Maria Madrid Reed Art

Join us at the next Community Sketch Hour at Coldwater Coffeehouse in Avondale!🎨

When: Thursday, August 7 at 9am
Where: Coldwater Coffeehouse and Bakery
127 E Western Ave, Avondale, AZ 85323

Free. Be sure to register at:
https://www.mariamadridreed.com/sketch

This month’s Community Sketch Hour at Coffeehouse was a blast! It was our very first one, so we’re still learning ways to improve, but overall I loved it. Thank you to all who came, it meant so much to see familiar faces, and to meet newcomers too.

Theres something truly special about connecting through art. Our bodies aren’t meant to be behind screens all the time, we need real connection too. Sketching might seem intimidating to some, and I totally get it if you feel this way, which is why this meet up is very flexible with what we do, you are free to create what you’d like! For our fist session, I gave everyone the option to do a little warm up exercise, or if they had a project already to work on that. It was so interesting to see everyone’s drawings at the end. There’s so much talent in our community!

If you missed it, don’t worry! Join us at the next one. All you have to do is sign up at the link in comments and bring your favorite sketchbook and pencils, pens, - or other art supplies you like 🎨 and get ready to get creative!!
All ages are welcome.

📆 Date: July 2nd
⏰ Time: 9am
📍Location: The Coldwater Coffeehouse
127 E. Western Ave. Avondale, AZ 85323

What theme should we do for our next meetup? I’m thinking perhaps flowers or animals, got any suggestions? Write them below!!

One of my most meaningful projects from 2025, was this vinyl mural I did for the City of Tolleson AZ - Government 's Senior Center. I am so grateful to have had this opportunity. I loved interacting with the Seniors during the brainstorming session, where they told me their stories, and shared what coming to this place every day means for them. The kindness and care poured into this center by the wonderful staff was truly heartfelt in their responses, which helped inspire this mural.

Each of the flowers represents the different kinds of personalities and backgrounds you will find here, all beautiful in their own way. The older and young hands, represent a meeting of the oldest version of ourselves, with our youngest self, also referred to as our inner child.

In life, we grow and go through many different stages, and from the moment we are born, we constantly transform and evolve. Here, I imagined that moment, where we look back and embrace all those parts of ourselves, lovingly and without judgement. Knowing that little kid is still inside regardless of the number of years we have lived. Celebrating each moment, each experience for what it was, and accepting it full of joy, love and gratitude, knowing that life continues to transform before us, and it's up to us to embrace it fully❤️