Artist Live Streaming Art Classes For Those At Home

Saint John artist Fabiola Martinez is helping parents stuck at home keep some semblance of a schedule for their kids while encouraging creativity through her daily ART TIME live streams on Facebook from her studio.

“It started as something small where my kids and I would do something,” she said. “I was thinking like a mom, I’m going to keep my kids busy doing something creative, let’s use technology and see how it works.”

Through the online art classes on Facebook Live kids are engaged and connected as Martinez and her sons create colorful art projects.  “I’m trying to keep it simple for them, so it’s not so overwhelming, and they don’t have to run out for the materials or art supplies that they don’t have available at home,” she explained.

One of her favorite things about the live stream is that she can still interact with the kids painting, “I love that the kids say hi and I can say hi; they are probably waving at the TV but its nice to do that,” said Martinez.

Martinez shares her painting techniques with the audience, providing instruction and encouragement and creating a space where kids can have fun and can come up with their own ideas and fun mistakes.

Some examples of ART TIME’s live stream paintings so far include blossoms, a Maritime lighthouse, and sunset with city lights.

Martinez plans to create an online community art project, which will be called Together, of the artwork done by the children and parents in two-week period  to reflect how we can still relate community and engage and support one another despite not being able to interact with each other.

If you are interested in participating, Fabiola Martinez’s ART TIME live streams can be viewed on her Painting With Fabi Facebook page.  The live streams are taking place daily from until March 27^th from 11-12 PM, Monday to Friday.