Free programs for returning veterans and their families

The City of Bedford has graciously offered space at Ellenwood Center for four sessions of Imagination Arts once a month. Bedford businesses are offering discounts and gifts as a "thank you" to veterans and their families participating in the program.

The benefits of doing the games and exercises in an Imagination Arts Program include stress relief, bonding, right-brain exercise, fun and relaxation.

There will be four sessions, beginning at 9 A.M, once a month.

Session 1: 9 to 10:30
Session 2: 11 to 12:30

Session 3: 1:30 to 3:00
Session 4: 3:30 to 5:00

The introductory program is March 22, with following programs on each second Thursday.

The 2007 schedule is:

March 22,___April 12,____May 10,____June 7,___July 12
August 9,___September 13,__October 11,__November 8,_December 13

Imagination Arts programs are for families and children from age 5. (Younger children may attend at their parents’ discretion.) Proven learn-to-draw techniques are used to access the right side of the brain.

All artists know peace and contentment that they experience while creating art.

Imagination Arts games and activities, set to music, allow the non-artist to experience the same beneficial effects of right-brain activity, without the pressure of creating an artwork. The program is a fun, family-oriented activity, and the exercises can be done at home as follow up or a family activity.

Call (two one six) 577-9874 to register or for more information. Registration is required, as each session has a maximum of 20 participants.

Location: 124 Ellenwood Avenue, Bedford OH 44146

Email: wildernessartist@sbcglobal.net

Imagination Arts at the Rocky River Nature Center

Imagination Arts : Games! Hear nature stories and do drawing games while listening to Native American nature-based music. Awaken your creative side! No art background necessary. Fun for adults and children.

Imagination Arts : Games!
April 28 and 29th, 2007
3:00 to 4:00 PM each day
Rocky River Nature Center

Here is a description of the festival. Imagination Arts is only a small part!

Cleveland Metroparks is hosting the fourth annual North Coast Nature Festival April 28 - 29, 2007 at Rocky River Nature Center in Rocky River Reservation in North Olmsted from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.

Cleveland Metroparks North Coast Nature Festival celebrates the earth’s reawakening. The month of April is a glorious time for bird watching and discovering the spectacular beauty of spring flowers and wildlife that make Northeast Ohio their home.

North Coast Nature Festival features a variety of nature talks given by renowned authors and researchers, nature programs conducted by Cleveland Metroparks staff, and demonstrations and exhibits by local nature organizations, artists and vendors.

Expanding Ever Outward

The planning for Shadybrook's April retreat is progressing, and an interesting variety of mini workshops will be presented, including Imagination Arts.

Conversations with people I have recently met in the business and healthcare arenas have increased my excitement (if that is possible) about presenting this program in all areas: corporate, wellness, education, rehabilitation and entertainment. Their reactions to the concept and purpose of Imagination Arts are all positive.

"Have Program Will Travel"

Those wanting further information please contact Kristen S. Boyesen:

Phone: (two one six) 577-9874
Address: 64 Wandle Ave, Bedford OH 44146

Imagination Arts Games!

I have just sent in a proposal describing a mini-workshop for the Spring Retreat to be held by Shadybrook May 4-6, 2007 at St. Joseph Christian Life Center, Euclid, OH. This is the second year of providing a means for the many talents of Shadybrook members to be shared with other members and the public at large. Last year's program included Reiki, Chi Gong, Vipassana meditation, Movement Therapy, massage, musical entertainment, yoga, and explorative art ... all presented by various members of Shadybrook. Here is the description of what I propose for this year's retreat. The theme is Healing Head, Heart, and Community.


"Lighten up" ..."Stop and Smell the Roses" ... "Chill"

These are all sayings telling us we are too serious about life and are missing the good stuff.

Imagination Arts :Games! presents a series of just-for-fun exercises that utilize proven art instruction techniques ... not for the serious business of making art, but for the fun of having a new experience. The program is actually entertainment with audience participation and the audience is the star attraction.  Program presenter Kristen Boyesen orchestrates the event with music, commentary, fast-paced 'scene changes', and lots of energetic encouragement.

