made (no perfection, just expression)

  • A moment you shared

  • Tangible tools to move emotion through your hands: something you can come back to when life gets loud again.

Thoughtfully Guided:

Each session is intentionally facilitated using creative, therapeutic art practices so you can relax into the experience and focus on creating.

Certificate of completion from the Canadian International Institute of Art Therapy awarded to Dana Carlson on December 27, 2023, for Therapeutic Arts Practitioner training, with signatures from Cheryl-Ann Webster and Michelle Winkel.
A woman with blonde hair smiling and looking down, wearing a dark top, outdoors in front of a building with a window.

Booking Details

What’s Included

  • all creative materials

  • thoughtful, gentle guidance from me

  • setup + cleanup handled

  • a safe, welcoming, grounded space

  • online sessions include curated supply list and optional playlist

Session Length

  • 60 minutes

  • 90 minutes

  • 2 hours
    (We’ll choose the best fit based on your group.)

Location

  • Salmon Arm + surrounding areas

  • In-home or on-location options available

  • Online sessions available

Pricing

Pricing varies by session options and group sizing.
See ArtPlay Options & Pricing here.

How to Book

Click below to book your ArtPlay session: we’ll pick a date, shape the flow, and make it your own:

book your artplay

There’s something special about creating together. I’d love to hold space for you.

The image shows the word 'Dana' written in cursive black handwriting on a white background.