Services Offered
Team-building Activities
Group Painting Projects with Esteemed Artist
Monica Laird, one of the leading watercolorists in the Caribbean, has been living and working in Puerto Rico since 1986. Laird believes that the environment of the island is very much reflected in her work. “Puerto Rico is a small island with an incredible combination of diverse cultures, religions and physical environments, all flourishing together under one roof. The people offer a social and cul-tural tapestry as rich and luxuriant as the tropical foliage covering the land. I try to capture the excitement and intrigue of such complicated dimensions in my paintings.”
The artist’s students, who come from the Caribbean and the United States, range in experience from the very beginner to the practicing professional. Most notably was a recent private lesson for actress Jane Seymour, an experienced artist in her own right. Laird has tailored several exhibition and work-shop activities to suit the particular needs of a wide variety of groups. The events can be staged at the hotel or other venue of choice.
Reflections of El Yunque – A Private Exhibition
This exhibition, which presents a collection of the artist’s work for viewing, can occur during a function such as a banquet, breakfast or evening party. The artist will set up an exhibition space and will be accessible for questions and conversation about the work and her life on the island. The artwork on display will be available for sale. This activity is designed for any size group.
Duration: 2-3 hours (flexible)
Puerto Rico Tapestry – A Private Exhibition and Demonstration
This activity is a combination demonstration and lecture on the artist’s approach to her work, what she hopes to accomplish with her paintings and their relevance to the people who view them. While speaking, Laird will demonstrate one of her painting techniques, starting and finishing her project dur-ing the course of the lecture. She will then be available to the clients for questions. The pieces on exhibit are available for purchase during the course of the event.
Duration: Approximately 1 hour for demo, exhibit 2-3 hours (flexible). Designed for large groups
Postcards from the Caribbean - plein air painting and art "goodie" bag
Imagine sitting under a palm tree sipping a pińa colada and ready to paint your very own postcard of the scene around you. You have everything you need, including one of the leading watercolorists in the Caribbean to teach you. All you'll need is the inspiration that surely the beauty of Puerto Rico will provide. This project is a few hours of creative fun that allows the client to take home a true treasure, not found but CREATED, in the Caribbean.
Artist's Fee: $100.00 per student
"Goodie" Bag includes: drawing equipment, palette filled with 12 professional grade colors, 2 profes-sional grade brushes, blank postcards (140 lb. paper with address lines preprinted on back). Also in-cluded will be a water container, paper towels and a printed list of helpful hints that will allow the stu-dent to continue painting on his/her own.
Minimum: 10 students/maximum 25
Duration: Approximately 3 hours
Meditative Drawing Session
This drawing session is designed to both educate and relax the participant. Using drawing exercises that stimulate the student's ability to "see" as an artist "sees", the client experiences what it means to understand the type of visual relationships one needs to understand and be able to draw a subject. The process of doing so actually puts the mind in to a state of timelessness, focus and relaxa-tion....almost a meditative state.
The class is the antithesis to the common misconception of the difficulty and therefore the usual
stress of trying to draw. No experience is necessary and yet even practicing artists will benefit from the experience.
Important to the process is a quiet, peaceful environment to further enhance the experience. In the tropics, sitting in the shade of palm trees, listeniing to the waves caress the shore is one of the first things that comes to mind. Or a quiet, ambiant corner of your resort with music conducive to relaxa-tion is another option. The possibilities are endless.
All drawing materials needed are provided by the artist.
Artist's fee: $50.00 per student
Minimum number: 10/ maximum 25
Time required: 2 - 3 hours
“Waterworks” Watercolor Workshop
This fun and challenging 3 - 4 hour workshop offers the student a chance to learn, via a hands-on approach by the teacher, the basics of watercolor
while surrounded by luxurious tropical ambiance. This is a fun and unique way for your atten-dees to meet and "play" with each other while learning a
great deal about painting and watercolor from one of the leading watercolorists in the Carib-bean. Many students who have participated in this
workshop have gone on to become painters themselves or returned to a hobby long forgotten but missed. At the very least every student is able to
look at paintings in galleries and museums and understand why the work is appreciated. After a few hours of this activity people become even more
enthralled with the colors, shapes and textures they will encounter during their stay in Puerto Rico.
The subject of the paintings will be pre-drawn on professional grade watercolor paper so that the students can get directly to applying color without
having to worry about "getting the drawing right". They will then be led through a step-by-step process from beginning to end. Monica ensures that she
spends as much time as possible with each student helping him or her to create something special to take home with pride. All materials provided for
use are the same as the artist uses in her own studio, including a mat and backing board for future framing.
Duration: 3-4 hours. Minimum 10, Maximum 20
“Be Me, Be We” Group Painting Project
This unique project is an opportunity for your clients to relax, “play together” and bond. And the best part is that there are no making mistakes! Starting spontaneously and abstractly, Laird will bring the piece to a recognizable finish. Then, with paint and crayons at hand, each artist/participant is en-couraged to contribute in whatever way he or she desires to the one overall painting. When the paint-ing is finished, it is cut into smaller paintings so that each person is able to take part of the project home. The cuts are determined beforehand so that the participant will not receive the marks he or she made. The participants therefore appreciate the results of working toward a common goal.
Duration: Approximately 2 hours. Minimum 10, No Maximum
Eternity Marks Guest Book Painting Project
This group painting project is designed for that special day in your life that will live forever in your memory and the memories of your guests. It allows you to immortalize the moment and the people that shared it with you.
The first phase takes place during the reception. I will provide all the materials your guests need to creatively "Mark" the occasion. I encourage them to understand that there is no "doing it wrong" and to just let their emotions lead the way. Their "job" is to express their feelings for the moment; mine will be to take this cacaphony of random, individual brush strokes and create a cohesive, complete masterpiece painting.
The second phase involves my taking the piece back to the studio and completing it. I make every effort to honor the integrity of each mark made on the paper. In most cases you will be able to read written messages, see specific images and bask in the same glow as the guests were feeling at the time. The energy emitted by the work is phenomenal....and memorable. No simple guest book will last through the ages as this one will.
If need be, the work can be completed on location and ready for presentation in 3 days. For an addi-tional cost, prints can be made of the original and used a variety of ways, including but not limited to thank you notes to all who participated.
Authorized clients can view current rate and availability information by accessing their online accounts. |
