Into the Surreal

A zine and collage workshop exploring dreams, blurred boundaries and the spaces between.

Co-led by Louisa Tan from Common Exception and Maya, the workshop invited participants to create surreal, expressive works inspired by their own inner realities using collage, mark-making and zine-making techniques.

Hosted at Deptford gallery OPEN 205, this hands-on session was part of the Dreamscape exhibition, curated by Maya Foley from Fabric Experiments. Drawing inspiration from exhibiting artists Paula R Rodriguez and Arizona Smith, participants explored the shifting edges of memory, mood and the subconscious. A soft, open space for playful expression and dreaming on paper.

We can't wait for the next collaboration with Louisa! It was such a JOYFUL evening - and the perfect match of self-expressive collage making and our colourful reclaimed materials!

Renée Materials

Working with Louisa has been a joyful journey. Her approach is led by honesty, collaboration, and a strong commitment to her personal practice. Her presence created a soothing and relaxing atmosphere, fostering joy, creativity, and meaningful engagement. She nurtured a space where participants felt safe to connect deeply with their surroundings and their feelings.

Louisa was very inspiring, providing the audience with valuable techniques while encouraging them to reflect on themselves and express vulnerability in a creative and cathartic manner. We received lots of positive feedback from our community. They described the workshop as fun, mindful and uplifting, with everyone leaving with their own unique artwork.

Ladies, Wine & Design - London

Louisa and Coco Lom immersed us in music while we drew with our eyes closed. Listening to the beat without thinking completely shifted my mindset, dissolving tension and clearing away distracting thoughts. It was a transformative experience, where letting go of control and simply tuning into the music rhythm led to a more intuitive and authentic creativity.

The Negativity into Creativity workshop got me hooked. After the event, I had to meet Louisa. From the session, I had loads of clarity on personal ideas. Insights included: Have grace for yourself. Be patient with progress. 80% perfect is perfect enough. People come to you because of how you make them feel. Stay on your brand: if you are not walking the walk, how can you teach it? Stay creative, stay joyful.

Jonė Gimbutytė

Designer & Creative Director

I booked a coaching session as I’d been thinking of running workshops alongside my ceramics practice. The session was so inspiring and I found it the perfect mix of practical ideas and mindset work. I immediately felt at ease and able to talk through any challenges openly. Louisa offered another way of seeing things, along with helping me feel confident and supported in my decisions. My workshops are now up and running, and getting booked up!

Louisa is pure magic. She brought such an incredible, inspiring energy into my Antipodreaming brunch club event. You could feel everyone light up as she gently guided them to tap into their own creativity. Louisa has this amazing way of making people feel free, fearless, and excited to express themselves. She's an extraordinary creative and beautiful soul to work with.

Brand Strategist + director

I had a fantastic mentoring session with Louisa. I got so much value from our conversation. What really stood out was her follow-through after our call. That kind of support truly felt above and beyond. I highly recommend Louisa to any creative entrepreneur looking for guidance and clarity. I’m already planning to book a follow-up session once I’ve made progress on the action steps we outlined!

Christina Jones

Thank you for organising such an inspirational workshop! I enjoyed that 120%! Your event gave me a new feeling about the chemistry between music and handwork.

Girrrrrrl!!! With all your help I am top dog with Meta. I still need to jump through some hoops, but I am the one they've chosen.

Eloisa Henderson-Figueroa

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