The Mindful Practice
Quiet the inner critic. Embrace mistakes. Rediscover your creative instincts.
The Creative Mind Series: Wellness Workshops for Artists
Workshop with Susan Donofrio
Quiet the Voice That Holds You Back. Strengthen the One That Moves You Forward
Every artist knows the voice.
You're not good enough. It's already been done. Don't post it. Don't apply. Don't raise your prices. Wait until you're better.
The Mindful Practice is a transformative wellness workshop working in watercolors presented by Juniper Rag, designed specifically for artists who want to create with greater confidence, authenticity, and freedom. Led by licensed therapist Sue Donofrio, this interactive experience explores why self-doubt, perfectionism, comparison, and fear of rejection are so common among creatives—and how understanding the brain's protective instincts can help loosen their grip.
Whether you're afraid to share your work, struggle with imposter syndrome, or simply want to rediscover the joy of making art, you'll leave with practical tools to strengthen your confidence, deepen your creative practice, and move forward with renewed purpose.
What happens when you let go of the need to get it right?
The Mindful Practice is a 2.5 hour, hands-on workshop designed to help artists quiet their inner critic, reduce creative anxiety, and rediscover the freedom of making art without the pressure of perfection.
Through a series of spontaneous drawing exercises, mindful observation, and playful experimentation, you’ll explore what happens when you loosen your grip on the outcome and allow the unexpected to guide your work. You’ll intentionally disrupt a blank canvas or page, then learn to look at those accidental marks differently—finding new shapes, possibilities, and meaning in what initially feels like a mistake.
This is an opportunity to step outside your usual habits, take creative risks, and reconnect with the instincts that make your work uniquely yours. By combining spontaneity with your existing artistic skills, you’ll discover how unexpected turns can become opportunities for creative problem-solving, emotional authenticity, and personal expression.
Whether you’re an emerging artist, an experienced practitioner, or someone who occasionally struggles with the pressure to make something good, this workshop offers a fresh perspective on the creative process—and practical ways to carry that perspective into your studio practice.
Come ready to experiment, let go, and see what emerges. No perfect lines, precious white papers or predetermined outcomes required.
What You’ll Explore
Mindfulness: Quiet and slow, recognize the thoughts that can interfere with your creative freedom.
Embrace the unexpected: Use spontaneity and intentional disruption to move beyond familiar approaches.
Find possibility in mistakes: Practice turning accidental marks and unexpected outcomes into creative opportunities.
Reconnect with your artistic identity: Explore how intuition, emotional honesty, and risk-taking can inform your individual voice.
Build a more resilient practice: Develop a flexible mindset that helps you navigate uncertainty, creative blocks, and the inevitable challenges of making art.
About our Presenter
Sue Donofrio is a licensed mental health therapist, Registered and Board Certified Art Therapist, yoga teacher and founder of Roots Collective in Paxton, Massachusetts. Her work centers on helping individuals reconnect with themselves through creativity, mindfulness, and evidence-based therapeutic practices. Sue believes that creativity is more than artistic expression—it's a pathway to resilience, emotional wellness, and personal growth.
Drawing on over 25 years of clinical experience and a compassionate, engaging teaching style, she helps artists better understand the emotional patterns that shape their creative lives, empowering them to create with greater confidence, curiosity, and self-awareness.
As part of Juniper Rag’s commitment to supporting the whole artist, The Mindful Practice is part of a new Creative Mind workshop series exploring the intersection of creativity, wellness, neuroscience, and professional artistic growth.
Because thriving as an artist isn’t only about mastering your craft. It’s also about developing the confidence, resilience, and mindset to take creative risks, trust your instincts, and fully share your work with the world.
A Note on Wellness & Participation
The Mindful Practice is an educational, creativity-focused workshop—not group therapy or a substitute for mental health treatment. While the exercises draw on mindfulness and art therapy-informed practices, participants are never expected to share personal experiences, discuss sensitive topics, or disclose anything that feels uncomfortable.
All activities are invitations to explore, experiment, and reflect. You are welcome to adapt an exercise, observe quietly, take a break, or opt out at any time. The goal is to create a supportive, respectful environment where artists can explore their creative process at their own pace.
Sue Donofrio
Sue Donofrio, LMHC, ATR-BC, MCCS
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Board Certified Registered Art TherapistSM (ATR-BC®)
Massachusetts Certified Counseling Supervisor
Roots Collective
Private Therapy Practice and Clinical Supervision
🌿Specializing in outdoor/nature-based therapy
Founder, Roots Collective
A therapy practice that pairs your mental well-being with the healing aspects of outdoor spaces and movement. Providing nature-based/outdoor therapy, walk and talk sessions, art therapy, yoga and mind-body work, and clinical supervision.
Material List for Watercolor Workshops
Paints: a set of tubes or pan watercolors including your primaries with warm & cool, red, yellow & blue and burnt Sienna. All you need is red, yellow and blue to make the others!
Paper: A few cut or manageable pieces of 140 lb cold or hot press sheet paper, or a block or loose sheets, so you can use several pieces.
Brushes: An assortment of your favorites, including 1 large round, size: 10 or 12 or larger. 1 medium round size 6, a fan brush, thin brushes. You do not have to spend a lot on brushes. Just the basics.
Tape: Artist masking or painters tape. Any artist tape that will not pull up the paper fibers will due
Pencil: A hard 6B or whatever you have handy
Adhesive Medium: If you would plan to collage
Palette:
A mixing tray or palette, or simply a white plastic plate
A light weight plastic or masonite board to tape paper down
Optional:
Micron Pens
Salt
Alcohol
Clear or white wax crayon
Frisket
Old magazines for collage
CC Lowell in Worcester on Pleasant Street can set you up with everything you need.
We will provide water vessels and paper towels.
* If you do not have materials at home and would like to participate, we can provide what is needed.
Register here (if the class is cost prohibitive, please shoot us a message at info@juniperrag.com):
Max attendance is set to 8 artists for an intimate and personal experience with Sue.
*This workshop is professional development. Remember to record it to your books and organize your investment for your taxes.
Location: Juniper Rag Contemporary, Worcester
Register here:
The Mindful Practice
Quiet the inner critic. Embrace mistakes. Rediscover your creative instincts.
What happens when you let go of the need to get it right?
Join Sue Donofrio at Juniper Rag Contemporary for The Mindful Practice a 2.5 hour, hands-on workshop designed to help artists quiet their inner critic, reduce creative anxiety, and rediscover the freedom of making art without the pressure of perfection.