Sabrina Gomez, a Mount Sinai Calm intern, volunteered as a model.
While many were rushing away from work on two recent afternoons, about two dozen Mount Sinai staff members took a peaceful detour—to after-work watercolor workshops at the Icahn Medical Institute.
The classes were sponsored by Mount Sinai Calm, 1199-SEIU, and Chashama, a nonprofit group that provides work space to artists and offers community-centered arts programs. Participants were given painting tips by Charles Esperanza, an author and illustrator with Chashama.
“Make a rough sketch first to make sure your figure will fit on the paper,” Mr. Esperanza said. “As you paint, look at the model more than at your paper.”
And finally, there was advice that could be applied to many endeavors: “Don’t expect perfection, just jump in and have fun.”
Mount Sinai Calm offers free self-care and stress-reduction programs. For a class schedule and to learn about future workshops, visit www.mountsinai.org/about/ms-fit/self-care or email 4calm@mountsinai.org.
Some of the participants’ paintings.