introducing the citrus and mint academy!

It's that time of year again. I don't know if it's the extra pollen in the air or the creative burnout from completing so many Christmas projects, but every year around February I start to feel creatively frustrated. I have plenty of ideas but zero motivation. I feel stuck, discouraged, and depressed for no specific reason.  It leads me to assess what I am doing and why and if it is still of value to me. What am I missing?

I narrowed it down to three things: I miss teaching, I want to involve my children more in my work (so it doesn't feel like when I'm working that I'm ignoring them--that dang mom guilt), and I want to improve my own art.

All of this thinking culminated in one grand idea--I'm starting an online art school on the blog called the Citrus and Mint Academy! Classes will start out with the basics of art, specifically the elements and principles of art and design, and if that goes well, I'll see what other classes I can do.

I'm hoping that by studying the fundamental elements of art, I will be challenged to think differently and try new things, and I hope that you will as well. This class is for anyone and everyone, babies to grandparents, professional artists to those who "can't draw to save their lives." I will be doing it with my daughter so I encourage you to do it with your kids as well. It's never too early to start learning about art---AND I timed it to start once school is out so you are guaranteed to have at least a 30 minute activity to do each day to stop hearing "I'm so bored" and keep their brains active over the summer. You're welcome.

Here's how it will work.  Art 101: Line and Shape will be from June 1-June 30, excluding the weekends. Each week day I will post mini-lesson with a project here on the blog and on instagram. You can work on it at your leisure and then post your completed work or progress with the tag #cmart101 on instagram or on the Facebook Citrus and Mint Academy group page.

(Find the facebook group HERE. It is a closed group so you will have to request to be added. I did this because it will be the easiest way to share your work and see others' work and comment in a semi-private way for those who are reluctant to show off their AMAZING drawing skills to all their Instagram friends.)

This won't be a traditional class. I am not really acting as the teacher, but as a fellow student...maybe the leader of the study group. :) I am in no way an expert on these subjects. It is my first time learning the actual elements of design too. Therefore in order for it to work, it needs to be interactive. I need your involvement to make it really successful for all of us. Don't be afraid if you "aren't an artist" or "not as good as so and so." My work will not be perfect. It will not even be good at times, which I admit is really scary. But we will all grow together.

I won't be teaching any type of medium in Art 101, but the principles that can be used with anything--paint, crayons, pencil, collage, watercolor, charcoal, tissue paper, sharpie marker, tape, clay, photography, etc.  I encourage you to experiment with several different types. I will post a supply lists in a couple of days...hint, stock up on lots of paper. The exercises and challenges won't have to take a lot of time. Some days you'll delve into it and create a masterpiece, other days you'll get by with just a sketch.  I understand that summer is busy and I don't expect you to participate each day.

Oh, I forgot to mention the most important thing...IT'S FREE!

So who is excited to do this with me? Who will accept this challenge and enroll in Citrus and Mint Art 101? Comment below! Spread the word to your friends who may be interested and ask any questions you have (clarity in writing is not really my strength after having kids).