Pooling their talents
Suzie Harrison
Set in an unparalleled picturesque location at Treasure Island -- a
place that would make even the best postcard blush -- Laguna Outreach
for Community Arts, together with Ocean Laguna Foundation, is
offering a one-of-a-kind art and ecology experience, “Art and Sea
Adventure.”
Each session will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. beginning Saturday and
Sunday, followed by classes once a month on April 16 and 17 and May
14 and 15.
Classes will begin with a morning tide pool exploration and
education adventure led by Ocean Laguna Foundation docents Fred and
Jan Sattler, followed by a hands-on art workshop taught by
professional local artists.
“We thought we would tie the environment and the arts together;
the Art and Sea Adventure was written up as part of our cultural arts
grant to the city,” Laguna Outreach for Community Arts program and
education coordinator, Sherry Bullard said.
In fall 2004, the organization developed the concept with the
Ocean Laguna Foundation.
“We set up the initial program to take place starting in the
spring,” Bullard said. “Fred helped us get set up with the lowest
tide pools, a more user-friendly tide pool area. We want this to be a
family friendly activity.”
Bullard said the location offers plenty of places to sit and
absorb the natural beauty to paint.
“There’s a team of four artists; we decided the easiest and most
memorable activity to present would be watercolor journaling,”
Bullard said. “We would rather arm them with a paintbrush and a
journal than a bucket and shovel when they head to the tide pools.”
Bullard said the participants will work with the artists for a
couple of hours.
Joan Corman has been teaching for decades, and will instruct the
inaugural workshops. Classes are for all abilities.
“I’m passionate about sharing the love of being with nature and
studying it, attempting to put it down on paper with watercolor and
pencil, that image imprinted on my memory,” Corman said.
Corman said she created templates of the basic forms of tide pool
creatures for less advanced artists to use as a tool.
“I know it’s difficult for people who are inexperienced with
drawing and painting,” Corman said. Corman said she wants
participants to remember every visual nuance. For more experienced
artists, she can facilitate developing new techniques and styles.
Jan Sattler is a professional artist, as well as a tide pool
docent and will be blending both roles.
“I grew up here exploring the tide pools,” she said. “I love
teaching people about the environment where I grew up as an artist.”
Fred Sattler said the idea to form the Ocean Laguna Foundation
came from Vision Laguna 2030 to have a special task similar to Laguna
Foundation, but whose focus is the “Bluebelt” instead of the
“Greenbelt.”
“We’ve been doing various things in town related to the tide pools
and oceans,” Fred said. “We started the Tidewater Docent program and
we led the charge for the establishment of our marine protection
officer.”
The workshops are sponsored by the Montage Resort, and in case of
rain will be held at the resort on Montage Resort Drive. They include
a watercolor journal, art supplies, postcards, tote bags and
refreshments. Cost is $65 for adults and $35 for children. Class size
is limited. For information or to register, call (949) 363-4700 or go
to https://www.loca arts.org.
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