Joanne Raines- Featured Artist

 Today I have the pleasure of sharing one of our artist's stories with you. Meet Joanne Raines with beautiful story on how she found silk painting.

How did I discover Silk Painting?

Well it was the summer of 1998, my husband and I were on vacation in Thailand. We'd spent 3 busy days in Bangkok visiting as many sights as possible and were now on the island of Phuket.

The minute we landed on the island I felt really queasy and it wouldn't go away, then it clicked, "I must be pregnant" I got one of the waiters to bring me some raw ginger to help with the symptoms.

After a few days and my repeated requests for ginger the waiter said if I needed any more to go through into the back kitchens myself and ask one of the chefs.

The first time I went through the staff doors it opened onto an enclosed courtyard, and that's when I spotted a young woman with her silk painting in progress.

I got the ginger then returned to ask the woman if I could watch her for a while, I don't think she understood me but she didn't send me on my way. She was painting a beautiful landscape scene with birds and butterfly's and I knew right then I would have to try it for myself.

When we returned to the UK I did as much research as I could before ordering the necessary supplies to give it a go. I'd always been into arts and crafts but never trained in any. I'm a beauty therapist by trade. The very first piece I did was on a spare bit of silk about the size of a handkerchief and was a pink water lily, I made a decent enough job of it for a first attempt and that was it, hooked!.

P.S Yes I was pregnant and had my daughter in February 99, she's a much better artist than I'll ever be.

Thanks Joanne for sharing that beautiful story with us.

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Teaching Art- By Lynne Tagliaferro

This past week I had my annual student art exhibit at the school where I teach art. While watching the students and their families walk through the halls admiring the achievements of my students I was reminded how important the arts are to a child’s education.

The arts enhance creativity, an important skill in a rapidly changing world.

The arts develop critical intellectual skills. The arts foster higher level of thinking. Children learn to observe, interpret, analyze and see different perspectives. Levels of thinking that carry over to other subjects as well as life situations.

The arts teach language skills. Through learning about and creating art children are developing new concepts, building vocabulary and learn a new language.

The arts teach math. The arts require measurement, number manipulation and proportional thinking, all of which enhance math learning.

The arts teach teamwork. Through the arts children learn how to work together and together they can achieve anything.

The arts provide a developing passion to learn, grow and improve.

The arts teach understanding and acceptance. Through history of art and multicultural art students learn to understand and accept the differences in cultures and people.

The arts help children say what can not be said. The arts are an expression of feelings.

Lynne Tagliaferro