Avivo Artworks - Jes Reyes - Adults - 5 hours
Another marker drawing by a member
Another Progress Photo of Night Sky by a member
This week during Artworks, “Art and Thrive,” we continued to discuss selling artwork and the best way to let people know you’ve sold work; finding that medium between potentially bragging and not sharing that information at all. The group came to conclusion that there are appropriate ways to share that information in order to let people know your work does indeed sell, without becoming obnoxious. During open studio, many members worked on sign ideas for “Day on the Hill” at the Minnesota State Capitol, bring awareness to and advocating for mental health issues and funding. Other members continued to work on personal projects including a new marker drawing of sea creatures and progress on that lovely night sky painting. We also announced the workshop I have planned for early April and hopefully we are able to still make that happen considering present circumstances.
Teen Residency Center - Carmen Elate - Middle School to High School Age - 3 hours over two days
This week during Carmen’s class, we began the lesson I planned for the students turning art into therapy. The first day I the students write 5 to 7 things in their sketchbooks that make them feel happy and supported. I then had them take colored pencils and assign each of their things a color and then assign themselves a color. They got this done a lot quicker than I had anticipated and so when they finished that, the students worked on their other assignments. The next day, we began painting! I began class by giving the students a quick demonstration on mixing colors. We then got their outlined figures out and had them begin by painting a circle in the center of the figure in the color they assigned to themselves. I then instructed them to paint the other items on their list in the colors they chose, telling them to think about how these things are important to them and where on themselves they feel that. As I walked around and asked them why they chose certain colors and why they chose to paint their items where they did, students shared really heartwarming stories about what is important to them. Neither group finished painting so we will continue the project next time I am there because I want to give the students enough time to really think about what makes them feel happy and supported. I am excited to see where it goes.