Art Groups San Francisco
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Profs & Pints Alameda: Creativity, Moods, and Mania
Thu, Aug 20, 1:00 AM[Profs and Pints Alameda](https://www.profsandpints.com/sfbayarea) presents: **“Creativity, Moods, and Mania,”** an exploration of how depression, mania, and everyday ups and downs influence different types of creativity, with Sheri L. Johnson, distinguished professor of psychology and director of a bipolar disorder research program at the University of California at Berkeley. [Tickets available only online, at [https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/alameda-creativity-moods-mania](https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/alameda-creativity-moods-mania) .] Ancient quotes on creativity, moods and mood disorders abound. Aristotle wrote, “No great mind has ever existed without a touch of madness.” Lord Byron, describing poets, later observed, “We of the craft are all crazy. Some are affected by gaiety, others by melancholy, but all are more or less touched.” But is there really a link between moods, mood disorders, and creativity? What does modern science have to say about the subject? Explore such questions with Dr. Sheri L. Johnson, director of the CALM (Cal Mania) Program at UC-Berkeley. Her research there studies how mood—especially the highs and lows of bipolar disorder—shapes people’s lives, including their creativity, goals, and well-being, as well as what mechanisms contribute to mood episodes and recovery. She'll begin with a discussion of how scientists measure creativity in life and in the laboratory, describing what we have learned from hundreds of experimental studies on creativity and mood. Some findings indicate that happiness, at modest levels, can help foster creativity, while negative moods can interfere with it. We’ll consider how we can draw from these scientific findings to protect our own creativity. Turning to mood disorders, Professor Johnson will describe how mania was a well-documented part of the lives of major creative figures such as Lord Byron, Vincent Van Gogh, Virginia Woolf, Edgar Allen Poe, Ernest Hemingway, and Alfred Tennyson. Beyond biographical summaries, she’ll highlight findings of a country-wide study of the Swedish population which connected higher creativity to a personal and family history of bipolar disorder. She’ll also outline findings of studies designed to test why mood disorders might relate to creativity, and we’ll consider the evidence so far on whether medications for bipolar disorder help or hinder creativity among those with a history of mania. (Advance tickets: $13.50 plus processing fees. Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. The talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image: From a self-portrait painted by Vincent van Gogh in 1889 after slicing off his own ear (Courtald Institute of Art / Wikimedia).

Sketch Dog Surfing & Soul Grind Coffee (Pacifica)
Sat, Aug 1, 5:00 PMSketching the World Dog Surfing Championships! 📍 **10:00-10:29 am**. Meet at the world famous Taco Bell Cantina 🌊 **10:30 am.** Short walk together over to Pacifica State Beach 🐕 Roam freely. Sketch the doggos. ☕ **12:00 noon.** Walk over to Soul Grind. 🎨 Sketch the cafe. Or pull up a chair and just relax. 📓 **01:00 pm**. We wrap things up with a show & tell, throwdown. Yes, it's exactly what it sounds like. Dogs. Surfboards. Pure untamed delight in the best way. We’ll sketch out on the beach for a bit, then grab coffee to reset. * [KQED article](https://www.kqed.org/news/12050803/whos-the-top-dog-wave-riding-canines-compete-at-the-world-dog-surfing-championships) of the 2025 event * [Official website](https://www.surfdogchampionships.com/) of Surf Dog Championships This is organized by the **[Cafe Art Circle](https://www.zenbay.org/cafe_art_circle)** meetup under SF Sketchers. We explore coffee and tea shops around the Bay Area, using sketching as a way to experience the atmosphere of each place and its neighborhood. All levels welcome. Bring whatever art supplies you like to sketch with. Message Jimmy if you need help finding the group. *Photo from 2022 Dog Surfing World Championship, Pacifica CA, 6 August 2022. Photo by Jack Owicki.*

Figure Drawing Foundations: 2 Day Workshop
Sun, Aug 16, 6:00 PM**🗓️ 08/16 & 08/23 @ Mass Arts** 🕡 11am to 3pm 📍 995 Market Street, 6th Floor, San Francisco 🪑 All ages & skills level welcomed! ✏️ Supplies are included with workshop. **[Buy tickets here!](https://checkout.square.site/merchant/1WGJJVJKDK8SC/checkout/ROIB3REJZEH22LXEA4NBRU3L)** Strengthen Your Core Skills Quickly! If your figures feel stiff or inconsistent, this workshop will help reset your approach. In this workshop, you will learn: * Gesture drawing that captures movement and intent * Simplified structure and proportion systems * How to build the body from basic forms into believable anatomy * The key fundamentals that improve drawing immediately

Art Journal Meetup
Wed, Aug 12, 1:00 AMThe Marin Art Journal Group is a casual gathering where you can create your own art, meet wonderful people, and have fun! We meet 2-3 times a month for a relaxing experience, exploring different art forms, learning from one another, and connecting as a community. Please bring your own supplies. If you don't have any, we can provide them for a $5 fee. We love supporting Double Rainbow and Autistry, so feel free to grab a cup of coffee, a sandwich, a delicious homemade pastry, and of course, ice cream!

Art Journal Meetup
Fri, Aug 28, 7:00 PMThe Marin Art Journal Group is a casual gathering where you can create your own art, meet wonderful people, and have fun! We meet 2-3 times a month for a relaxing experience, exploring different art forms, learning from one another, and connecting as a community. Please bring your own supplies. If you don't have any, we can provide them for a $5 fee. We love supporting Double Rainbow and Autistry, so feel free to grab a cup of coffee, a sandwich, a delicious homemade pastry, and of course, ice cream!

Drink and Draw at Jupiter
Tue, Aug 4, 2:30 AMCome draw, paint, or do whatever other art you're working on! Bring your own supplies. We're usually on the second floor -- look for all the people with sketchbooks and/or drawing tablets. In case you'd like to share your art or just stay in touch, we have a Discord server: [https://discord.gg/k7Vbwgm5ey](https://discord.gg/k7Vbwgm5ey)
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