During this four-week series, we will practice mindfulness meditation through mindful breathing, paint with watercolors and if interested use our paintings to create a collage. Mindfulness is a practice which involves being present in the moment and noticing your thoughts and feelings without judging or trying to change them, which can help to calm your mind and body. Each class will include a brief mindful meditation and a demonstration of watercolor painting utilizing a range of creative techniques. For our final virtual class, we will cut our paintings into shapes and configure them into a collage! The purpose is to construct a collage as a metaphor for change or transformation, as life changes we are constantly evolving and changing too as individuals. Or, if you do not wish to create a collage you can leave your paintings as they are and instead make another painting for our final class of the series. No prior art making experience is needed! Just bring yourself and your art materials!

Supplies: Heavyweight white paper or watercolor paper, watercolor paints of your choosing in a variety of colors or any paints that you have on hand. Also, it will be helpful to have a couple of brushes in varied sizes, pastels or crayons, tape (preferably masking tape) and a water container, glue; and scissors (optional). In addition, we will be using table salt to paint with during the first class and you may want to consider using a piece of colorful card stock paper for the background of your collage for the final class of the series.

Week 1- Guided meditation followed by demo of painting with watercolors and salt
Week 2 – Guided meditation followed by demo of tape, pastel or crayon resist painting
Week 3 – Guided meditation followed by demo of drip watercolor painting
Week 4 – Guided meditation followed by demo of creating a collage from your paintings

This virtual community class will be held through our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/alzheimersfoundationofamerica.  Visit the page at the listed event date/time to take part.