If not for my serendipitous discovery seven years ago of artist, author, and teacher, Kasia Avery, who along with her husband, Jamie, started Everything Art in 2015, I still wouldn’t have the nerve to draw a stick figure with a pencil, much less to “let my creative wolf aloose” and play with paints and all the other fun accouterments of art journaling.

Wanderlust 2026 is self-described as “a full year of guided mixed media art for curiosity, growth, and joy.” I first participated in Wanderlust 2019. Once you buy a ticket to the party for each year, you have ongoing access, which is great, since I don’t necessarily follow the weekly lessons in real time, but more in spurts. The library of past years’ video lessons is a real treasure, since most of the time I don’t realize what I’m learning until much later, and it’s enormously helpful to be able to go to the Everything Art archives and revisit certain classes, teachers, and techniques when I’m finally ready for understanding to seep into my hard head. “Oh, so that’s what she was trying to teach me.”

I believe it’s never too late to have a happy childhood. Kasia and her team at Everything Art have convinced me I’m right about that!