We’re All Artists Now

Moderators: Ruthie Kosiorek and Martha Brouwer
Time: Mondays, 1:30-3:30 pm
Place: Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 525 South Pleasant Street, Amherst [Note: no seminar April 18] Parking: Ample parking on site

Participants will develop and strengthen the natural curiosity, flexibility, independence and playfulness they had as a child. They will push their creative boundaries by trying new methods and media.

Our best selves are only one doodle away!  Many books suggest that doing something creative has the same benefits as a weekend at Canyon Ranch, boosting self-esteem and reducing stress.

This will not be a lecture-­driven seminar. We want everyone to relax and have some fun and we will emphasize the joy of creating rather than the achievement of results.

Together we will examine the allure of “I made this!”  Using various techniques such as stenciling, rubbing, stamping, and contour drawing, the participants will unlock their creative spirit. We will work with a variety of different media, colors, and tools. No previous art experience is necessary.

Format: Workshop

Role of participants: Each person will actively participate in that day’s project. The object is not to produce a masterpiece but to enjoy the process of creating.

Learn how to tap into the natural spontaneity and energy you enjoyed as a child. Don’t let the materials intimidate you – we will make experimenting fun!

Number of participants (including the moderators): 11

Resources: Most materials will be provided by the moderators.

The Moderators: Ruthie was an art teacher in the Chicopee Public Schools, and is a docent at the MHC Art Museum.  Still active in the local art scene, she exhibits at area juried shows and has won several awards. Martha Brouwer’s graphic design career included being the art director of four magazines. Over the past 15 years she has devoted herself to painting. Her work can be seen in commercial galleries in Seattle where she lived until last year.