UNORTHODOX WASHES: THE UNORTHODOX LAB

UNORTHODOX WASHES — Session V: The Unorthodox Lab is the finale night where the rules loosen, the table gets messy, and the real magic happens. After exploring each medium on its own, this session opens the studio and lets you mix and match all four wet media—coffee, squid ink, wine, and walnut ink—to build bold, layered work with depth, texture, and atmosphere you can’t get from standard paint.

Think of it as a guided open studio with a paint-n-sip vibe: part experiment, part composition, part controlled chaos. You’ll have access to the full “Unorthodox Washes bar” of materials, plus optional techniques that push the mixed-media potential—layering, resist effects, lifting, staining, plume work, and controlled edge play. If you attended the earlier sessions, this is your payoff. If you didn’t, you can still jump in—this night is designed to welcome newcomers with a short technique refresher and plenty of hands-on coaching.

What you’ll do

• Create one mixed-media “hero piece” (and likely a second smaller study if you move fast)
• Combine stains, plumes, oxidation shifts, and sepia washes into intentional compositions
• Learn how to layer wet media without mud: sequence, drying time, and value control
• Explore optional effects (as time allows): resist textures, lifting highlights, edge burns, pooling, and controlled blooms
• Leave with a piece that feels rich, cinematic, and unmistakably yours

What to expect

• A short “rapid refresher” on the four media and how they interact
• A flexible, open studio format with guided prompts available (or you can freestyle)
• Walk-around coaching to help you solve composition, contrast, and layering decisions
• A social atmosphere that still respects the craft and the work

What’s included

• All materials and supplies (paper, brushes, palettes, coffee, squid ink, wine media, walnut ink, and any specialty tools used)
• Guided instruction + one-on-one help throughout
• Wine, light hors d’oeuvres, and Romolo’s chocolates
• Extra time to finish: this is the night we give you runway

Who it’s for

• Anyone who attended Sessions I–IV and wants the full mixed-media payoff
• Beginners who want a fun, supported creative night out
• Artists and experimenters who live for texture, atmosphere, and process

Session length
A 2-hour guided studio session, plus an optional 30–45 minutes afterward for those who want extra finishing time and one-on-one help.

Dates & times: Jul 2 at 6:30 PM
Location: Erie Labor Temple
Hosted by No Such Animal Studios in partnership with PH’KAKi Creative Studios + Erie Labor Temple

UNORTHODOX WASHES is a five-session arc for people who want a creative weeknight that feels like a date night and a real studio experience. Each session explores a different natural medium, then The Unorthodox Lab brings everything together so you can create a mixed-media piece with intention.

The arc

• Session I: Coffee Washes
• Session II: Squid Ink Noir
• Session III: Wine Stains & Oxidation
• Session IV: Walnut Ink Studies
• Session V: The Unorthodox Lab — Finale Mixed Media Open Studio (mix and match everything)

Attend one session as a standalone night out, or follow the full arc and finish with the finale, where you combine everything you learned into one unforgettable piece.

Want the full 5-part arc and save?
Grab the Series Pass here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/unorthodox-washes-season-1-series-pass-all-5-sessions-tickets-1984724174433

Tickets

• Individual tickets per session
• Couples tickets (2 people)
• Series Pass options available (best value + best experience)

If you want to leave with art that looks like it came out of an alchemist’s studio—layered, textured, and impossible to replicate—this is your night.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher Erie Labor Temple