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ideans for creative projects, painting classes, Painting projects, two Cents Tuesday painting, what to do for winter boredom, what to do when bored
Long ago, before my life in Latin America, the Greenville (Mississippi) Arts Counsel sponsored watercolor workshops in the abandoned EE Bass School building each summer. Although there were classes for children as well as adults, my favorite students were the older ones.

Quite meticulous with any task he embraces, Hank quickly mastered this sand dollar study.
Several new students professed, “I’ve never drawn or painted in my life, but I’d like to try!”
One of my favorite students that summer was a retired doctor. A childhood friend of my mother’s, he hobbled up those stairs and down that empty hall to the classroom each week. With one set of eyeglasses dangling from his neck, another balanced on the bridge of his nose, and a monocle eyepiece perched on his head, he embraced his lessons with passion and enthusiasm each week.

Doc often exclaimed, “But it doesn’t look like yours!”
With a sensitivity I countered, “It shouldn’t!”
Other students confessed, “I painted long ago, but I got busy with work and raising a family. Now that my children are grown, I’d like to start painting again.” I watched one particular student swan dive back into her paintings, and it was a joy to witness her renaissance.
“I feel guilty taking your money,” I told her one week. “You don’t need my guidance…”
“Oh, but I do!” she exclaimed, “I need this class for the discipline; otherwise I would not take time to paint.”
Those students taught me many valuable lessons, and wherever I go, I try to coax others into their own unique renaissance.

Barb y Donna – Republic of Panama
It takes courage to step into a class of strangers and attempt to create art in a group setting. It takes courage to attempt that with a private teacher! Our insecurities emerge, and we fear that our work won’t measure up to our neighbor’s or that we work too slow or too fast, and we psyche ourselves out of taking that first step.

Cultural and Artistic Exchange – Museo Cancebi – Manta Ecuador
Stepping into a class immerses you into the world of art, and you might be surprised to find it’s not as difficult as you feared! There will be days when outside issues cloud your ability to focus, and your art might suffer – or it might be the perfect tool to release grief or frustrations – or joy!

Dressed for the opening inauguration for the exhibition, this lovely student quickly plunged into her own world of art!
If classes are not available, or the fees seem too steep for your after-the-holidays budget, organize a painting group and learn together! (Remember to focus on art and not conversation.)
“This is not a tea party,” I sometimes warned chatty young girls in some of my classes. They snickered and returned to their work!

There’s a time to chatter and a time to paint! The combination doesn’t mix well!
Two Cents Tuesday Challenge prompted this post with the question, “What does painting represent for you?… We would love to see your vision.” –
I pondered my choices and hope that this prompts some of you UNpainters to uncover a talent that’s been patiently awaiting discovery!

