[graciegirl]

Before I moved to the villages, I could draw. I drew a lot of stuff and frequently attemped portraits of our children, but I never really knew how to add color and depth to them. When I moved here I took my very first lesson in art..ever, a beginning Color Pencil class from Nan Klein at the Lifelong Learning College. I don't know what I expected but I got....results.

Before long this small and sweet lady was taking all of us to new levels, walking around the room and saying, "lightly, lightly, it is a layering process," gently saying "good work" or "here get up and let me show you." In six weeks we all left with so much information and skill and a new appreciation for what is a fairly new art medium, Colored Pencil Painting.

Probably we have here in The Villages one of the largest Colored Pencil communities to be found. Surely we have the most enthusiastic and the most fun and one would look long and hard to find a group more talented. Two of the early experts in color pencil live here in The Villages; Nan Klein and Donna Caputo. They have trained many new artists who are rapidly becoming masters of the art themselves.

The Colored Pencil Guild met Wednesday at La Hacienda for their first year anniversary with a lot of rolicking fun and awarding of prizes, both sincere and silly. Over 100 artists gathered to enjoy a potluck breakfast and to give a standing ovation to the wonderful teacher who taught most of them, Nan Klein.

In January, nationally aclaimed color pencil artist and author of the book COLOR PENCIL PORTRAITS, Ann Kuhlberg,will have a workshop at the Lifelong Learning College.

The Colored Pencil Guild will present an exhibit of their work next month at Lake Miona Rec Center.

Here is a link to an article recently about Nan Klein. She is one of the finest teachers on any subject I have ever run across and I have high standards on teaching!!

Color Her World - Lake & Sumter Style Magazine

[hotrodgirl]

That was a lovely post, Gracie, and a great tribute to someone you obviously have a great deal of respect for. Regrettably I will not be in TV next month to see the exhibit, but I am certain many will pass through and be in awe of all the talent in our wonderful hometown! I cannot wait to get there and have the opportunity to try my hand at so many new things! Best of luck to all, and post some pictures if you can!

[shcisamax]

I have to finish this darn house so I can get over there. It sounds absolutely inspirational!

[quirky3]

Gracie, what a wonderful example of the inspiration and growth we can experience together at TV!

[duffysmom]

Gracie thank you for sharing your experiences with Nan Klein. I've seen her work and agree that she is a very talented artist and teacher. Hopefully you will be showing your work at the show.
I agree that we have a wonderfully supportive art community here in TV. When I arrived here 4 years ago I didn't know very much about painting and now I feel that I can complete a piece of art that I can be proud of. Thanks to the Life Long Learning College we have international artists giving workshops here in TV. If anyone out there feels intimidated by art classes (free) or workshops, please know there are beginners as well as accomplished artist's all working together and inspiring each other and mostly it's FUN.

[cab1948]

Wow Gracie, Thanks for posting about this wonderful artist located right here in the Villages. My husband and I will be arrivin shortly, and one of the things I wanted to do this winter was take some art classes. I was thinking of watercolors, but after seeing this article, and the results you can get with colored pencils, I think it's something I would like to try. I'm going to look up classes now at Lifelong learning college and see what's available.

[Happy-Go-Lucky]

Hi Gracie!

I am pretty new to talk of the villages. I understand you guys meet at crispers from time to time. I think I would like to join you sometime and maybe talk to you personally since you seem to know a lot about this could you please contact me at aovnow@aol.com?

let's talk. I also see that you too a colored pencil class at LLC. My husband and I actually teach at lifelong Learning College and we teach portrait engraving on glass. Aint it grand here??

Back to you.
Jenny