Ojascastro Gallery    Artist's Statement     Ojascastro ArtShop 

Photo credit Scott Schwartz

​​
Magenta Door Art Studio

For a life that is joyful, meaningful & manageable.

Open by appointment: Contact me at magentadoorartstudio@gmail.com or 314/322-7547. 

​If you want to know more about me or the community work I do, go to
 Ojascastro artist statement.

​Most of my current artwork is on my gallery page.  

Please visit my virtual shop if you are thinking about buying some art.

​
If you want to register for a class, workshop or retreat, keep scrolling on down.




.

---

​Art for Well-Being Retreats

Next retreat will be July 30

Go to step 2 (registration) to reserve your spot



 

Take time to slow down on my permaculture art homestead with other creative individuals. I live in a 1926 farmhouse and the barn in back has been renovated into an art studio. I adopted the Cottagecore philosophy and encourage others to slowdown and spend more time taking care of themselves, especially their creativity and mental health. We’ll cook and create using the Cottagecore aesthetic and focus on permaculture ethics. The basic permaculture ethics are: Care for the Earth, care for people, and take only your fair share (and return any surplus)

​
Included in your registration:
Visual art lesson with materials
Time to explore your artistic practice
Productive Critique
Lunch - Eggs from our free range chickens served with micro greens from our organic garden and a few other things depending on what's ready to harvest on the homestead
Tea, coffee and other fun beverages
Bring your favorite art supplies, journal, and/or instrument

Not to worry if you forget something. I have: paints, papers, canvases, brushes, inks, tools, tapes, glues, mixed media supplies, piano, djembe, drawing board, easels and more. 
​
 Take inspiration on the covered porch, sunny deck, around one of the two fire pits, or in the dye garden. You'll be able to gather fresh eggs from our free range chickens and fruits, vegetables, herbs and flowers from our organic cottage garden. Both novice and experienced artists are invited to step away for a full-day of art making.

If you need a peaceful Art for Well-Being retreat to boost your creativity,  email me for more information at magentadoorartstudio@gmail.com.



The retreats are at 720 Cherry Street, Kirkwood, MO.

---

​
4 Steps to a more joyful, meaningful and manageable life...

Step 1.
​Read descriptions

COMING SOON!
Open Permaculture Art Studio
Magenta Door Art Homestead
21 years old+

The Open Permaculture Art Studio celebrates permaculture ethics: Care for the Earth, care for people, and take only your fair share (and return any surplus.) With that philosophy in mind, we'll swap seeds, flowers, vegetables, fruits, herbs and art materials while enjoying fun beverages and light snacks. Bring your surplus and go home with something "new." And of course, we'll make some art.

Private Art Class
Magenta Door Art Homestead
Any age
$65 an hour
Enjoy drawing, painting, printmaking, mixed media or garden design  in an outdoor studio or in the charming renovated barn heated by a wood burning fireplace. I'll supply the art materials. Don't forget to bring your mask.  

Virtual Private Art Class
Zoom Art Studio
Any age
$60 an hour per household
Painting or Stop-motion video or Manga or Drawing or Printmaking or Mixed Media. You supply the art materials. I'll supply the inspiration. 

Private Art for Well-Being Session
Magenta Door Art Homestead 
Teens and adults
$65 an hour per individual
Art sessions to clear the mind, increase creativity, decrease stress, and learn new skills in an outdoor studio or in the charming renovated barn heated by a wood burning fireplace. I'll supply the art materials. Don't forget to bring your mask. 

Virtual Private Art for Well-Being Session
Zoom Art Studio 
Teens and adults
$60 an hour per individual
Art sessions to clear the mind, increase creativity, decrease stress, and learn new skills. You supply the art materials. I'll supply the inspiration. 
.
Group Drawing and Painting Classes
Zoom Art Studio
$30-$60 per evening. 
You supply the art materials. I'll supply the inspiration. 

Possible lessons:
Red Onion and Blueberry Art
Still Life from a Joyful Life
Cottage Core Cooking
Lavender Sachet and Nature Prints
Symbols of Resiliency, Perseverance, and Hope
Plants and Printmaking
Mandalas and Meditation
Cottage Garden Flower Arranging
Coasters and Cocktails
​Vision Board
Inspired by Picasso’s “Bottle of Suze”
Master Mashup
Inspired by Starry Night
Paint like Bob Ross
Gel Plate Print Gratitude Cards

Contact me at Magentadoorartstudio@gmail.com to design your class and schedule a day and time.
​
Virtual Art for Well-Being Team Building Workshop
Zoom Art Studio 
$250 per group (Up to 20 participants)

This 1 1/2 hour Art for Well-Being workshop fosters team-building, calmness and self-awareness, enabling participants to adapt to everyday challenges. 

