‘Drawing is about looking and seeing’
LYNDEN — A person’s art is a big part of that person’s heart.
That may sound cliché, or even worse, something you’d find on a bumper sticker. But for Sarah Lane, she honors life through art.
Actively an artist, Lane also teaches art, which is what she did this past week through a partnership through the Lynden Pioneer Museum and the Jansen Art Center.
Called A Sketchbook Project: The Art of Figure Drawing, 12 artists of varying ages sketched mannequins dressed in period clothing on Thursday, March 2 at the museum.
Before working on their sketches at the museum, students met Lane at Jansen for a brief introduction and a few tips and techniques on drawing life-sized people. Such as how many heads high is the height of the average adult: eight.
Lane explained before the class that drawing is about looking and seeing.
“I believe that helps us, we have to see well,” Lane said. “One of the most important things about this (class) is the community its building between the museum and The J, and the community.”
Following the short talk at Jansen, Lane and the artists walked to the museum. There, the artists learned a few more things from Lane before they picked among the many mannequins and other props to include in their drawings.
Irma Kohlman, and her 8-year-old daughter Lori, both of Lynden, were first-timers to such a drawing class. Homeschooling her daughter, Irma said the afternoon class would be a good opportunity to expand the focus of non-traditional education. As Irma sketched apart from her daughter, Lori paired with another Lynden resident, 8-year-old Everly Ahrenholz.
Two teens, Skylar Longfellow and Grace Rosario, each said they draw rather regularly. Rosario, 16, said she “may want to draw for a living.” However, Longfellow said she wants art to be her career. The 15-year-old showed up for the class because she wanted to improve her figure drawing.
On Friday, March 3 at the Jansen, the artists refined and finished their work, with colors if they so desired.
Lindsey Gerhard, Jansen’s art director, said Amanda May and Kate Hisdal of the Pioneer Museum “reached out to us wanting to create a collaborative event between businesses on Front Street.
“It was a perfect fit to host the art portion in our studios at the J,” Gerhard said. “Working with Kate and Amanda has been fantastic. They are both so organized and creative, and also so receptive to the participants’ feedback and requests. It’s a pleasure to plan the Sketchbook Project with them, and I look forward to watching how this program grows in the future.”
This partnered sketch class was first held in November 2022. Although the class is essentially designed for children, May, the museum’s director, said her goal “is to have it open for all ages.”
Depending on funding and other factors, May said the partners have not yet scheduled the next class.
“We’re looking for grants, and we’re also open to community sponsors,” May said. “It’s a great way for businesses to get involved.”
The Lynden Pioneer Museum is at 217 Front St. Call 360-354-3675 for more information or visit lyndenpioneermuseum.org. Jansen Art Center is at 321 Front St., Lynden. Call 360-354-3600 for more information or visit jansenartcenter.org.
-- Contact Bill Helm at bill@lyndentribune.com.
