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.