Students De-stress at Frost Art Museum Drawing Salon

Attendees working during the Frost Art Museum's Drawing Salon Event. Ashley Arbelaez/PantherNOW

Ashley Arbelaez/Contributing Writer

The Phillip and Patricia Frost Art Museum does more than exhibit important artwork. It also continuously provides events for the public.

On Oct. 30, the Frost Art Museum hosted its drawing salon to provide an opportunity for anyone who wishes to work on their artistic skills.

The event took place on the third floor of the museum in an exhibition room with an array of colorful paintings and artifacts. It runs for two hours, from 12 to 2 p.m.

The event was completely open to anyone with or without any drawing experience. During these sessions, attendees are supplied with a variety of materials to draw, ranging from watercolor pencils to blending stumps.

An attendee of the drawing salon event works on a painting. Ashley Arbelaez/PantherNOW

Each drawing session has a different theme according to the gallery selections.

The exhibition this time around featured the Frost Museum’s permanent collection, “connectivity.” It targets how art pieces from a variety of time periods and cultures can relate to each other.

The workshop is orchestrated by Mariam Machado who is one of the education department specialists alongside Emily Afre.

“Maybe this workshop can get you to explore an artwork you didn’t know about before,” said Machado.

Vanessa Salas works on “Mujer” by René Portocarrero. Ashley Arbelaez/PantherNOW

Attendees were allowed to roam around the gallery and appreciate each artwork in detail before getting down to work. Everyone is free to choose a piece of their liking to study. Some of the featured artwork included “Mujer,” by Cuban artist, René Portocarrero.

FIU student and attendee, Vanessa Salas, said she was drawn to the piece due to its ominous quality.

“I liked the expression on her face and I knew I wanted to do a Halloween portrait. She had the facial structure and the colors for it,” Salas said.

Salas chose to adapt the original piece in time for Halloween and gave her “Mujer” drawing a Frankenstein look.

Another piece part of the “connectivity” collection was “The Mediator” by Cuban-American artist, Humberto Calzada.

Henri Estrada works on “The Mediator” by Cuban-American artist, Humberto Calzada. Ashley Arbelaez/PantherNOW

Attendee Henri Estrada said he chose to study this piece because of the design aspect of the painting.

“I was drawn to the shape and shadows that defined the building in the painting,” Estrada said.

This month’s workshop was complete with calming pop tunes. Estrada believes the session was “very peaceful and soothing” with an opportunity for students to de-stress from exams.

For more information on upcoming drawing salon sessions at the Frost Art Museum, visit  https://frost.fiu.edu/exhibitions-events/events/index.html.

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