Rainy Monday

It is a rainy day in Johnstown but the weather did not subdue the exuberant mood of our class. Welcome hugs greet all of us to our second day of the residency. It is as if we can shed our troubles at the door and for three hours enjoy a day of laughter, art lessons and companionship. We are a family for those hours and like any family banter back and forth and make friends.

Today the main point was to go over the basics of color, composition and design. I spent time at the board confirming basic knowledge about Primary Colors, Secondary and Complimentary Colors. We also worked a little on our writing by composing our own simple Cinquain Poems! Some simple watercolor techniques using wet and dry brush were facilitated. Students learned how to mix colors on paper and palette. Our goal is the process of creating our own works as well as a final result of putting together a group book.

Next week, students will work on their own designs and I will teach them the use of kosher salt and saran wrap as effects in watercolor. It was a good day and I hope to continue in this vein to help build confidence in the artistic abilities of my group.

Arts For Healing

I am thrilled to start another residency at The John P. Murtha Center Neurological and Pain Center. Today is September 21, 2009 and I will be teaching a watercolor and writing workshop for the next 9 Mondays. In our first meeting today, I met an intriguing blend of adults with various illnesses. Most at least suffer from chronic pain and yet find the fortitude and need to attend the Arts for Healing workshops offered by the center.

Our class will consist of over 20 participants with one of the group goals to create a "book" with paintings and writings with each participant having one page for their individual work. It will be one of my jobs to put the book together....BIG learning curve for me and I am excited at the prospect!

Today, I bought two different colored baskets so everyone could write a FEAR or DREAM....I was thrilled to find the DREAM basket full and only four in the FEAR basket. Here is what I found in the DREAM basket.

To provide for my wife the way she deserves (by being the voice of the Pirates)

To be healthy enough to take care of my grandson starting in November

To be successful enough to be able to focus on helping others

A home built of the pines and rocks on my land, my trailer home is not in great shape and much repair is needed. I dream that one day that I could build a home there.

I want to own a house in Cape Cod. I hope my children grow healthy and strong and come to visit me and my husband there. I want to work.

Better food choices and portion control

I would like to marry Bono in Washington as my nephew worked there some day

Mealtime always comes

My physical and mental pain will go away

Relive last 30 years

Learn all of the arts, it is also fun what you do good or bad

I have a dream to do some thing or make some one happy or help them every day

I would like to write novels successfully

A job I love that will help others

Becoming a writer

Write my parents life story

Happiness

Fly a helicopter

If I win the lottery, I'll give at least a portion of it to our church...to have our own independence and to get a car