Still Creating Amidst shutdowns

It has been extremely emotionally and economically detrimental to close down businesses and schools for 9 months here in California. I personally am hibernating like a bear financially in order to conserve my resources. I am thankful that a few small tutor groups have been going on to provide joy in my life and a trickle of income, as unemployment is not the way I want to stay afloat. I love seeing the excitement from my young students as they express themselves artistically in my private art classes. Art helps provides them with a creative release from the stresses of this extended quarantine.

During this time I had the opportunity to take a workshop to grow in my own Intuitive Expressive art skills. It was fun to let loose try painting with joyful strokes, new techniques letting paint drip down on the canvas, stamp into the paint, paint with my fingers, or spray more water on the canvas to see fluidity and spontaneous changes in the paint process.

This exercise was done in a course of several days, allowing the paint to dry in between otherwise opposite colors of the color wheel turn to mud or grey. It was great to have no idea in mind on what I was painting and let it just flow from pure fun and enjoyment of the medium. At one point though I really thought my piece was hopeless, everything was in a state of chaos and too busy with all kinds of lines and colors everywhere. . . very much like the state of our country - as if it could not get any worse!!!

The instructor encouraged me to go on and that I would like it. Could it turn out into something beautiful? Internally I thought I can not make any sense out of all this. I would need to let it rest and speak to me. Well nothing really spoke to me so I decided to add something that speaks fun to me- a sea turtle. Somehow as I placed this familiar and enjoyable object into the piece covering an area that I clearly did not like, something changed. I added some blue and greens to outline the shape. This helped coax the turtle out of the busy background so I could recognize it better. Then my turtle needed another friend so I added a seahorse went into another area that was too distracting. . . pretty soon these happy memories of underwater diving made my heart sing being under the sea again!

Once in my happy place, I was able to add bits of color and details to bring more attention to these whimsical sea creatures. Applying a light wash to the background also helped in bringing the seahorse and sea turtle forward. My energy and mood changed and soon this was turning into a piece of art that I am quite excited with.

My other painting was done having hinderances broken and taping into that playful creative side!

If you are interested in trying this creative approach, contact me at Michelle@Art-N-You.com.

Creative Juices Still flowing in Seniors!

I am seeing how art is helping Seniors in the Assisted Living and in Memory Care Facility here at Alma Via in Camarillo.  I have also learned it is not the product that is important but the process of enjoying creations and expressing yourself.  Many of the residents have limited dexterity, but enjoy creating pieces that are broken down simply.  This helps them engage their minds and stay focused.  They also enjoy the fellowship creating within a group and the dialogue and exchange of ideas, but don't we all learn and are inspired by others in a community.  Some projects are just for the fun, and other times I like to work with my art therapy training to focus on a theme to help them process emotions.  Especially as we are approach Thanksgiving, it is nice to have something that reminds us of the positive things in life.  It is easy to slip into negativity when your mind is slipping, and the body isn't moving like it did at 40, but to focus on thankfulness brings health to our minds and bodies.  We really have a lot to be Thankful for our friends, family, community, and needs met at a great facility like Alma Via Senior Living Home.

Creative Venture at Elementary School

I have been working at Mesa Union School this year and at the end of the year we put a together an ocean mural designing a variety of sea creatures out of clay and using mosaics to add three dimensions to the work.  The Principal Dr. Bluestein wanted a variety of marine life found in our local Channel Islands so the students could see what treasures are in our backyard. 

This Tri-typh mural has the Ventura Peir incorporated in the school's bulletin board, stretching out to the Channel Islands and a whimsical sailboat.  Beneath the pier is a crab and sea-star on the rocks.  The next scene is in the kelp bed and has an inquisitive moray eel, prowling leopard shark, and our state fish, a Garabaldi peering out of the kelp.  The last scene is a huge breaking wave with a school of fish, a rainbow jellyfish, and a couple of frolicking dolphins.  I am very happy the students pictured below gave of their summer break to complete the final placement of tiles to make this mural pop!

Mesa Union Elementary School is very supportive of the arts and has a kiln room in addition to the fine art program and has a variety of murals around the campus.  In a time where many of the arts are being cut from the program, the Board of Directors support the Arts!  Hooray, this could not have been accomplished without them.  Come see this in person surrounding the play area.  We are planning a continuation of this mural coming soon in January of 2018!

Ventura's Youth Art Show winners in 2016

This art show sponsored by Crowell Weeden & Co. in Ventura gave gift prizes and cash awards to many of my private tutors.  In every elementary group category, my students and parents were pleasantly surprised to see how their children performed on a county level.  Students won cash, art supplies, and a whole lot of confidence!  Not only do they see other art pieces from various students, but going to their first reception is quite an honor.  It was held at the offices of Crowell Weeden in Ventura with a special reception for all participants.

This year's show is held by D. A. Davidson & Co. in Ventura  The deadline is March 7 at 4:00 pm to bring in work.  The address is 60 So. California St., Suite 301, in Ventura above the Lure Restaurant.  If you are interested in entering go to the Art N' You/sign up page and click on the form to download and fill it out.  This year's show goes from March 13 to May 19th.  Good Luck! 

Cultural Art Programs Enriching Lives

Children's Celebration of the Arts has just celebrated their 25th year of bringing art into the classrooms across Ventura City and hosted an art show at The Olivas Adobe. One piece of artwork is selected from each classroom to be represented at the show. To celebrate our 25th year, CAPS made a video of our program. To sign up for this program, teachers are given a brochure and can select from a variety of visual and kinetic art forms taught by professional artists who share their passion with the children. The variety of the classes are not limited to visual arts, but will even show dance, drumming, and harp playing for the students. For $40, all supplies and teaching materials are brought to the classroom and a complete history and art lesson is given to the students. This beneficial program is made possible by a grant endowment from the city of San Buenaventura. To find out more you can go to:

 http://www.cityofventura.net/cs/events/kids/childrens-celebration-arts

Over the last 6 years, I have taught several cultural projects including Mexican Tin Art, or "Jolata", Russian lacquer boxes, African Adrinka placemats, Spanish Crests, and Italian Mosaics. It is such a joy to share my love of art with children. I am hoping on my trip to Israel, to present a cultural art project to bring awareness of how many religions here in Israel are working together - those of the Jewish, Islamic, and Christian faiths.