We are delighted to announce that the pilot program cycle for our Veterans Art Program is complete and was a huge success!

Allied Arts of Whatcom County secured funding earlier in 2023 from the Washington State Arts Commission’s Wellness, Arts and Military grant program to launch our new Veterans Art Program in June. The mission of this program is to offer free art classes to our military-connected community taught by our local teaching artists. We aim to provide a comfortable, creative space for veterans, military members, guard, reserves, their spouses or partners and caregivers to discover the creative arts and explore artistic expression as a form of self-care.

During this first program cycle, local teaching artists taught participants how to carve stone, use various wood finishing techniques and the basics of watercolor landscape painting. Participants had access to art materials, instruction and studio space over a three-week session that met once a week for three hours at a time.

 Jacquie Bresadola, of Pacé Atelier and our teaching instructor for Intro to Stone Carving gave a brief overview of the history of stone carving throughout the ages. She introduced students to some introductory geology, including various stone properties. She taught proper tool usage, finishing techniques and helped her students understand this unique subtractive sculpting method. Students carved on white and pink alabaster and green chlorite.

“I was thrilled to see so many veterans experiencing the joy of stone carving for the first time,” remarks Anne Evenson, program coordinator and wife to an Operation Iraqi Freedom Army veteran. “What was so amazing was how naturally every student took to this ancient, challenging medium. I was so excited to see all the forms emerge from the stones as if by magic!”

 Steven “Ray” Raymond taught Slab to Fab: An Artistic Interpretation on Wood Finishing. Throughout three classes, students learned the significance of wood finishing to protect and enhance the beauty of raw wood surfaces. Ray taught his students how to transform raw wood using basic finishing techniques like sanding, distressing wood, preparing stains and applying natural finishes like Shellac and Beeswax.

“Art doesn’t just have one answer, one way or technique,” said Eryn Ross, a U.S. Air Force Veteran who took the wood finishing class. “Ray allowed us to try different methods and experiment without any pressure and create our own goal.”

 In the Watercolor Landscape Painting & Introduction class, long-time local artist Michael Heath helped students discover the magic of watercolor painting by demonstrating composition and layout and teaching color theory and value studies. Participants learned different watercolor techniques like mixing color, wet on wet, washes and glazing using just three brushes and a limited color palette.

“The class meant a lot to people for many different reasons,” said Beth Roberson, spouse of a Vietnam combat Veteran, local artist and watercolor student. “It was delightful to meet everyone, and I thought it was a very worthwhile thing to have available to veterans and their families. Art is a great medium for self-expression and personal growth!”

Participants of the Veterans Art Program ranged in age from 25 to 95 and everywhere in between. We had combat veterans, spouses, partners, caregivers and other military-connected individuals from every military branch and service era.

Allied Arts is working hard to secure more grant funds to continue this program that we feel this exceptional community needs and deserves. To stay updated on upcoming classes for military-connected individuals, please visit our Veterans Art Program webpage and sign up for our email list.

“The Veterans Art Program was an excellent opportunity to learn a new skill and find camaraderie with others,” said Adam Brendgard, a U.S. Coast Guard Veteran and rookie stone carver. “Thanks to these workshops, I am more patient, calm, and confident in my new hobby and day-to-day life!”

For over 40 years, Allied Arts of Whatcom County has been a leader in fostering and supporting the local arts scene and serves more than 50,000 people annually. Allied Arts improves the cultural health and vitality of the community through community events involving visual artists and musicians, sponsorship of exhibits and programs focused on local artists, extensive arts education in local schools and public advocacy for the arts.