How Artists See Colors

I was delighted to have our friend & local artist Mary Zeran back again last month. This time she was teaching a mini-camp during the kids’ winter break. It was called, “How Artists See Colors.” It was fantastic!

The hardest part of any project: deciding if its finished.

Warm-up exercises

I’m so impressed with Mary’s approach to teaching. She started off each of the three days with warm-up exercises. Typically, that involved playing world music of all kinds while the students (and their adult companions) free-drew on the paper table covers. On Friday, when the kids were really loosened up, I witnessed drawing with simultaneous dancing, drawing behind the back/under the leg, and by holding a crayon in the teeth or between the toes. It was ear-to-ear grins all around.

The kids spent a portion of each day in the galleries, examining artwork and specifically looking at the artists’ use of colors. I was absolutely impressed with the campers’ powers of observation; even Mary said they were picking up on details she had missed.

Mary points out details in a Mauricio Lasansky piece to a camper

Campers explore the Lasansky galleries with their docent, Dennis

The final products were so impressive! The campers AND their adult compatriots did some beautiful work, and even their palettes were worthy of hanging. Here a few samples:

If you want to see Mary Zeran’s artwork, check out her website: http://maryzeran.com/. You can also see her artwork in our Museum Store, and soon, also in our galleries when our next exhibition opens in February!