We've Got Connections

How do you spend your summer evenings? Probably with your friends and family, right? Yeah, us too. Last week, I hosted the very first Staff Wine Your Art Out Party - it seemed like the right way to get us all together doing something we all love. And let's face it, we art teachers and artsy-fartsys don't always prioritize of our own creative time very well.

It gave us all a way to become the student again, to throw caution to the wind, and just let things flow and go -  together.  And a special treat for me, I also got to meet husbands, roommates, or boyfriends for the first time - very meaningful!

That's Shannon (with the curly hair), Art Educator, who brought her husband. And believe it or not, it was their first trip out of the house together without their young son! 

Who's not pictured here is Sam, our Social Media Coordinator Intern, and that's her roomie to the left. Sam's the one holding the camera!

Here is Dana & Amy, Art Educator, and their (very artistic) boyfriends!

Here's Lindsay, Arts Administrator, with her "Bistro Bestie."

Jennifer, Art Educator, got to bring her Mom for the first time.

This camaraderie, friendship, and community of support is exactly what I strive to bring into Art With Anna's doors every single class with every single student. I think we grow on you. (I hope, anyway.)

As I thought of the importance of connection, I looked around the studio and realized it was starring right back at me. All these kiddos eating their lunch at Summer Art Camp each had their own connection and story.

Here is hilarious Slane and sweet Rachel - their Mom is a past art teacher, how special to be able to teach another art teachers' kiddos!

Kyra & Kayla attend after school art classes, Summer Art Camp, and their Mama comes to paint and play at Wine Your Art Out! She'd want me to mention, of course, her art is displayed proudly on our studio wall. <3

Two of the three girlies have had their Birthday party at Art With Anna. And the third? She's been to both.

Scarlett and Sasha have been Art With Anna-ing from the beginning, as soon as they could paint, they were doing so. Both have had Art Birthday parties at Art With Anna (when it was Children's Art Studio AND Creative Art Studio), been to NUMEROUS Summer Camps, Kids' Night Out, etc.

Sasha was even featured on Good Day Columbus teaching the anchors art with me.

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So from our clan to yours, YOU ROCK. We love your connection, our connection, and the connections we make every time we make art with you!

Here's to You, Dad.

What better way to celebrate Father's Day than by bringing the baseball diamond right to our studio? Yesterday at Saturday Studio Art, yes, we painted baseballs with spackling for texture, but really, there's way more to it.

As I whole-heartedly believe, art truly bonds. It creates bonds from generation to generation and doesn't discriminate between age, gender, or even ability. Art isn't just a noun, it's an action verb - something we DO.

And, art DOES. It allows a room full of strangers to become immediate friends, adults become kids while kids impress those adults in more ways you can imagine. Art makes someone timid, confident. Art becomes a Dad's favorite Father's Day gift. Art becomes a beautiful memory.

Art becomes what I am thankful for every single day.

And one thing I've learned about being thankful is that it means to be mindful. Who do I have to thank for instilling in me this mindfulness? You got it, my Pops. 

Father's Day gives us a moment to be mindful of those men who raise us even through adulthood. My Dad continues to teach me the necessity of being mindful; having meaningful relationships, faith in God, and creating quiet time for yourself to allow the mind to slow down.

So, here's to art. Here's to dads.

And here's to you, Dad. I'm still listening and learning, keep it coming.

 

We Did Art For Daniel

At this week's Saturday Studio Art we created a collage for our friend and fellow artist, Daniel, age 11, who is battling Sarcoma, a rare form of cancer. Our collage is made up of variety of hearts painted by each of our artists.

We all came together to write messages on the hearts we designed and painted to create a collaborative canvas filled with hearts to lift Daniel's spirits and and inspire him to keep strong. The encouraging words the artists wrote in each heart were straight from their own.

During this event, 100% of all registrations and donations went straight to the Vokhgelt family. Artists raised $174 in just one short class and we're working hard to finish Daniel's masterpiece in the coming weeks. Like Art With Anna on Facebook and Instagram to see an updated finished picture of his heartfelt collaborative collage.

To learn more about how you can help Daniel and his family, visit www.gofundme.com/9090kw.

Wine Your Art Out: Pops of Purple

What better way to bring in summer than to paint bright, bold, beautiful flowers? At this week's Wine your Art Out we painted colorful flowers to show our summer excitement. 

We learned to paint a different type of flower that involved filling in the circular spaces with geometric petals to give our flowers a more modern look. Each artist chose their background color as well as the size and shape - making each painting unique, my FAVORITE part of all.

What you may not know about Wine Your Art Out is that most of these artists haven't painted in years - I mean, like, 20 years. Every single Art With Anna Art Educator makes it easy to get back into the groove of art-making by creating a relaxed, comfortable atmosphere with plenty of guidance and step-by-step instruction. And it's fun, too.

Maybe you're already an avid painter. You're welcome and loved here too as these classes are a fun and entertaining way to go out with your friends and create an evening of memories.

Our public Wine Your Art Out events are scheduled the 1st and 3rd Friday of every month - so come play! Claim your easel here.


Voila!

  

Wine Your Art Out: We Learned the Art of Screen Printing

Have you ever been out shopping, seen a creative tote or tee and thought, "I wonder how they made that?" Well, last Friday at Wine Your Art, we tackled the question and taught artists just that -- we made our very own screen printed bags.

 

Not only was the process not extremely difficult, it was actually pretty fun. Each artist came with a design in mind, many pre-printed, ready to bring it to life. Their designs ranged from chandeliers to animals and each idea worked tremendously well. 

I'm already flaunting my completed Art With Anna tote (I tried a tee, too!) and man -- it's perfect for the pool, quick grocery run and of course tokeing around art supplies. 😊 

Be sure to check our website for updates on when the next Wine Your Art Out: Screen Printing is planned! www.artwithanna.com/wine-your-art-out