Ten interactive drawing games are presented one after the other.  Each has its own color, pace, flavor, and tricks.  The tricks create the fun.  No one knows what to expect, but whatever it is, everyone is in it together, so must "go with the flow".

The program awakens and utilizes the drawing skills of the right side of the brain.  Everyone has these skills, but many are dissuaded from drawing-for-real because "fear of failure" emanates from the self-critical left side of the brain.  These games are not for drawing-for-real. The left side of the brain must take a break while all of this is going on, as it is not in its job description! 

Imagination Arts :Games! creates group synergy, relieves stress, and promotes inner peace ... all good ways for Healing Head, Heart, and Community.

Leaf and flower shapes

Two samples of organic shapes created very quickly with only brief glances at the paper.

The intent is brain exercise, quick observation, and hand-eye coordination to capture the essence of the organic shape.

The flower shape on the lower right is a poppy, drawn very slowly without looking at the paper.

Two Nested Shells

These examples show drawings produced using Imagination Arts techniques. A sense of inner peace is attained through the process of drawing. One need not harshly judge the results knowing there was a lot of chance involved in the creation of the image.

Let go of fear of drawing, have fun with the games, and be surprised at the results!

Three views of a sea shell

Tonka Truck

Drawn without looking at the paper

Toy Tools

Drawn by Sarah, age 7, without looking at the paper.

All ages enjoy Imagination Arts

A session at Ellenwood

Stare intently at the object. Draw without looking at the paper.

Review of Imagination Arts Presentation

Imagination Arts was presented as an evening program for Shadybrook. Review at title link.

Imagination Arts & Nature with Kristen S. Boyesen
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
reviewed by Donna Tiroly

How delightful! Such fun! Pure joy! So relaxing!

We began by listening to a very lovely short story in a little book from another century. It was chock-full of deliciously wonderful and descriptive words and phrases that conjured up picture upon picture. They created a simply fantastic and beautiful movie in my mind. My mind was happy! My body was happy! What a delightful way to relax!

Then we were gently led into our first fun art experience – drawing seashells without looking at the pen or paper: just keep looking at the shell! Meanwhile, beautiful music soothed away any anxiety. This activity was all about getting one’s right side of the brain in gear -- not about making an accurate drawing. “Try your non-dominant hand,” Kristen suggested. “You’ll see that the drawings won’t look any different.” She skillfully helped us quiet that judgmental critic that resides in the brain’s left side.


A second beautifully descriptive reading brought us back into the theater of mind pictures, relaxation, & fun. Then, on to drawing the mystery shapes hidden in bags. We just felt the object inside the bag while another relaxing music selection accompanied our experience. “Imaginative doodling,” Kristen called this activity. Her directions gave us complete freedom as she told us, “It doesn’t matter … no one will know what it really was anyway.” This freedom enabled everyone to allow the images in their minds to just flow out onto the paper. Pure fun!


A third reading of a very descriptive poem preceded the last activity, “Drawing Nature Shapes.” Flowers and leaves of all kinds awaited us on the tables. Once again, the directions and the music, along with Kristen’s gently supportive style, facilitated the right brain’s easy flow of creative activity.


Later, I remember a potato chip commercial that claimed: “You can’t eat just one.” On a healthier path for mind, body, spirit, I think, “WOW! You can’t DO just one -- be it sea shell or mystery bag or gentle touch drawing of nature shapes – you’ll want to do another and another.” It was truly an excellent program for revitalization in today’s seemingly crazy world.

To book an Imagination Arts program email Kristen:
wildernessartist (at) sbcglobal.net
(Copy and paste then replace middle section with @)

Vase and Jar

Art Games for Everyone

Art Experiences provides seminars, workshops and retreat activities for corporations, non-profits, schools, clubs, assisted living facilities, hospitals, and individuals through the Imagination Arts program.

Imagination Arts is: AN ACTIVITY for stress relief, team building in the work place, rehabilitation & wellness; A TOOL to overcome the fear of drawing & to improve hand/eye coordination; A CATALYST for activating intuitive abilities; and A PASTIME for entertainment, convalescence, fun & enjoyment!