So Many Painting Parties!!!

Hello, hello!! 

I don't know about you but I've had a busy, and way too short, summer! The kids and I are gearing up for school starting next week but life surely won't be slowing down one bit. 

I will be starting ART classes the week after Labor Day. 

I'll be offering classes for two age groups; Littles (ages 5-10) and Bigs (ages 11 and older. ADULTS WELCOME) $5 per session. Each class lasts roughly an hour.

Tuesdays - Littles @ 4:00

Wednesdays - Littles @ 1:00 and Bigs @ 4:00

Interested but these times just don't work for you? Contact me to see what we can work out. Questions? Message me or by cell 620-846-0723.

ALSO.....LOTS of Painting Parties are scheduled from now until December!! You can RSVP by following events on The Roving Brush's Facebook page or contact me numerous other ways. All Painting Parties will be at The Austhouse in Louisburg each month on the First Saturday at 10:00 and the Third Thursday at 6:00.

Here are all the paintings (in no particular order) that we will be painting!!! 

Have questions? Need more details? Follow The Roving Brush on Facebook or email me at eslingerheather@yahoo.com or text/call 620-846-0723. 

Summer Art Classes!

Summer is almost here and what are you and your kids planning on doing all summer? Not into sports? Not able to spend lots on camps? How about try summer art classes right here in Louisburg? 

Summer ART Classes

Kids Art Classes  -  Ages 5-10. We will be meeting once a week on Wednesdays for 6 weeks beginning June 22 to July 27 at my home. Class will run from 1:00 –2:00. We will be working on some projects that may take more than one session to complete but will be similar to the art classes that we’ve had since January.  $5 per week per child.

Tween Classes  -  Ages 10 and older. We will be meeting once a week on Wednesdays for 6 weeks beginning June 22—July 27. Classes will run from 3:00—4:00. We will plan on meeting at the Old High School depending on the number of students enrolled. These classes will be focusing on drawing from life but with the opportunity for creative expression. Students will focus on one or two large drawing projects during this time.  $10 per week per child.

Paper Mache Camp  -  Ages 8—adults. August 1, 2, 3 and 4.  This will  be a 3 day/2 hour per day art camp (meeting at my home) that focuses on the process and completion of one paper mache sculpture. Day one will be spend introducing the kids to the basics of building an armature from common household items. Day 2 and 3 will be spent finishing the armature and applying the paper mache. Day 4 (hopefully) will be spent painting the sculpture. A Day 5 will be added if needed to finish projects.  Price for the 4 day camp is  $55 per person. ($5 discount for every additional family member.) Space is limited. Students must sign up by July 25th. 

To sign up for classes, contact Heather

by email; eslingerheather@yahoo.com

or call/text at 620-846-0723

SPRING!!!!

Spring is finally here!! Never mind that the weather man is calling for below freezing temps tomorrow. The bees buzzing and the robins flittering proves it is spring! Time for flowers and growing things! There are numerous opportunities to create your own bit of spring with any of these paintings and more! Follow me on Facebook to keep up with all upcoming events. Don't delay, space is limited! 

Featured Painting - December

Ho Ho Ho!!! 

Merry Christmas!! 

December is here! The tree is trimmed, the stockings are hung and the gifts are wrapped!! Just kidding about the gifts part...I'm WAAAAAYY behind!! 

Speaking of gifts....wouldn't this Santa make a wonderful gift for the Christmas lover in your life? I do believe this is by far my most popular painting! One of my students has gone so far to paint at least six of these guys all on her own! And who can blame her? Those cheeks...that hat!!! 

I'll be painting this guy on Saturday evening and everyone is invited. Plus I'm giving you the gift of a reduced price...only $25. Space is limited so if you are interested contact me ASAP to reserve your spot! 

Featured Paintings - September

Fall is almost among us folks!! It is by far my favorite time of year. 

                                      

My family and I lived in SW Kansas for the last five years before moving to the Kansas City area. If you don't know, the SW part of the state has suffered a severe drought that whole time and longer. For this Hoosier Gal born and raised in northern Indiana woods that was a tough time....especially during the fall.  Because there wasn't one. There wasn't a fall with the changing of colors or that cool autumn air down near Dodge City. Just brown.

 But kuddos to my mom for Mother of The Year award because every September/October she sent me a box of leaves. Yes!! LEAVES!! She'd seal them in plastic and fill a box with them. When they arrived in the mail they were still moist and still smelled of home. I'd bury my face in them right away. Then I'd pour them in a basket that sat in my living room and every chance I got I'd smell my leaves. I cried every time. Unless you grew up jumping in piles of leaves no one understands the intoxication of wet maple leaves. 

So YES!! Fall is my favorite time of year! That's probably why Orange is my favorite color. I'm always looking for new fall paintings to try out. I like pumpkins and scarecrows of course but my favorite fall paintings are those with leaves. So I thought I'd share my favorites with you today! 

No Limits!!

 Many of the artists who paint with me are older and some complain of problems with their fine motor skills. I get a sense from many of these artists that their lack of brush control, be it because of age or an existing physical condition, creates a feeling of inferiority in them and their artwork. They don't feel good enough. I try to emphasize that art doesn't have to be neat and pretty. That's not necessarily the point of creating. I believe that the process of creating is more important than the product. Our limitations should never limit us, rather we should embrace them. 

Let me introduce you to Chuck Close. 

Chuck Close is an Amerian artist best known for his large, photorealistic portraits created in the 1970's and 80's. He draws a grid on his canvas, works from photographs and works methodically one square at a time. 

In 1988 he suffered from a spinal artery collapse that left him severely paralyzed from the neck down. He was able to regain limited movements in his limbs. Yet he never stopped painting. Chuck continues to paint large portraits with the same grid technique. 

He's now confined to a wheelchair and has to paint with a brush strapped to his wrist. But he still paints, beautifully I might add. Obviously Chuck isn't able to create with the hyper realism as before. Rather he embraced his limitations and paints in a looser style, mostly a series of concentric circles within each cell of his grid. 

Artists, you have no limits! 

There is nothing that can stop you from creating something beautiful. Of course our paintings won't look the same even when two people are given the very same instruction. Embrace your differences, whatever they may be, and use them. Remember, your greatest resource isn't your hands or eyes but that wonderful brain in that thick skull of yours. (I believe my skull is thicker than average.)

Get out there and create. NO LIMITS!!!

Featured Painting - April

Even though I woke to frost outside this morning, spring is definitely here! Grass I growing and the trees are greening up. Earth Day is April 22 so I am featuring this painting. Hosts/Hostesses who schedule this painting for the month of April will receive a discount.