Alice Van Overstraeten with her students Pat Mattz, Nancy Gale, Sharon Gale, Mary Lou Hays and Eileen Schwartz
Sharon Gale
The students at Sun Lakes are having to say goodbye to their watercolor art teacher, Alice Van Overstraeten. She is retiring from teaching in Chandler. She is still teaching pastels and watercolor in the Tempe, Gilbert and Mesa areas.
The Sun Lakes art students will miss her greatly but plan to see her once a month for a lesson at her new home in Friendship Village.
Alice has inspired her students to create on their own. She provided classes that exhibited her talents and skills which she was very adept at passing on to her students.
Being an accomplished artist like Alice, she always inspired her students with a variety of techniques and skills that they were then able to apply to their own artistic endeavors.
Providing an atmosphere that gives confidence and self-esteem to students is difficult. Alice was able to do this with patience, understanding and humor.
Alice is a graduate of Albion College. She has been painting and teaching all her life which includes classes in Australia, Europe and the United States. She is proficient in all medias; pastels, watercolor, oils, acrylic and mixed media.
Her work is displayed throughout the Phoenix area. She is the author and illustrator of My Zoo Cookbook for children. She is also the author and illustrator of the book Hairy Kitten, a Fairy Tale. This was a story that was told to her as a child by her mother, Hettie Cawthorne.
She is active in many art associations throughout the Phoenix area. Her art is displayed in offices, shops, galleries and private homes in Australia, Canada, Mexico and the United States.
We as students have been privileged to have her as our teacher.
A small party was held for her at Sharon Gale’s home in Oakwood. The last class Alice taught in Sun Lakes was, as always, inspiring.
Thank you again, Alice. Your students wish you the very best always.