Family First: Drawn From Life - A Photography & Digital Illustration Workshop

"Drawn From Life" is an interactive digital media workshop that invites participants to explore storytelling through photography and digital illustration. Participants will begin by capturing expressive portraits and candid photographs of one another with a personal phone or camera, then transform those images into stylized digital artworks using illustration techniques inspired by contemporary portraiture, editorial design, and visual storytelling.

Using digital software and accessible digital art tools, participants will experiment with layering, color, textures, symbols, typography, and drawing techniques to reimagine photographs as personalized works of art. You will be encouraged to explore themes of identity, imagination, emotion, and self-expression while collaborating creatively across generations.

This workshop introduces participants to the intersection of photography and digital art in a fun, engaging, and beginner-friendly environment while encouraging creative confidence and experimentation. Participants will have the opportunity to share their final artwork and receive their digital copy of their work.

Note: Participants are not required to bring their own camera.

Family First is presented by Novant Health

Malaysha Belton is a visual artist, educator, and creative storyteller whose work explores identity, self-expression, and contemporary visual culture through photography, digital media, and design. With experience teaching students across multiple grade levels, she creates engaging and accessible art experiences that encourage creativity, experimentation, and collaborative storytelling for young people and families alike.