Beacon Digest

Still Life / Still Feeling is an art-meets-food and everyday beauty collage workshop.

Overview In this beginner-friendly workshop with collage artist Laura Delarato, you'll use scanner collage to transform ingredients, napkins, and small kitchen items into modern still-life portraits.

What to Expect A fun, low-pressure workshop where you can explore, experiment, and let the scanner lead you somewhere unexpected. No digital design knowledge or software required—just curiosity. All equipment is provided.

What You'll Learn You'll learn how to build still-life compositions using simple materials found in the kitchen and around the home. You'll explore scanning techniques that capture texture, depth, and movement, and experiment with re-scanning as a way of embracing impermanence. The process becomes a creative practice of noticing small details, savoring ordinary objects, and letting unexpected moments become part of the artwork.

What You'll Make Using both a flatbed and handheld scanner, you'll create a series of layered digital still-life portraits—quiet, intimate compositions shaped by ingredients, textiles, and the beauty of everyday things. The scanner becomes both a mirror and a record, revealing surprising images from objects we often overlook.

What You'll Take Home You'll leave with 1–2 finished digital artworks that will be emailed to you after class. These pieces serve as a gentle meditation on savoring small details—perfect for printing, sharing, or continuing your creative exploration.

Who This Workshop Is Best For This workshop is perfect for anyone looking for a fun, low-pressure creative experience in a calm and welcoming environment. Whether you're brand-new to collage or an experienced artist wanting to spark new ideas, you'll enjoy the playful mix of scanning and experimenting—and it's a great way to meet other creative locals along the way.

Registration Fee $25—all equipment and materials included.

About the Teaching Artist Laura Delarato is a creative director, artist, and writer based in Beacon, NY. She's the author of My Pleasure: An Intimate Guide to Loving Your Body and Having Great Sex and writes the Substack Hey Laura, where she explores pleasure, beauty, and being Italian-American. Her collage work blends analog cut-and-paste with digital scan experimentation.