Stuck at home? Maybe you need some DIY art therapy!

For some of us, this is a time of unusual solitude, without our usual interactions with people at work, community, and social events. For others, it is a time of intense family presence, with partners and children home from jobs and school. Art making can help us deal with stress and disruption while we all try to get through this pandemic crisis. At the same time, face-to-face classes and workshops are suspended. To help you get through and come out stronger, I am offering two online classes Art to Share and Cheer: Art Cards  and Learn Virtually: Art Journals to Document-Reflect-Imagine. Non-artists are welcome! Complete creative projects on your own, or make it a family art experience.

We’ll explore ways to document and imagine life in this moment:

• Art journals with space to paint, draw and write (handwritten or typed, printed and pasted into the journal.)
• Art cards to send to people who need a lift right now, especially older family members who can’t have visitors.
• Fun techniques to try with watercolor and graphite pencils, pen and ink, and collage. 

The classes will feature:

• Interactive online sessions: I’ll offer instruction in basic drawing and painting techniques, project ideas for your art cards and journals, and time for questions. While you can work on cards and journals and view meeting recordings at your convenience, the live sessions will give us a chance to get acquainted, chat, exchange ideas, and reduce isolation.
• Daily prompts: Once you register, you will receive a welcome email with more information and a starter project. You’ll get an encouraging message and suggestions in a class email list. You’ll also receive handouts with project options you can adapt.
• Exchange and support: Meet class members and view each other’s work in a friendly, non-critical environment. In the art cards class you will be encouraged to send cards to people you know, or care facility residents, who are isolated in these difficult times.
  
• Supplies: If you have art supplies, you can put them to use! However, please make sure you have cards/journal that are mixed media or watercolor paper. I’ve suggested options that are basic, student quality, which will be perfectly adequate for class projects. See lists below. If you are local to Boulder, CO and if stores are open (!), you can find supplies at Two Hands Paperie, Meiningers, or Michaels. Keep in mind delivery times are also slower than usual.

Schedules:

• Learn Virtually: Art Journals to Document-Reflect-Imagine
  Three live sessions Wednesdays 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM; 3 sessions; starting 4/15, 4/22 and 4/29

• Art Cards to Share and Cheer
  Two live sessions on Thursdays at 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM on 4/2 and 4/9 or 4/16 and 4/30

Art to Share and Cheer Supply List

Suggested supplies include:

• Watercolor paints
• Water brush
• Drawing pencils and eraser
• Fine-line pen(s)
• Post cards or note cards, watercolor or mixed media paper (plain postcards from the Post Office will not work.)

You can order supplies from this Dick Blick wishlist, or order them from this Amazon list. Keep in mind delivery times are also slower than usual.

Registration:

• Learn Virtually: Art Journals to Document-Reflect-Imagine
• Art to Share and Cheer

Questions? Contact me at jsalmons[at]vision2lead.com.