Like the translucent blues and greens that flowed from soft bristle brushes across absorbent, gently rippling paper—tentatively at first, and then with more assurance—week three of Iona Drozda’s watercolor studio for eight adult students glided seamlessly between a review of the first two sessions, discussion, demonstration, visual research, notetaking and practice.
Meeting in the studios of MOCA-VA with Drozda, an instructor who provides “banks for their rivers” or freedom within structure, while emphasizing the importance of carving out a place to create, each student’s personal workspace reads like a combination of mood board, personal archive and archaeological dig. Layered in a casually organized and enticing array around each participant were rich color studies, notes and practice pages in sketchbooks, handouts and books, pens and brushes, tape, paper towels and spray bottles of water plus mouthwatering and vibrant water-soluble art materials.
On a cool late September Saturday morning—with the NAS Oceana Air Show getting underway just a few miles south—these students had gathered for their third class in a series of six. For five consecutive fall and spring, two-and-a-half-hour weekend sessions, Drozda has guided military veterans and family members through visual journaling, drawing, painting, printmaking, and now watercolor, all presented under the auspices of the Armed Services Arts Partnership (ASAP).
Six hundred and fifty service members return home to the U.S. every day, and the community of service they leave is not necessarily duplicated as they transition into civilian life. This is where ASAP steps in. With a mission to foster creativity, connection and confidence through the arts, veterans and their family members are invited to build their skills and nurture their resilience via visual arts, acting, comedy, improv, storytelling, and writing programs, all offered at no cost to participants. Administered by a professional staff, board, ambassadors, and instructors, programs are currently offered from sea to shining sea in Coastal Virginia, Washington, D.C., Indianapolis, San Diego, and online.
Not a veteran herself—but someone who long ago found a way to “put together her shattered self after sexual violence”—Drozda is a practicing artist and widely sought after educator, consultant and mentor. She finds deep joy and satisfaction in working with others “who have so much stress in their lives. I could tell amazing stories. It is very stressful to be in service to our country…” Though ASAP is not an art therapy program, it can, nonetheless, be therapeutic and, while she doesn’t say this out loud lest it become a cliché, Drozda sees art as key to creating a life that is a “masterpiece.”
Despite a connection to nature and the spiritual world being the heartbeat of her own work, Drozda encourages these students—Adams, Amy, Chelle, Jaii, Krista, Mary, Nathanael, and Sara—to “mine new fields of ideas and inspiration.” And this she does in her uniquely encouraging, supportive and non-threatening way, reminding participants, “We are all artists when we are here.” But, they are artists who occasionally need gently reminders to reach around to the nape of their necks and turn off their “inner critic switch.”
Drozda’s week-by-week Wonder of Watercolor syllabus echoes this nurturing approach in its language: intention-setting, exploring themes, and experimenting, experiencing and encountering. But all the fundamentals are there: history of watercolor, materials review, elements and principles of design, value scales, thumbnail sketches, tutorials and optional homework such as researching an artistic muse to share with classmates. And there are key words for each class; Week Three’s theme was “Self-Expression.”
The instruction delivery is purposeful, but informal and conversational. During the third class, an easy monologue accompanied Drozda’s demonstration of image transfer of a tree onto a watercolor background: magical landscapes encountered on Lake Drummond, reminders to simplify and to return to the elements and principles of design, and encouragement to “keep the focus in this moment, in this opportunity.” Throughout, questions flowed, and students remarked appropriately, with Mary, who keeps both a personal journal and a sketchbook, offering that “Trees are a big spiritual thing in my life.”
At the ASAP Graduation at the conclusion of each session, students share concrete evidence of their participation. For this group of visual artists, framed paintings or studies related to the theme of their choice will be on display for the program in MOCA’s theatre. In anticipation, the Week Three agenda included a one-on-one meeting between teacher and student. Drozda set the stage for these personal conversations by saying, “You are going to speak out loud and I am going to be your witness. You have to have an idea. I will make sure we get to the finish line together.”
And, after all, that is whole point. Learn more at: Asapasap.org