$250 per group. (Up to 20 participants.) 

Additional workshops are available.

Art for Well-Being Retreats
Magenta Door Art Homestead
21 years old+
$200 for six hours
Scholarships are available
​
Spend the day in a charming renovated barn heated by a wood burning stove.  We are at 720 Cherry Street, Kirkwood, MO -  very short walking distance from art supply store, grocery stores, pubs, restaurants, and more; 20 minute drive from Lambert International Airport; 7 minute Lyft from Kirkwood Train Station. Email magentadoorartstudio@gmail.com for more information.

Pricing for two and three day retreats available. Please contact me at  magentadoorartstudio@gmail.com or 314/322-7547 to personalize your experience.



​For details and to register, go to Step 2. CLASSES, WORKSHOPS, RETREATS AND MORE

Step 2.
​Get details & register:

Press the blue REGISTER button below. If you have questions, email me at magentadoorartstudio@gmail.com.

Ojascastro Classes and Camps

Register

​Step 3.
​Gather or Purchase Supplies

If you have a stash of art materials, great! If not, here are some resources:

Acrylic Paint
https://www.dickblick.com/items/01637-1019/
Set of Brushes
https://www.dickblick.com/items/05869-0059/
Canvas board
​ https://www.dickblick.com/items/07008-5810/

Model Magic
www.dickblick.com/items/33214-0009/

Inking Pens
https://www.dickblick.com/items/sakura-pigma-micron-pen-set-black-005-set-of-3/

Colored pencils
 https://www.dickblick.com/items/20519-1008/

Watercolor supplies:
https://www.dickblick.com/items/strathmore-400-series-watercolor-block-9-x-12-15-sheets/ 

https://www.dickblick.com/items/prang-watercolor-pans-oval-assorted-set-of-8-colors/. 

https://www.dickblick.com/items/winsor-newton-professional-watercolor-black-box-half-pan-set-of-12/

https://www.dickblick.com/items/blick-bamboo-brush-set-set-of-3/

www.dickblick.com/items/strathmore-cards-and-envelopes-watercolor-greeting-box-of-10/

https://www.michaels.com/strathmore-watercolor-cards-and-envelopes-3.5in-by-4.875in/D243605S.html


RESOURCES:
Quality St. Louis art printer: Diversified Lab
​

Step 4.
​If you have a virtual session, look for your Zoom link in your email 24 hours before your Camp, Class, Sip or Session... then join virtually! If you are coming to 720 Cherry Street, come to the barn behind the house. Please use your bathroom before you arrive - the studio bathroom is being renovated.

A few exhibits and art happenings to inspire you... 


​Mandala - An Art Collective
will be creating and exhibiting at the St. Louis Artists Guild January 2023.

Kirkwood Performing Arts Center (KPAC)
Steady crowds came through the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center's first pop up exhibit in April 2021. 

​Check out Gesso Magazine highlighting the KPAC show (and me:)

Rain and a pandemic didn't stop 100's of people from enjoying art.

More art inspiration...

Free range chicken eggs dyed with turmeric, blueberries, tea, coffee and red onions.

Glimpse of Hope

Nadyia Cody with her mom and her artwork

​Glimpse of Hope
Kirkwood Performing Arts Center
210 E. Monroe Ave. Kirkwood MO
Was on display spring 2021. Lives forever in my heart (and in videos and photos.)
​
It is my pleasure to present the artwork of some of my high school students.  In August 2020, I had the great privilege to begin as a long-term substitute teacher at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School (CVPA. What the students created while attending school virtually included expressions of the Black Lives Matter protests, self-reflections, COVID-19 uncertainties, Black History pride, the spirit of anticipation, and so much more. In January 2021, we welcomed approximately 10% of the students back in the school building, giving a glimpse of hope. Visual Art teachers William Perry, Kelly Terry and I are pleased to give the St. Louis community, a Glimpse of Hope featuring artwork by:
​
Jada Banks, Sophomore
Abbi Bossi, Senior                
Ashley Bryant, Sophomore        
Nadyia Cody, Junior            
Ta’sha Cole, Sophomore
Nicholas Dilworth, Junior
Amajahne Edwards, Junior
Carla Holmes, Senior            
Ezmarella Kean, Sophomore
Shayla McClendon, Sophomore
Ryane Owens, Sophomore

---