Workshops + Talks
“Thank you Suzy for guiding us with love, intellect, compassion and wit. You are the consummate coach. So glad you are in my life.” –Kathleen D.
“I just got back from a workshop led by the hilarious and talented Suzy Becker. I’m so energized to create more!” –Wendy B.
Graphic Medicine Workshops
I’ve been working in the emerging field of graphic medicine– illustrated life narratives of caregiving, health, recovery, and illness– since before it was a twinkle in its mother’s (the field of narrative medicine’s) eye. The process of making these narratives has documented physical and mental health/wellness benefits for patients, students, professional practitioners, caregivers, etc.
Art Journaling
I started keeping an illustrated notebook when I was 8 (like my real fictional idol Harriet the Spy). I’m on my thirty-somethingth one. If you’re interested in journaling, memoir-writing, visual art, creativity, or getting unstuck, the art journaling workshop is a mix of tried-and-true writing and visual art prompts for aspiring and professional writers/artists/writer-artists/artist-writers/hacks/wannabes/whoever I left out, except for people with too much confidence.
Talks
I’ve talked to diverse audiences of diverse ages about all kinds of things, from doing what I love–writing, drawing, making you laugh, and making a difference–to parenting, humor and healing, and what’s left of the environment. It’s generally described as an emboldening, embiggening experience.
Recent talks: Live Every Day Like Your Hair Is on Fire: Creativity, Courage, and Resilience • I Had Brain Surgery, What’s Your Excuse? • Composing a Life • Letters to a Young Entrepreneur
Events
- Graphic Medicine at Castle Hill
June 17 – 21, 2024, 1 – 4:30 pm “Thank you for bringing so much healing and magic and humor to us.” I’m going to be back at Castle Hill, Truro’s Center for the Arts on the Outer Cape (Cod) for an intimate (registration is… Read more: Graphic Medicine at Castle Hill - Bolton-Harvard Open Studios, September 30 – October 1!
Guess my favorite thing about our annual Open Studios (you can’t go wrong): Download a map here. If you can’t come this time, you can video-tour my studio. - It’s Character-building: Building Great (like Kate) Characters
From grade 1, kids know that every good story has three parts (use zombie voice): beginning, middle, and end. Easier said than done, Zombie. What they don’t recognize is that a good story can go to waste without some good characters. And, a middling or… Read more: It’s Character-building: Building Great (like Kate) Characters - Come to the Mother’s Day Art Fair! Saturday, May 7 from 10 a. – 3 p.
There will be 50+ artists*, including my sister and me, setting up on the Bolton (MA) Town Common this Saturday aka the day last present-shopping day for all your Mom-figures or yourself– in case, well, you know. *I’ll be the one who notices whether you… Read more: Come to the Mother’s Day Art Fair! Saturday, May 7 from 10 a. – 3 p. - The world needs more funny people: Manny’s Cowapalooza! April 29
I was on a panel with R. Stine (Goosebumps— his books, not my emo m.o.) and someone in the audience asked us if we believed that humor could be taught. R. Stine answered immediately, no. I had a different take. I believe humor can be… Read more: The world needs more funny people: Manny’s Cowapalooza! April 29
Workshops
- Graphic Medicine at Castle HillJune 17 – 21, 2024, 1 – 4:30 pm “Thank you for bringing so much healing and magic and humor to us.” I’m going to be back at Castle Hill, Truro’s Center for the Arts on the Outer Cape (Cod) for an intimate (registration is… Read more: Graphic Medicine at Castle Hill
- Time to start thinking about next year’s Oscars…
As I do more and more graphic medicine work– the confluence of the increasing recognition of the neural/cognitive benefits of this work and the attention to mental health neglect at all levels in all demographics as we emerge from the pandemic– I am asked more… Read more: Time to start thinking about next year’s Oscars… - The world needs more funny people: Manny’s Cowapalooza! April 29I was on a panel with R. Stine (Goosebumps— his books, not my emo m.o.) and someone in the audience asked us if we believed that humor could be taught. R. Stine answered immediately, no. I had a different take. I believe humor can be… Read more: The world needs more funny people: Manny’s Cowapalooza! April 29
- Memoir/Personal Narrative Workshop at Kripalu, February 1-4
My good friend Nancy Slonim Aronie (Writing from the Heart, Chilmark Writers’ Workshop) asked me to run her memoir workshop at the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health (Berkshires) again. It’s a last minute plan, but that’s the best COVID-kind. So, in a couple of… Read more: Memoir/Personal Narrative Workshop at Kripalu, February 1-4 - Writing with HeART: Art Journaling October 23 – 27, 2022
Of all the workshops I run for adults, this one is the most fun. Even, maybe especially, if you’re a little nervous about making visual art or writing. Inspired by author/NPR commentator Nancy Aronie’s beloved Writing from the Heart memoir workshop (which I’ve run for… Read more: Writing with HeART: Art Journaling October 23 – 27, 2022