Candice Simpson is an art teacher, painter, and a passionate ‘wholeness through creativity’ advocate! She works as a COMPAS teaching artist and also teaches and creates in her studio in NE Minneapolis’ Arts District, the California Building. Candice worked as the Art Teacher and then Art Director at a day program for adults with disabilities, and has taught workshops at the Walker Art Center, Art Start, the Highland Friendship Club, White Bear Center for the Arts, and participated in several artist-in-residencies around Minnesota. She currently offers in-person group classes at her studio and 1:1 online art classes for adults.
Curiosity is at the heart of her art practice, with a drive to explore, stretch, and discover new ways and mixed mediums to interpret the delightful wonder she sees in nature, and especially in trees!
Candice has been featured on Fox 9 News.
Candice’s programs are designed for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. They can be customized for out-of-school programs for children and teens. She does not offer residencies for schools.
Program Offerings
Art Kit
Bright & Colorful You; Abstract Oil Pastels
This custom “Art Kit” contains a set of oil pastels, 2 pieces of pastel paper, a print of the project we will be creating (for inspiration), a “Hot Tips” reminder guide listing the top things to keep in mind when creating with oil pastels, and a fun surprise sure to make them smile!
Workshops
Mood Shift Art (Pop-up)
Navigating our daily emotions can feel confusing and complex. In this interactive and playful exploration of emotion through art-making, each student will be guided to create expressive, tactile, abstract paintings using tempera paint sticks, watercolor pencils, rope, lunch-bag paper, and more! The experience integrates creative expression, building emotional resilience, and safe space group sharing, all in a playful and spontaneous manner.
This activity can be a 10–30-minute project.
Bright & Colorful You! Abstract Oil Pastels
In this fun art class, we will explore learning to express ourselves with brilliant and creamy oil pastels! Each student will create a gorgeous abstract piece of art while learning techniques and skills of “painting” with oil pastels.
Residency
My Rainbow of Feelings
Navigating our daily emotions can feel confusing and complex. In this interactive and playful exploration of emotion through art-making, each student will be guided to create expressive, tactile, abstract paintings using tempera paint sticks, watercolor pencils, rope, lunch-bag paper, and more! This series integrates building both life and art skills, such as intuitive expression, color theory, group conversation, and open-hearted sharing and listening, so that each student learns new ways to experience their emotions and tools of expression that transform confusion into peace and ease.
Bright and Colorful You! Abstract Oil Pastels
In this fun art class series, we will explore learning to express ourselves with brilliant and creamy oil pastels! Each student will create a gorgeous abstract piece of art while learning techniques and skills of “painting” with oil pastels. I will guide them step-by-step through the process, using conversation, demonstration, and 1:1 support. Each student will be invited to show off their work to their classmates at the end of the series, to promote confidence and a sense of connection.
Watercolor 3D Collage
In this series, students create 2 or 3 abstract watercolor paintings using unexpected and traditional tools such as eye droppers, toothbrushes, and paint brushes. Each student then gets to choose 1 of their paintings to keep as is, and 1 (or 2) to use as collage paper, along with tempera and/or acrylic paint, to create a 3-dimensional collage. The unique subject matter of each collage will be decided by the student, following a collaborative discovery session called “My Favorite Things.”
Teaching Artist Statement
Candice brings playful curiosity and a sense of discovery to her teaching work, listening and watching to identify what lights each student up, so she can support them in unleashing their unique creativity and growing their skills, confidence, and joy! She focuses on finding the “sweet spot” of balancing each person’s support needs, while encouraging independence and gently stretching into new things.
“They had the BEST time and are so excited for her next class. The way Candice got them all to open uTeaching Approach: Candice brings this same playful curiosity and sense of discovery to her teaching work, listening and watching to identify what lights each student up, so that she can support them to unleash their unique creativity and grow their skills and feeling of confidence, and joy! She focuses on finding the “sweet spot” of balancing each person’s support needs, while encouraging independence and gently stretching into new things.p and engage with her and one another, it was magical! I saw my sister become more resilient and learn to use her own creative ideas. At the end of class my sister seemed so confident and proud, I loved seeing that!”
Alex S., sister of art student
“You give him wings!”
Stacey L., mother of art student
“Candice is a unique individual-she knows how to bring out the best in her students. Candice supported my daughter in ways that have developed her confidence and independence as an artist. Candice is an outstanding art teacher who individualizes her instruction to meet the diverse needs of her students.”
Asha J., professor of Psychology, University of Minnesota
Student samples:
