Kerrobert art instructor says, “Anyone can be an artist”

By Joan Janzen

KERROBERT - Kids may be sad to see summer vacation come to an end; however, a few lucky kids are excited about joining Groovy Dos Art Classes in Kerrobert. Instructor Elaine Unruh has been offering the classes for the past decade at her art studio.

“Kids love it!” Elaine said. “They’re very excited, and they usually come early. I’ve done quite a few generations now. I started with my first group, and they’re all adults now. Some are artists in their own right; some of them are tattoo artists, and they all started out in my little classes.”

Whether Elaine Unruh is teaching kids art techniques at her Groovy Dos art class or instructing a paint night for adults, everyone goes home with their own beautiful creation and smiles on their faces. SUBMITTED

LET’S GET GROOVY! When Elaine Unruh (top left) is finished her day job as a hairdresser in Kerrobert, she teaches art classes to children and offers paint nights for adults. “Anyone can be an artist,” says Elaine! SUBMITTED

During regular working hours, Elaine operates a hair salon. However, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, art classes begin at 5:00, after her salon closes. “The students’ artwork is hanging all over my salon,” she reported.

Her students range in age from 5 to 14 years, but Elaine successfully navigates the substantial age gap. “I usually pick a theme and start the project age appropriately and then allow more flexibility and degree of difficulty for the students,” she explained. She teaches simple techniques to her younger students and more advanced techniques to the older kids.

“The older kids are more meticulous and will take longer with their projects, but sometimes the younger kids will have so many ideas, and I just let them go with it. I really encourage them,” she said.

At the end of her art class, Elaine doesn’t want any of the projects to leave her studio looking the same. “I want them to have their own version of it,” she added.

Elaine has her students painting, drawing, creating ceramics, pottery, papier-mâché, and crafts. “Everything’s pretty much hands-on. It really helps them form dexterity and eye-hand coordination,” she said. “In my shop, we do all the messy stuff, and it always looks like a bomb went off.”

While kids are being creative at Groovy Dos Art Classes, Elaine hasn’t forgotten about the adults. She and her sister, Anna, have started a new business called All About That Paint, where they travel to different communities and host paint nights for adults.

“I’ve done everything from the military base in Edmonton to our local pubs, but Covid was a detriment to that,” she explained. Now, Elaine and Anna are restarting their travelling paint nights.

“My biggest group was at a wedding shower where I had 40 people who did birds on a branch. They were beautiful paintings; anyone can do it.” Elaine assured me. Once you know the techniques, Elaine says, anyone can be an artist.

“It’s fun when someone says they can’t draw a stick person, and they walk out with a beautiful painting. I always say expect it to start out like kindergarten art and end up as beautiful,” she said.

Not only do her students take home their own beautiful piece of art, but they have a lot of fun while they’re doing it. “My classes are loud and boisterous, and everyone has a good time!” Elaine said.