Creative Pause Art Retreats
Joyful, tactile art journalling workshops and one-day creative retreats in Berlin — designed to help you slow down, reconnect, and spark fresh creativity through mindful, hands-on making.
“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.”
Step out of the everyday and into a space that’s entirely yours.
Join Harriet Norwood Poole at little art for creative, mindful art retreats in Berlin — from printmaking and collage to art journalling and mixed-media exploration — perfect for anyone seeking calm, inspiration and connection this winter.
When life feels full-on and fast, these one-day retreats offer a space to exhale — a creative pause between deadlines and decisions. Ink, paper, and quiet process help you slow down just enough to remember what inspiration feels like.
Whether you’re reigniting an old spark or craving a gentle reset, each retreat gives your creativity room to stretch, rest, and surprise you.
No art experience needed — just curiosity and a willingness to explore.
Join a small, welcoming community of makers sharing ideas, discoveries, and inspiration.
“Soul nourishing.”
Past Seasonal Themes
“I enjoyed the relaxed-yet-creative atmosphere, learned new techniques and explored new materials. Harriet was a wonderful teacher.”
Creative Pause Art Journalling Retreat — Creative Courage
A Day Retreat / Half Day Workshop
A bold, expressive day to explore creative confidence — and the gentle courage it takes to show up as yourself.
Creative Courage invites you to play with identity, voice and visual storytelling through collage, colour and expressive mark-making.
We’ll begin with mindful art warm-ups to loosen the hand and open curiosity — then move into layered, mixed-media processes that explore contrast, personality and expression.
What You’ll Explore
Gel-plate printing layering as energy and contrast — creating vibrant colour fields and textured backgrounds to cut, collage and remix
Collage with magazine imagery — working with icons, fragments of lifestyle and culture to explore how identity is shaped and seen
Exploring a range of collage techniques — cutting, tearing, tracing and juxtaposition, inspired by contemporary artist books
Acrylic markers and paint layering to alter, connect and reimagine imagery
Using found and created texts — weaving words, headlines and your own writing into pages as texture and voice
Reflective journalling prompts to explore identity, strength and possibility
Expect a day of vivid colour, quiet reflection and playful experimentation — a space to rediscover your creative confidence and sense of identity beyond roles or routines.
You’ll leave with layered, expressive pages that reflect your personal story — a visual reminder of authenticity, curiosity and creative joy.
Creative Courage isn’t about being fearless; it’s about showing up anyway — one mark, one image, one page at a time. A day to reconnect with your voice and your creative spark.
Turn the page. Be bold. See what happens.
Creative Pause Art Retreat — Illuminate
Winter Day Retreat
A calm, artful pause before the festive rush — a day of light, texture and quiet making.
Create thoughtful, hand-printed gifts or keepsakes inspired by winter light.
Illuminate is a one-day creative retreat to slow down before the holidays — to breathe, make space, and rediscover the quiet joy of creating by hand.
As winter light softens and the city buzzes with Christmas markets, step into a calmer rhythm.
This retreat offers a sensory, handmade approach to the season — exploring the textures, tones and patterns of winter through colour, print and collage.
What You’ll Explore:
The day begins with mindful art warm-ups — short, guided exercises to loosen your hand and awaken playful curiosity. Notice shapes, gestures and colours that feel alive, letting your hands lead rather than your head.
You’ll then move into tactile printmaking processes — rolling, carving, inking and layering to create small, meaningful artworks that capture your own sense of the season.
We’ll experiment with:
Gel-plate printing and layering using stencils, inks and natural textures — leaves, branches, evergreens — building soft, luminous prints that echo the stillness and organic shapes of the winter season
Hand-carved stamp making to design motifs — such as birds, stars, seed pods or symbols of light
Layering with tracing paper for depth, transparency and interplay between colour and form
Metallic paints that catch and shift the light in subtle ways
Collage and composition to build intimate series of prints with rhythm and quiet movement
Finishing touches — wrapping, tags and display ideas to turn your handmade pieces into thoughtful gifts or keepsakes
No art experience needed — just curiosity, and a willingness to slow down and play.
You’ll Leave With
A collection of one-of-a-kind prints, cards and/or tags
Your own hand-carved stamp to reuse
A renewed sense of calm and creative connection before the festive season
This isn’t a cookie-cutter Christmas craft class — it’s a creative pause for winter: a space of warmth, ink and quiet making.
Your invitation to follow curiosity, one playful shape at a time.
“The experience really helped with getting in touch with my inner child… It was very therapeutic and relaxing.”
Joyful Art Journalling Retreat — Unfurl
A New Year Day Retreat
A gentle creative awakening for the new year — where colour, curiosity and flow meet.
January carries a quiet sense of possibility — a fresh page, ready for new, playful ideas to take shape.
Unfurl is a creative reset for the new year — space to reconnect with curiosity and experiment with expressive, mixed-media journalling.
Whether you already write, sketch or bullet-journal — or simply want to explore new ways of journalling — this retreat offers fresh ideas and techniques to bring more colour, texture and joy to your pages.
What You’ll Explore:
The day begins with mindful art prompts — gentle exercises to loosen your hand, settle your thoughts and awaken creative flow.
From there, we’ll move into hands-on journalling techniques, experimenting with layers of paint, collage, texture and text:
Gel-plate printing for movement and rhythm — pulling transparent layers of colour and pattern to create evolving backgrounds for your pages
Collage and intuitive mark-making to uncover shapes, motifs and stories
Deconstruct and reconstruct pages — fold, cut or carve into them to reveal new perspectives
Acrylic image transfers to weave fragments of text or imagery into your work
Watercolour doodles and transparent washes for movement and light
Free writing and reflection to anchor what’s emerging
There’s no right way to do any of it — just time, curiosity, and space to let things unfold.
You’ll Leave With:
A personal art journal filled with expressive, layered pages
A toolkit of new journalling and mixed-media techniques
A renewed sense of direction and creative momentum for the year ahead
It’s about opening, not achieving.
Let things unfold in their own time — gently, page by page.
Why This Is Different
It’s about rewilding your creativity — making space for mindful moments, happy accidents, and small joys that remind you why creating feels good.
Playful & tactile: gel printing, stencilling, collage, sensory prompts.
Beginner-friendly, welcoming space.
Rooted in everyday noticing and reflection, for daily mindfulness practice.
A creative reset that’s joyful, grounding and real.
A gentle creative and international community — sharing ideas, stories, and support as you explore
*Ready to join a day of creative rest & community?*
Practical Information
Time: 10:00 – 16:30 (incl. 45 min lunch ( lunch not provided) + short morning and afternoon breaks)
Language: Art journalling workshops are held in Berlin in English, bilingual-friendly if needed (EN/DE)
Art Retreat Coach : Harriet Norwood Poole, Founder of little art, Creative Life Coach & Art Educator
Group size: Intimate groups of up to 12 participants, so everyone has space to explore and connect.
What to bring: Yourself, comfortable clothes you don’t mind getting messy, your journal (or add one at checkout.)
Coming Summer 2026
A new retreat series exploring joyful summer colour and creative flourishing — June onwards.
Sign up to the mailing list to be the first to hear when bookings open.
Give yourself a day that slows everything down: one creative, mindful sanctuary day before the year ends, or a gentle reset to begin the new one with calm and clarity.