Don’t have a space to paint? Sure you do! A few chairs worked for this project!
Thanks for this inspiring piece. It makes me want to take an art class!
hey! thanks for your quick response! i hope that you embrace the challenge!!!
love to do one of your “classes” sometime when you are in our area. ❤
that will be fun- we’ll shoot for a surprise ‘i can do this’ session for anyone who stops for coffee — and we put a paint brush in their hand!
You certainly hit on all the unfounded fears encountered when taking up art (or going back to it). Too slow, too fast, not accurate enough, not as good as Susie who is working next to you. It all boils down to just being yourself because after all, nobody can create your art except you!
sigh; you;re right. susie does everything well, doesn’t she?
thanks for your great feedback… the connection is just now letting me see the published post, and there you are with sweet kindred spirits!
oh yes, the wide range of excuses that I’ve come with now make me laugh at myself. I’ll be posting this Thursday since I have taken time out for my painting. 🙂
you produced a volume of work and earned a break! i’m not worried about you letting your talents atrophy!
I can’t draw a stick man…but you are wickedly encouraging.
ha! when a streak of boredom hits, consider upgrading from stick man to a tree!
Your enthusiasm is contagious! I have never really thought about taking an art class, but now I feel compelled to find one and give it a shot. 🙂
I should take a class of these days! Wished I lived a little closer to you!
Hugs from Cuenca,
Kathy
your work is always happy and strong, though classes also help with connecting with other like=minded people….
Love this post! It is on my list to someday dive into some art classes!
you’ll be like my former ‘student’ who really didn’t need my help.. just the discipline of the time she spent immersed in her art!
I just bought my first “how to draw book”! I thought it would be a good place to start. Do you know if they sell books at all or have any online resources for doing your kind of mole painting? (I think that is what it is called). I would LOVE LOVE to try it even if I’m not good I just want to try. I need to let my creative juices flow and have always wanted to try paining. i really like abstract and patterns and love your work so incredibly much!
yippee!! i’m so proud of you! a great book is ‘drawing on the right side of the brain’ by betty edwards. ‘drawing on the aritst within’ is a second one of hers. when you are ready to paint, let me know, and i’ll walk you through a mola design!
Wonderful! I will have to check these two books out! I only did one page so far. It was hard but relaxing too! My goal is to do a page a day. I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to learn how to do a mola design!!!!!! 🙂
i’ll try to work out a plan!!!! i have to stop long enough to do that, however! meeting a tour group in three hours and will be with them til wed night. z
Do you always work with tour groups? Must be so fun. I’d love to visit Ecuador someday and hope I do so! 🙂
I’m taking art classes and I don’t regret it at all!! We learn, we chat, we paint, we draw and we share our love for art! So it is fantastic!! I really recommend it!
that’s so great that you have a painting group to encourage and inspire one another! thanks so much for your testimonial!!! z
We should get together some time……….what a hoot!!!
you are so right! one of these days our paths will cross, and i predict amazing synergy! z
This is a fabulous post that I hope will encourage people to pick up a brush (or even a pencil) and start creating! Thank you so much for your entry.
thanks so much! i’ll be hopping over there the next time i’m in town to see what others are posting!
I loved my painting lessons as a child.Couldn’t get enough of them! It’s not what I want to do right now, but, if, by chance, a painting group appeared on my doorstep, I would be more than happy to join in for the duration of the visit 😉
you’re so right – one should participate when it feels right. with your happy spirit, i would think you’d soar when reunited with the paints!
Indeed! Lisa, how do I contact you via email? Is there a contact reference on your WP site?
tzeebra at yahoo.com
Thank You 🙂
Z, your lessons apply to much more than art. You can go back and insert any other craft or anything you need to practice with and your prose will be meaningful. Thanks for sharing, BTG
you are so right! there are so many things we can learn if we take that first step!
Great message, amiga. 😉
thank you! z
Discipline…ahh…yes! That’s what I need. Thanks for such an inspiring post. I have a neighbor who is very artistic. We thought we would start a class once a week at my house. She is too poor to buy brushes, paper, and material, so I said we could share. Well, we interviewed two art teachers for our class. One was very expensive..he wanted 200c per class ( a little under $10) from each person. No way. My neighbor is lucky if she makes 200c in week. The other artist never had any experience teaching and was intimidating. So, we abandoned our thoughts of discipline. Maybe we should just get together and learn from each other. It’s all about discipline and time.
i wish i were nearby; it would be a joy to fall out of the sky and have a two or three-day workshop for pennies… i’ll put that entree on the back burner and see if i can come up with an online crash course for you and your group!
Love this post Z, you’ve carried that wonderful coaxing spirit to Ecuador as is evident by so many of your past posts and beautiful people you’ve touched.
you would do the same if you were in my shoes.. no doubt! it also helps bridge communication and culture barriers. z
I agree with your student Lisa, a class gives the necessary nudge into discipline I once went to folk art classes and looked forward to it each week, but I could not get into the habit of regular painting on my own. Then the classes ended and one of the students invited us round to her garage to just get together and paint. That was fun too. Then I started travelling and the painting came to a halt. But recently you inspired me back into drawing and I love seeing all your inspirational post and works of art.
Any joy with the internet connections yet?
I am so jealous right now 😦
I should find me an art class, soon.
Very inspiring post, thank you for sharing it with us 🙂
if you can’t find an art class, get together with a few good friends and do a group painting! if you decide to do the latter, let me know if you need inspiration or advice on how to start!
z
I think I’ll go with the later during summer vacation, I will be asking for advice 🙂
that will be fun! z