Art Study Opportunity for Youth
Art Study Opportunity for Youth
Watercolor study with artist Michele Steffen
Cheri Buzzeo: theater, music, The Barn Theatre administration, Willmar Main St participant; Jessica Welu: writing, music, SW Regional Development Commission; Anna Johannsen: fiber artist, art teacher, Remick Gallery board, president of Windom Women's Investment group, treasurer of Cottonwood County Animal Rescue, officer of Cotton Quilters; Georgette Jones: literature teacher, theatre actor/director/teacher; David KelseyBassett: visual artist, musician, Hinterland Art Crawl board; Shawn Kinsinger: theater director, actor, musician, Palace Theatre executive director, Green Earth Players vice president, Luverne Street Music board member, Luverne High School Theater artistic director; Darlene Kotelnicki: theater, city council, library board. Kristen Kuipers: musician, private lesson and K-12 classroom music instructor, theater, writing, volunteer with Jackson Center for the Arts; Cheryl Avenel Navara: education, Worthington Public Arts Commission chair, SW MN Opportunity Council volunteer; Alison Nelson: art, music, and dance teacher, KMS Community Ed director, Kerkhoven Fire Department Auxiliary fundraiser; Anne O'Keefe-Jackson: human resources director, bead and quill work; Betsy Pardick: musician, actor, Dept. of Public Transformation committees; Michele Knife Sterner: theater (actor), SMSU Associate director for Access Opportunity Success program; Louella Voigt: music, fiber art; Blue Mound Area Theatre board; Erica Volkir: performing arts, Pipestone Performing Arts Center board, Pipestone Area Chamber of Commerce and CVB director; Janine Teske: music, theater, Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley school board; Mark Wilmes: Lake Benton Opera House board president, actor/director, musician, reporter;
Cheryl Avenel-Navara, arts admin, SMAC Board; Morgan Baum, visual art, arts admin; Mary Kay Frisvold, music, theater; Maureen Keimig, theater; David KelseyBassett, music, visual art, SMAC Board; Janet Olney, visual art, arts admin; Zachary Ploeger, music.
ACHF Arts Education
For this experience, I expect to learn the basics of watercolor artistry and how to use and develop my abilities as it pertains to painting animals and realistic backgrounds. I know there are specific techniques (wet on wet and wet on dry) used in watercolor painting and this will also be new to me. If awarded the grant, this experience will help me to build on my current strengths and help identify and improve weaknesses I have as an art student. One of the specific changes I am hoping for is to make things look realistic and like you could reach out and touch it. I also want to explore new techniques and experiment more with my abilities. For measurement of my improved watercolor painting abilities, I hope to complete two paintings. The first one being more of a simplistic version of an animal and background while practicing the techniques of watercolor paint. After my initial project is completed, I would move on to a more complex and bigger painting. To measure improvement of my abilities related to my art work, I would receive feedback from the professional artist from whom I am receiving the lessons from.
I learned proper use of materials, including brush selection, lifting, towels, salt, masking, special effect and scratching tools, etc. I started each painting with planning, layout and pre-drawing. I also learned how to achieve textural effects. Michele taught me how to avoid pitfalls such as staining color permanence and unexpected bloom and rushed or incomplete drawing and planning phase. I grew as an artist with the concept of perfection -- it is hard to be "perfect" with watercolor painting. Patience related to my creation and trusting the process is another area of growth for me as an artist. I completed 2 major watercolor paintings and approximately 7 smaller paintings. I was able to receive immediate feedback during each of my painting sessions and felt much support of my learning throughout the entire experience.