New classes for the New Year.

Drawing foundations:

Three week class for teens starting January 7th, at 4:00 PM in the Historic City Hall.

Please contact the Visual Art Board at 801-756-3738 or The Arts Council at 801-763-3081 to register.

Colored Pencil Class:

January 16th and 23rd. at the Historic City Hall.

Please contact the Visual Art Board at 801-756-3738 or The Arts Council at 801-763-3081 to register.

Christmas in the Rotunda

Call for entries.

The American Fork Art Council/Visual Art Board is inviting boys and girls in the community to enter the annual "Christmas in the Rotunda" art contest which will be held in the rotunda of the American Fork Library during the month of December.

Children ages 5 to 12 are eligible to enter one picture.

The theme for the entry must tell about a seasonal song that we hear or sing during the winter or Christmas season.

There is no registration fee.

All children will receive a participants ribbon. A "Best of Show" entry will be chosen from all the entries and receive a rosette and cash prize. The judges will choose twenty entries and they will be rewarded a ribbon of excellence and a five dollar bill.

Media can include: black and white or color drawing, watercolor, colored pencil, acrylic, or photo.

Artwork must be matted on cardstock or framed.

Registration day is monday, November 30th from 2:00 to 5:00 PM. In the American Fork Library. Registration forms are available in local schools, The library, City administration building, The fitness center and the American Fork Art Council office.

Call the Visual Art Board at 801-756-3738 or the Office at 801-763-3051 for information.

Art Classes

We have a lot of Art Classes coming up:

Just Add Color starts Nov 14th @ 11:00 AM in the Historic City Hall

The Colored Pencil Class starts Nov 10th @ 10:00 AM at the historic City Hall.

Art History & Fundamentals Starts Nov 7th @ 10:30 AM in room 3 Art Annex in the fitness center.

Foundations of Drawing starts Oct 29th @ 4:00 PM in the Historic City Hall

If you are interested in any of these classes please contact Sydney @ 801-756-3738 or Lori @ 801-763-3081

Art as Therapy

According to the American Art Therapy Association, art therapy is based on the belief that the creative process of art is both healing and life-enhancing. The American Medical Association and Health Professions Network state that art therapists use drawing, painting, and other art processes to assess and treat clients with emotional, cognitive, physical, and/or developmental needs and disorders. They use the creative process to help their clients increase insight and judgment, cope better with stress, work through traumatic experiences, increase cognitive abilities, have better relationships with family and friends, and to just be able to enjoy the life-affirming pleasures of the creative experience.

Art therapists have generated many specific definitions of art therapy, but most of them fall into one of two general categories. The first involves a belief in the inherent healing power of the creative process of art making. This view embraces the idea that the process of making art is therapeutic; this process is sometimes referred to as art as therapy. Art making is seen as an opportunity to express oneself imaginatively, authentically, and spontaneously, an experience that, over time, can lead to personal fulfillment, emotional reparation, and recovery (Malchiodi, 2006).

The second definition of art therapy is based on the idea that art is a means of symbolic communication. This approach, often referred to as art psychotherapy, emphasizes the products-- drawings, paintings, and other art expressions--as helpful in communicating issues, emotions, and conflicts. The art image becomes significant in enhancing verbal exchange between the person and the therapist and in achieving insight; resolving conflicts; solving problems; and formulating new perceptions that in turn lead to positive changes, growth, and healing. In reality, art as therapy and art psychotherapy are used together in varying degrees. In other words, art therapists feel that both the idea that art making can be a healing process and that art products communicate information relevant to therapy are important (Malchiodi, 2006).

October Classes

Art for Teens

Classes begin October 29th

Contact Sydney @ 801-756-3738 or Lori @ 801-763-3081

October Classes

Colored Pencil classes will begin on October 20th at 10:00.

Contact Sydney @801-756-3738 or Lori @ 801-763-3081 to register.

New October Classes start soon!!!!

We have 2 classes that start on October 10th. Thats not much time

to register but we would love to have you.

"Art History & "Fun"damentals" for ages 6 to 12.

Saturdays, October 10th, 17th, 24th & 31st from 10:30 to 12:00.

Call Sydney at 801-756-3637 of Lori at 801-763-3081.

"Just add Color" formerly known and just add water.....

Classes will be October 10th, 17th & 23rd.

11:00 to 1:00 pm. The teachers are Mary Ann Judd Johnson and Angie Player.

The theme is going to be "colors for autumn and winter" If you have landscape photos of your own that you would like to produce bring them but not required.

Please contact Sydney at 801-756-3738 or Lori at 801-763-3081

The September Watercolor classes are over.

Angie's class did the color wheel and we all painted aspens using various resist techniques

In Mary Ann's class we learned a new technique 'wipe out' where you layer color on the paper and then remove paint to create the image. I think it is less intimidating than traditional painting. Here are some of the paintings we created using this technique. What do you think?

Classes will begin again in October join us..

September Classes

We have a lot of great classes coming up make sure you take a look at the fliers for all the information.

Art for Teens, a new series for students 12 - 15, starts on Sept 17th. Make sure to sign up early as classes fill up fast. See flier below for more details.

Colored Pencil is back starting Sept 15th,
Watercolor classes with MaryAnn Judd Johnson will begin on Sept 12th.

Art History & "Fun"damentals, for students ages 6 to 12. Will begin Oct 10th