Tuesday, August 12, 5:30 - 7:30 pm

Catamount Arts, 115 Eastern Avenue, St. Johnsbury

FREE

Light meal provided

Painting is so much more than portraits and landscapes! In this process-based workshop, participants will have the opportunity to experiment with a variety of paints and methods that can be used in early childhood settings. We’ll dive into watercolor, tempera, paint sticks, and a few non-traditional paint options. We will discuss what is developmentally appropriate while learning about the arts skills in the VELS, National Core Arts Standards and Teaching Strategies Gold. Participants will come away with new knowledge and skills about painting techniques, sentence starters to encourage young artists to talk about their work, talking points to share with parents and colleagues about process-based three dimensional art and ideas for incorporating painting experiences into their curriculum. This workshop is for EVERYONE! No art experience or skill required in this play-based workshop, and seasoned artists may find some new tricks too. 

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will gain knowledge  and practical skills with tempera paint, paint sticks, watercolor paints and other materials. 
• Participants will explore a variety of painting techniques including layering, resists, brushing techniques, use of rollers and texture tools, and sgraffito. 
• Participants will plan for how to apply their new knowledge and skills in their early childhood settings with consideration toward their particular group, setting and personal needs.

Alexandra Turner is a doctoral student and Project RESILIENCY Scholar in the Social Emotional Behavioral Health and Inclusive Education program at University of Vermont, and holds an M.Ed. in Arts in Education and a Bachelor’s in Studio Arts. She has been a teaching artist, PD trainer, and program director for Inclusive Arts Vermont (VSA) for ten years, and prior to that was an Early Childhood Educator for five years. She has studied, practiced, played with, created and sold art in the domains of glass, drawing, painting, digital photo, installation, ceramics, and cake. Alexandra has worked with hundreds of educators and hundreds of students in a variety of art forms and purposes of art, including arts for their own sake, arts for mindfulness, arts integration with core curriculum, art and social emotional learning and inclusive arts practices for people with disabilities. Most importantly, Alexandra is the mother of two amazing young artists, currently 5 and 11 years old.

Tuesday, August 19, 5:30 - 7:30 pm

Catamount Arts Center, 115 Eastern Avenue, St. Johnsbury

FREE 

Light Meal Provide

Using the power of aesthetic and sensory experience we can create opportunities for emotional regulation. This hands-on workshop will give participants the opportunity to experience a variety of arts materials, mindfulness activities and sensory experiences and plenty of time to reflect and discuss. What makes each material unique? How do we feel about it? How does it make us feel? What action is invited from each material? How can we intentionally leverage different materials for different regulation needs? Participants will come away with ideas for using the arts for regulation in their own classrooms, and in their own lives. 

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will explore a variety of arts materials and creative exercises designed to activate connection between mind and body, and reflect on how these experiences affect their emotions. 
• Participants will come away with an introductory knowledge about the ways in which the arts and creativity can be used as a tool for regulation in their own early childhood settings and beyond.

Alexandra Turner is a doctoral student and Project RESILIENCY Scholar in the Social Emotional Behavioral Health and Inclusive Education program at University of Vermont, and holds an M.Ed. in Arts in Education and a Bachelor’s in Studio Arts. She has been a teaching artist, PD trainer, and program director for Inclusive Arts Vermont (VSA) for ten years, and prior to that was an Early Childhood Educator for five years. She has studied, practiced, played with, created and sold art in the domains of glass, drawing, painting, digital photo, installation, ceramics, and cake. Alexandra has worked with hundreds of educators and hundreds of students in a variety of art forms and purposes of art, including arts for their own sake, arts for mindfulness, arts integration with core curriculum, art and social emotional learning and inclusive arts practices for people with disabilities. Most importantly, Alexandra is the mother of two amazing young artists, currently 5 and 11 years old.