I recently took a three-session watercolor painting class at CREATE Arts Center with my boyfriend Marc and our friend Matt. The class was led by Sulay Khin, a very talented watercolorist and alumna of the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA). The lessons were pretty advanced but we had a good time. I also liked that the class was affordable.
My only suggestion would be to spend less time on the initial drawings so we can get right down to painting. We sketched our flowers from real-life artificial ones, which is a lot more challenging than drawing or tracing from a photo. Just my thoughts!
If you are heading to the big community yard sale on April 27 at the Marietta House Museum in Glenn Dale, Maryland, my chapter of P.E.O. International will be there! We are selling various items, and every dollar earned at our table will benefit scholarships for local women in Prince George’s County.
Marietta Spring Yard Sale
Saturday, April 27, 2019 | 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
5626 Bell Station Road, Glenn Dale, MD 20769
I used Adobe Illustrator to draw a cute owl holding a cup of coffee, which my fellow chapter member Kathy printed on tote bags for us to sell!
In addition to the owl tote bags, I painted some 3×3″ moon paintings on mini easels. Love those tiny easels! My chapter mates will decide on pricing because I don’t need that kind of pressure in my life.
The yard sale is adjacent to the Glenn Dale Farmers Market so you can pick up some additional treasures.
Recently I finished painting this special watercolor of a Marguerite Daisy. The Marguerite is the official flower of P.E.O. International (Philanthropic Education Organization). The official P.E.O. slogan is, “Women helping women reach for the stars.”
Three years ago, a Maryland chapter of P.E.O. awarded me a grant so I could pay for books during graduate school. Even though my employer was covering tuition, money was too tight for me to cover the remaining fees and overpriced college textbooks.
Although I felt embarrassed applying for a grant when I already had a full-tuition rebate, it was no time to be shy. I was still swimming in undergraduate debt plus the crippling general expenses of being a live human in her 20s. Because I worked in the education field at the time, a master’s degree appeared to be a life raft to higher income status. With dreams of someday being able to afford adulthood, I quit waffling and applied.
The P.E.O. members that I met were very kind and understanding. They saw a young woman making ends meet, but who still needed a boost. I was very clear to mention that I just needed some help with books and fees. The grant they gave me was enough to cover books and fees for the remainder of my schooling.
After I graduated with my M.S. in Marketing Management, I was invited to become a member of the local chapter that funded my grant. We meet regularly and work together to find ways that we can support other women. When we award a new grant or scholarship to a deserving woman, I feel like we are helping her reach the stratosphere!
At a luncheon later this month, we will raffle off my painting and the proceeds will fund our grants and scholarships for women. It feels good to give back in some kind of way, since P.E.O. generously offered me a hand when I was struggling financially. When you’re facing hard times with money and someone lifts that burden for you, the feeling is indescribable.
My dream is that someday, community colleges and public universities will be tuition-free to attend… or at least accurately price-adjusted based on merit and/or financial need (we all know the FAFSA is complete B.S.). I think there are a lot of hardworking people out there who are experiencing pushback when what they should be receiving is the support to complete their degree.
I hope we sell enough raffle tickets to give a generous scholarship to a fellow hardworking woman. I will feel so proud!
Yes… I know Marguerite Daisies are white, but I took some artistic liberties.
I will attempt anything for a friend, even if it means managing to draw straight lines with acrylic paint!
My friend Aaron Foster of Foster’s Flags and Wildfire Creations creates custom wooden flags in addition to working full-time as a Washington, DC firefighter and teaching fitness boot camps on the side. Let’s call him King of the Side-hustle.
Aaron has created many styles of flags, but this particular order came with a unique request in honor of a Vietnam veteran. The giver of the flag asked if Aaron could incorporate the recipient’s military stripes into the design. Aaron asked me to paint the stripes, and I was happy to oblige.
This flag was completed and given to the veteran at his surprise 70th birthday party. I am excited to have played a part in such a special and unique gift. If you are interested in ordering a flag of your own, check out Wildfire Creations on Facebook.
Randie Hovatter 