Session 2

On Monday, March 10th, we were fortunate to have a second session with some of the previous participants. To continue on the same track and explore more drawing, we continued with markers and paper.

I brought some inspirational art as print-outs (thanks Holly) and set them around the table. We then began a free-form "draw what you want" half-hour session, where each participant chose how to draw or interpret the art in front of them. Images from Charles Burchfield, Keith Haring and Paul Klee were provided.

The results definitely speak for themselves:

The last 45 minutes was used to teach the proportions of the face - everybody divided regions and used rules of alignment to create a basic face drawing. This was a very technical lesson and the eagerness for the participants to go through the process was very strong.

Afterwards, we talked some more and during this, a few of the participants ask to have sessions where they could be shown how to make art that had value. The first request was that I bring beans, paint, glue and a thick board so that colorful words could be made in a bean collage! The second request was a sign of the technical entrepreneurship that is all over Rwanda - to teach how to make art for posters - wow!

The third request was that art made during the sessions be used to create T-shirts that could be sold - something that can be sold in art stores in the States in order to raise funding to keep art therapy sustained at CARAES.

Long-term sustainability is a challenge that all small businesses and endeavors face in Rwanda. Thankfully, Rwandans are people who are ready to accept this challenge and are looking for people who will give them a supporting boost.

Next sessions are set for Friday! Stay tuned for more art!