Week 5 at RSI

This week there was not too much of interest to report on. I worked on some projects started last week with a few clients in my first few days. On Thursday, I taught a lesson to the advanced art class again that went VERY well. I decided to teach the class how to create a beach landscape using oil pastels. We created an ocean surrounded by a sandy white beach.  I gave each artist the freedom to create their shoreline in any shape they want. When I showed them how to shade the water and color the shore, I prompted the group with the question: What kind of things do you see at the beach? This question allowed the group members to use their own imagination and creativity to make their landscape their own. Some artists put palm trees on their beach. Others drew beach towels, tiki bars, boats, surfers, fishermen, and sharks in their landscape. Each piece went from a standard landscape, to an exciting and colorful scene. When I prompt the class to add their own details to their landscape, each piece takes on the artist's personality. This exercise allowed the group members to let loose and have a little fun with their art. The group spend time laughing and talking about what they see at the beach and showing each other how they drew different items. I look forward to doing more projects like this with the advanced class for the remainder of my internship!

Making strides with clients: Week 4

*names have been changed for client confidentiality

This week was particularly rewarding at my internship. I had many great experiences with different clients, so I ended my week feeling accomplished. Earlier this week, I worked with a client, Laura*, on a painting she had started the week before. Laura normally likes to paint the same type of picture every time. And when Laura decides a painting is done, it's done (even if half the paper is blank). My supervisor described her a very strong-willed. She said that she likes to challenge Laura so she can learn how to take advice for others. During art class, we try to continue to life skills that are taught by the job coaches and teachers in employment and dayhab. Laura had decided that her painting was done, before she had painted in all of the background. My supervisor said this would be the perfect opportunity to try to get Laura to step out of her comfort zone. I asked Laura if she would consider painting the background because it would make her painting even better than it already is. At first Laura challenged me, saying that she did not want to do that. I told her that it would make her piece very strong if it had a background. I told her I believed she had the abilities to make her painting even better because she is a great artist. Laura agreed to finish her piece, but she did it quickly because she was determined to start a new piece. My supervisor and I thought this was a big step in Laura's development because it showed she was willing to be more flexible.

Today at my internship, I worked with the advanced class. The day before during an employment class, I had done a doodle of a flower in a vase on the table. My supervisors saw it and thought the technique I used would be great to teach to the advanced class. When they approached me about teaching this technique to one of the girls, I suggested teaching the whole class the technique. Everybody but one student was interesting in learning the technique. I walked the class step-by-step through the process of drawing the flower. I loved watching each student translate my directions into their own individual style. Each flower had it's own personality and the class seemed to enjoy learning a new way to draw. When I finished giving instructions, some students added a background and others did a second drawing without my instructions. This was my first time leading a class in a new technique so I was very proud of myself for stepping out of my comfort zone to take more responsibility in the classroom.

Riverside Arts: Week 3

*names have been changed for client confidentiality

This week I was able to work with some of my clients that I have been focusing on, but I was also able to talk to other clients about working closer with them next week. One of the artists I've been working with for the past couple weeks is *Stacy. The first time I worked with Stacy I gave her watercolor paints. Stacy filled the entire paper with color in a matter of minutes. The paper became so wet that it started to deteriorate. I realized that watercolor may not be the medium for Stacy. I asked my supervisor if I could use a canvas and acrylic paint with Stacy. (Canvases are normally reserved for the advanced class). I got the okay and the canvas worked out SO much better. Stacy was able to blend the acrylic colors and her brushwork left amazing patterns in the paint. She still needs some guidance of when to switch colors or  some direction about placement of colors. But this past week I noticed great progress in Stacy's confidence when it comes to making art.

Another client I continued to work with is *Eric. Eric is the client who does "Face2Face" portraits. Together, we created our own Face2Face piece. Eric chose the topic of the elements, so this week we began our painting.

The Elements Face: Portrait in Progress

I've noticed that Eric has some trouble when it comes to boundaries. I've talked to my supervisor about this, and she said that his job coaches have been working on boundaries with him for a while now. She said his boundaries used to be worse and he's made great improvement. But sometimes I feel a little uncomfortable around him. He often says that my parents "adopted him" and refers to me as "sis". I feel like this is crossing a professional boundary. I've decided that I might have to talk to my supervisor to find a way to talk to Eric about boundaries and once I finish this painting I will try to work with other clients to create a little distance.

Everything else has been fantastic at Riverside Arts. This week we hung a show at the Northampton YMCA. This was a great chance to see Riverside Arts's involvement in the community and a chance to talk to my supervisor. I was able to bond with my supervisor by hearing how she got the idea for an art program at Riverside and learned about her early career as a potter. I feel like this time was a great way to create a strong professional relationship with my supervisor because now I can understand her passion for the program and the artists involved.

Part of the Riverside Arts show at the Northampton YMCA

Until next week. Cheers!