Hi, I’m Laura Raborn. I’ve been teaching art workshops around the globe for over 10 years. I firmly believe that everyone can draw. It has less to do with talent than with learning to see and some patience+practice. You can use a handful of tools to translate a three-dimensional world onto a flat page: a simple viewfinder, a few measurements,

and the willingness to start with rough, unglamorous shapes before any detail appears.

Work through these six steps with any subject - a building, a piece of fruit, a child - and you'll begin training your eye and seeing progress. This guide provides an overview of the beginning steps to get you started - or help you see more clearly if you already practice drawing.

(FEE, MATERIALS LIST, REGISTRATION INFO is listed on the Castle Hill website.

The focus of this four-day workshop is to use the human face as the subject for multiple playful, dynamic, and provocative projects. While we will practice anatomical exercises, we will only focus on traditional drawing lessons for part of this workshop. One day we will have a model and the other three days we will use each other, our own faces, photographs, and drawings from our time with the model to create paintings and drawings.

Throughout, we will discover the joy of drawing loosely (and even wildly!) to create multiple alluring and joyful pieces of art. We will warm up with crowd favorites such as blind contour drawings that quiet our inner critic and liven up the room. Then we will practice drawing techniques (and some tricks!). We will create loose portraits using various materials - such as drawing the face full of wild loose lines on top of an ethereal layer of paint washes. Remember, our drawing does not need to be perfectly realistic to be satisfying and provocative.

This class is for all levels…from those who say “I can’t draw a stick figure” to the seasoned artist. 

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER. Registration and payment are handled by Castle Hill.

This is the registration page for the 5-day retreat in St. Andrews-by-the-Sea, New Brunswick, Canada on Tuesday, June 2 - Sunday, June 7th, 2026. Please read the entire retreat description (click HERE) before registering.

By completing this registration, you agree you have read the website description and all policies listed. If you have questions, please email Laura.

The total retreat fee will be paid in two installments, starting with this non-refundable deposit. The deposit is $750 USD per person, regardless of what type of room you select below. Every person attending must register and pay a deposit (including non-particpating guests in double rooms with an art retreat participant).

An invoice with the balance will be emailed to each registrant in mid to late March.

SOLD OUT! See waitlist sign-up below.

Join mixed media artist, Laura Raborn, for a sketchbook art workshop.

During a short walk to a few of Harbour Island’s exquisite sights, we will start by practicing loose gestural sketches. Laura will demonstrate specific methods to help students create small drawings called “thumbnails.” We will test multiple drawing tools, including adding color to our sketchbook pages with water soluble pencils and inks.

Fee per person: $325

What the fee includes:

All art supplies

Guided lessons and demonstrations

One-on-one instruction

Snack and beverage

This adult class for all levels will consist of demonstrations, guided lessons, and lots of practice. You will leave the workshop with a sketchbook that serves many purposes: as a way to capture sights and preserve memories on Harbour Island, as a reference with notes about our drawing lessons, and as a reminder of how looking at the world through the lens of an artist enhances everything we see and experience. Sketching can add joy to our lives no matter where we are!

NOTE: Activity level: Moderate. We will be walking, using stairs, sitting, and standing.

This is the registration page for the 4-day retreat on Harbour Island in the Bahamas on Monday, February 23 - Thursday February 26th. Please read the entire retreat description (click HERE) before registering.

By completing this registration, you agree you have read the website description and all policies listed. If you have questions, please email Laura.

The total retreat fee will be paid in two installments, starting with this non-refundable $750 deposit. An invoice with the balance will be emailed to registrants in mid December.

The Early Bird Registration total retreat fee of $1695 is available through November 1st!

Join me for a two day drawing intensive! I’ve gathered my favorite lessons from some of the most inspiring artists and teachers—David Bailin, Eric Mantle, Marjorie Williams-Smith, and programs at the New York Studio School and the Madrid Academy of Art—and shaped them into a drawing workshop designed just for you.

No matter where you are in your art journey—total beginner or seasoned pro—you’ll find this two-day immersive experience valuable, energizing, and full of insight. Because here’s what I know for sure: anyone can learn to draw. With the right tools, tips, and a healthy dose of the two Ps (practice and patience), drawing becomes not only possible, but deeply enjoyable.

We’ll meet in the beautiful setting of Rockwater Marina in North Little Rock, Arkansas—a place that feels like a true getaway. Picture this: skyline views, boats gently bobbing on the river, trails shaded by towering trees… it’s the perfect backdrop for artistic discovery.

Here’s what you can expect:

🖊 Day One is all about exploration. You’ll get a variety of short, dynamic lessons—indoors and out—focused on foundational skills, new techniques, and loosening up. Expect lots of sketches, playful experiments, and creative sparks.

🎨 Day Two, we’ll slow down and dive deeper. You’ll work on two drawings, developing them side-by-side, building up your compositions on paper we’ve prepped with paint layers—an approach used by contemporary artists like Jenny Saville and my longtime mentor, David Bailin. This adds depth, texture, and energy to your final pieces.

To cap it off, we will gather for a Mocktail/Cocktail hour to go over any final questions, comments, and favorite pieces from our wonderful two day drawing getaway. This is our time to reflect and celebrate!

✨ You’ll leave with:

• A new sketchpad full of lessons and sketches

• Two finished drawings

• A toolkit of new skills with a “Top Tips” handout

• A deeper understanding of how you see

• And a new appreciation for the trees, plants, people, buildings and objects in your everyday world.

This is a small-group workshop, with lots of one-on-one instruction, live demos, and rich conversation. Materials and beverages are included, so all you need to bring is your curiosity.

Drawing isn’t just a skill—it’s a way of seeing. It reconnects us with the world and with ourselves. It asks us to slow down, observe closely, and respond.

I would love for you to join me. Let’s spend two days together learning to draw!

DATE AND TIME:

Thursday, September 18 and Friday, September 19 9:00am-3:30 pm

LOCATION:

Rockwater Marina, North Little Rock

1600 Rockwater Blvd, North Little Rock, AR 72114

FEE: $285 (includes supplies, snacks and beverages)

THE FINE PRINT - PLEASE READ!

*If the class minimum is not met 9 days before workshop, all enrolled students will be notified and provided with a full refund.

*An 60% refund is provided for cancellations made a minimum of 10 days before the workshop. A 50% refund is provided for cancellations made 4-9 days before the workshop IF we are able to fill your spot.

*If you register for more than one person, please complete separate registrations so Laura has the name and contact info for each student.