Squeegee Paint Nite Recap!

97.5% satisfying and useful! 🙂

On Sunday, April 30, 2023, I launched Create with Joanne!, a series of art workshops. The first class was Amazing Squeegee Paint Nite held at my studio in Eastside Atelier in East Vancouver.

I love teaching. With over eight years guiding therapeutic art classes, private consulting and many more years of professional experience, I’m once again ready and excited to share my knowledge. It will be wonderful to see how these lessons will enhance people’s creative skills, well-being and, of course, their walls, graced with their own unique, beautiful art!

It was such a delightful day! The workshop ran from 2:00pm – 4:00pm. I was so grateful Natalie Wai was there to help me with all the last minute details. There were a lot of preparations, both on the same day and weeks before.

I bought new three new tables, table cloths, paints, squeegees and spray bottles. Students were introduced to the historical context of squeegee art and guided in the painting process. I developed a nine page document with step-by-step instructions. Finished paintings were created and referenced for examples.

The event was sold out! There were eight students and each person was provided their own table setting of art supplies including an 11 x 14 inch canvas, an additional sized, cold-press, acid-free, watercolor board and all the tools they needed to create abstract art, including a variety of squeegees, brushes, scrapers and over 50 paints to choose from.

We began with a brief mindfulness exercise to soothe and ready ourselves. I completed an 8 week mindfulness program based off of Jon Kabat Zinn’s world-renowned University of Massachusetts program. It was meaningful to weave awareness into the programming. Abstract art feels most rewarding and produces the best results when deeply connected to ourselves while creating.

Each student chose their color palette. I provided painting demonstrations and one-on-one instruction at various points throughout the day, including advice on paint types, composition, layering, focal points, movement, texture, depth and line and contrast.

There was one snag. We blew the fuse. Going forward we’ll dry paintings in hallway and kitchen area. After all, it was a happy accident, as Bob Ross would say. The sink hallway area is the best location as it will keep the working area quieter.

Natalie Wai was an all-star, volunteer assistant providing student guidance and cleaning support. I’m very grateful. Students were able to focus on creating and I was able to guide students as much a possible. The success was in large part to Natalie’s graceful help.

Many of the students were new to art entirely; all were new to squeegee painting. I was delighted with how unique and beautiful their masterpieces were. Congrats to all attendees for their great work!

Save the date! My next workshop is on Sunday, June 11th, 1:00 – 3:00 pm.

If you would like to volunteer for an art workshop, please contact me for more information.