December 11, 2024

Holiday Card Making at the Shop

To add to the merriment of a busy downtown during Gallery Walk, we invited passers-by to join us in decorating cards in our retail space.

By The Art Toolkit Team

Crafting materials scattered across a table, including sketches, watercolor paints, and brushes, with a completed floral wreath illustration prominently displayed.

This weekend, we extended our shop hours and stayed open for Port Townsend’s monthly Gallery Walk—and this one was extra special. Downtown was buzzing with carolers, shoppers, and a tree-lighting event that drew families from all over the peninsula. To add to the merriment and get in the holiday spirit, we invited passers-by to join us in decorating cards with watercolors right in the middle of our shop.

A smiling woman with purple hair stands at a counter, wearing a black sweatshirt. Behind her is a sign for an art supply store and a poster for a holiday card-making event.
A cloth bag with a sign that reads "Ask us about our Demo Kits!" is displayed in a store window. The background shows blurred figures of people and colorful art supplies.
A tabletop art studio scene featuring a watercolor palette with various colors, mixed media supplies, and paper scattered around. Blurred background hints at more art materials and a warm, creative atmosphere.
Outreach Coordinator Cole organized demo kits for visitors.
A watercolor painting of a circular floral wreath with green leaves, red berries, and blue accents, set against a blue border. Next to it, a paint set with various colors.
Each one included an Explore Palette Plus and a water brush!

Folks escaped the cold and were welcomed with warm beverages and a cozy space to paint.

A box of hot cocoa mix with a rich milk chocolate flavor sits on a wooden countertop. The packaging features a red mug of frothy hot chocolate and highlights the product's features.
Hot cocoa makes everything better!

Visitors in their 80s sat with 8-year-olds, sharing supplies and trying out our palettes while striking up conversations about life, art, and the holiday season.

A person holding a watercolor greeting card featuring a circular wreath design made of green leaves and red berries. The background shows a wooden surface with various crafting supplies.
A person holding a watercolor painting featuring three decorative Christmas ornaments in red, blue, and yellow, with greenery and flowers. A wooden shelf with art supplies is in the background.

It was a perfect way to spend an evening in the shop, sitting around the big table and painting together. A warm thank you to everyone who stopped by; we look forward to sketching together soon!

A person holds a decorated card featuring a colorful holiday wreath. The card has the text "Happy Holidays" written in a festive font.
Wreath sketch by Dani.

Thank you to everyone who came by and said hi: we love connecting with our local community, and visitors!
An artist sites on a rock, dipping a paintbrush in a Pocket Palette.

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