Amanda Mathis sharing some of her art for sale at the gallery. photo by Cindy Steele
ART CAMP continued from 17 States, Canada, France, Germany, England, and Spain.
But the students keep her grounded. In fact, she has said that she is especially proud that her art highlights“ child-like qualities.”“ Really, I’ m still just one of them,” she said. Oh, but she is much more, too. How could she not
Art camper 7-year-old Axel Fowler.
18 Our Brown County July / August 2026 photo by Brian Blair be, now in her seventh decade, as she likes to say, of a life of works featuring figures and animals without faces— all to encourage the beholder to lean in a little more.
I believe that artists almost always see things just a little differently than other people,” she said.
One of her themes with these classes is“ Make
Art, Make Friends.”“ Well, we are friends,” she said. The senior classes for those 55 and older include four months of creativity, learning, and fellowship, with eight sessions per month, each with a different theme. Supplies are included.
Support for these classes comes from an anonymous donation from a gallery foundation board member to honor his late mother.
Ideally, Mathis is at the stage of teaching where she loves it as much as ever. Yet, in the coming few years, she would like to bring in someone to assume the leadership post for the youngest group, while she continues with the other classes.
“ But the first thing I have to ask them is‘ Do you love kids?’” she said. Her supply of energy remains. Right now,” she said,“ I just can’ t stop teaching.” •
For information on Amanda Mathis’ classes contact the Brown County Art Gallery at 812-988-4609.