We've finally found a way to share ART lessons with the masses!  Check back here often for the art lesson of the month, photos of seniors enjoying their classes, and links to other websites that have great class & project ideas for the seniors in your life!  Art, and the therapy it provides, uses the process of creating art to improve and enhance the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of individuals of all ages.  It's based on the belief that the creative process involved in artistic self-expression helps people to resolve conflicts and problems, develop interpersonal skills, manage behavior, reduce stress, increase self-esteem & self-awareness, and achieve insight.

Artsy Smartsy, LLC is dedicated to the belief that the creative process involved in art is healing and life enhancing.  Our goal is to serve our clients by providing standards of professionalism while developing and promoting knowledge in the field of art.  We want this section to be interactive for your artsy smartsy hands-on enjoyment!  If you have photos of your version of our art project, or even have an art project you would like to share with us, Click Here To Submit Them To Our Webmaster

Tina Ottmar, owner of Artsy Smartsy, has been teaching art classes in her spare time in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area for over a year now, enhancing the lives of our senior students by having fun with art!  Tina's background is as a Residential Designer in Minneapolis.  She received her Master's Degree in Architecture from ASU in 2000 and worked in the Architectural field for over 15 years.  Along with owning Artsy Smartsy, Tina also owns a design firm, T2 Design, LLC and is also an artist who has shown her art works in galleries in Door County, local art fairs, and local coffee shops.

Tina currently teaches Art classes at Independent and Assisted Living locations across the Twin Cities, such as Presbyterian Homes, Sunrise, Ecumen, Augustana, Rosepointe, Chandler Place, Jones-Harrison, and so many more! 

If you're interested in monthly classes, private classes, or having an arty event, please contact Tina at Tina@ArtsySmartsyClass.com

Please mention this ad for $25 off your first class!!  To see photos of her monthly art classes, Click Here.

Watercolor painting galore!  We will be using 11x11 heavy water color paper and many types of watercolor medium-watercolor pencils, Windsor Newton liquid watercolors, as well as watercolor paddies.  We will talk a little bit about the differences between the use of watercolor vs. acrylic and oil, and will proceed to paint our own versions of a flower filled landscape.  Finally, we will mount it to a 12 x 12 colorful paper frame!  This one is a favorite so far!

Materials needed:

1. 11 x 11 Watercolor paper, heavy-weight
2. Cardboard scrap over 14 x14
3. Masking tape
4. Windsor Newton liquid watercolor or similar
5. Crayola Watercolor pads or similar
6. Watercolor pencils
7. Bowls of water
8. Dropper
9. Q-tip

How to do it:

1. Start with a piece of 11 x 11 watercolor paper attached with tape at all edges (1/4 inch) to the cardboard.  This will attach the paper, keep it flat while drying the paper and it will create a 1/4 inch border around the edge of the paper.

2. Start by dropping water along the entire paper, use your hands to spread the water across the paper.  Keep some areas dry this will allow the white of the paper to remain.

3. Drop liquid watercolor over the entire top half of the page in reds, yellows, or blue tones.  This will be the sky/sunset area.  Add a second and third area over the top  and tap the cardboard on the table to allow the colors to run together and partially mix.  You can do as much or as little mixing in this way as you would like!

4. Use a Q-tip and a small green watercolor pad.  Cover the Q-tip in heavy green and draw a straight line up half the page for the grass.  Make some lines taller and some shorter for variation.  These taller lines will be the stems of flowers.  A second layer of blue will go over the top to create depth. 

5. Now choose a color of watercolor pencil.  Create small circles in bunches across the bottom of the grassy area to depict hydrangea flowers.  Switch colors to make a variation of color.

6. Use white acrylic paint to add details in the sky or small white highlights in the flowers as necessary.
 

Crafter's Calendar:

November 5, 2010:  Crafts For Causes Art Fair at Edina Park Plaza Senior Center, 11:00 am to 6:00 pm.  All crafts are made by local artists.  Featuring many types of projects including Custom Family Tree paintings, custom greeting card sets, sculptures, wheelchair bags, jewelry, dish towels, scarves, fabric books, cigar box purses, and so much more! 
 

We Want To Know About It!
 
To have your craft sale, church bazaar, crafting seminars, flea market, etc. posted on Crafter's Calendar, please email us the details! 

Please include date, location, time, type of sale/seminar,
and short description!