Mandy Smestad
Visual Artist Mandy Smestad
(701) 317-6711
mrsmestad@yahoo.com
Instagram @the_surrealist_by_smestad
East Grand Forks
Mandy offers residencies in visual art (Self Portraits)
Residing in the countryside of East Grand Forks, Madeline “Mandy” Smestad is an award winning and multi-published artist. She has a passion for facial expressions and specializes in portraiture and surrealism. Smestad works in a variety of mediums with a preference for acrylics and pencil.
She is a studio artist and the gallery manager at Arts for Vets in Grand Forks. Mandy teaches various classes to all ages and abilities with landscapes, portraits, neurographic drawing, still life, surrealism, flowers, and more. She has painted with the public at street fairs, and taught art classes with kids at local elementary schools, the public library, Arts for Vets, and at the Grand Forks Air Force Base. Mandy also has an art class specifically designed for developmentally disabled weekly.
Mandy loves to inspire and encourage her students to have confidence in their potential and in their abilities. In her art, she tries to encourage viewers to open their mind and have their own interpretation of its message. No matter who she is teaching or what the subject is, she feels the project is always open for interpretation, for the students to feel free to make it their own. To Mandy, art is synonymous with life.
“Henri Matisse said, ‘Creativity takes courage.’ This short statement is full of truth, stirring and powerful. Creating art can cause people to feel vulnerable. One must be brave to take chances and try different things, to put your thoughts and feelings out there for people to see. Believe in your abilities and trust the process.”
Mandy Smestad
I Am Beautiful: An Assemblage Self Portrait
Overview of Residency:
Students will learn how to create self portraits with a lesson plan based on their age group or cognitive abilities. They will be taught the basic structures, the techniques of creating facial symmetry, tips on how to make features realistic, and how to blend colors when shading. Students will build confidence in not only their artistic abilities, but self confidence seeing the beauty of themselves, inside and out. This art lesson will be memorable, fun, and they’ll be able to apply their new knowledge to future art projects.
Options: The lesson plan and supplies needed will be adjusted based on students age group and if any disabilities.
Age Level of Participation: Grades K-12, adults, and developmentally disabled
Length of Residency: All classes will be 60 minutes and the maximum number of participants at one time is 25.
*K-5th grade is 3 days
*6th-12th grade is 5 days
*Adults is 5 days.
*Developmentally Disabled groups are 2 days.
***The length of residency for each group is based on attention span and pace of creating. Children and the developmentally disabled population tend to work quicker, therefore they don’t need as much time.
Content of Sessions:
Students will be given a brief overview of classroom expectations and about their art supplies. Students will be expected to help clean their supplies and work area at the end of each session.
Students will be shown example pictures of portraits and assemblages for a frame of reference. Then, they’ll be taught step by step how to sketch a rough draft of their face. Using their mirror, they will be able to draw detail.
After the drawing portion is done, students will begin to paint. They will start with their skin and the instructor will demonstrate how to blend the paint for shading. After the skin is done, they may paint the rest.
After their painting is dry, random objects and junk jewelry will be laid out for students to choose what they would like to add to their portrait to create an assemblage. Using heavy duty craft glue, they will apply it where they choose to their painting. Based on the age group, the assemblage supplies used will vary.
For future presentation, students will write their names and write a brief statement about themselves. For those with disabilities, assistance will be provided.
End Product: An Assemblage Self Portrait
Display: Each student's work will be displayed at their local public library.
*For questions or to request changes to this proposed lesson and schedule, contact: Mandy Smestad at (701) 317-6711 or mrsmestad@yahoo.com.
Supply List:
Canvases
Various colors of acrylic paint
Paintbrushes
Pallettes
Small mirrors
Pencils
Erasers
Heavy duty craft glue
Junk jewelry/small objects/pom poms/beads/buttons
*objects depend on age group
Paper towels
Small plastic cups
