Testimonials

Extreme Art Makeovers – From Stick Figures to Artist and Beyond

7 life transformations engendered by Art

Penniless surfer now earning 6 figures painting in Bahamas
70 year old wanna be artist - 500 portraits by age 84
Research scientist comes to color rubber stamps… studies with Sandra and her work ends up in Smithsonian
Psychologist in Illinois uses Sandra’s method as a therapy… lifelong patients unblocked in 6-8 weeks
55 year old Entrepreneur uses art to decompress
Caregiver uses art to take mini vacations without leaving home
Nordstrom Buyer – experiences brain damage, must quit job. After 6 months with Sandra, she’s become an amazing artist
Engineer for F16 draws the jet he designed
30 year old Marketing Executive uses art to unwind

Not only did she win, her art work was exhibited in the Smithsonian.

Sandra's student, Marsha Vanetsky entered the Graceful Envelope Contest.

My art was so bad it never even made it to Mom’s fridge, but when I retired at 68, I looked to art for a new challenge, enrolling just to color rubber stamps” says retired research scientist, Marsha Vanetsky. “When I discovered I was in a drawing class and heard Sandra Angelo say that she could teach anyone to draw, I snickered in disbelief and almost left. I didn’t want to embarrass myself or disappoint her, but something compelled me to stay."

"Who would have believed that I would go from skeptical novice to an artist whose work is in the Smithsonian? With the solid foundational skills Sandra taught me, I have gone on to explore a wide variety of art media. Now I spend 6-8 hours several days a week, in creative pursuits. Art provides my brain with continual stimulation making me feel fully alive!"

Marsha is just one of more than 25,000 people who have learned to draw using Sandra Angelo’s revolutionary So You Thought You Couldn't Draw?™ system, a 60 day 150 page workbook with 4 companion DVDS. Sandra’s classrooms are teeming with wanna be’s, a large percentage over 50.

On the fast track when they were in college, Boomers didn’t slow down to enjoy the arts. Two income families, they were preoccupied with work and raising kids and had virtually no time for personal pursuits. Now that their kids are grown they are turning out to Sandra’s classes in droves.

Not only are they learning to draw, their lives are being transformed in the process.

“I was explaining this phenomenon to a doctor one day,” says Sandra, “and he nodded.”

"Yes, Sandi, when you introduce people to Art, they access their dormant right brain and link dendrites between the right and left hemispheres. Their lives are transformed because they begin to function with the whole brain. In fact researchers who did an autopsy on Einstein found that he had thousands of dendrite connections. We use so little of the brain power available to us. Although he did have a high IQ, a lot of his brilliance was due to the fact that he used the whole brain.

I belong to a group of doctors who are now purposefully pursuing all sorts of artistic endeavors like drawing, painting, dance, theater and writing, simply to engender whole brain function."

Reading through the following testimonials you will get a small glimpse into a few of the kind of benefits people are deriving from art.

Stanford, Yale, and Columbia

University Research Benefits of Art:

Keeps brain young - active

Stress relief

Problem Solving

Links Brain Hemispheres

Ups Your Self Esteem

Neurological Medical Breakthroughs

Accelerates Learning

Unleashes Creativity

Downright Fun

Before and After by Fred DeGroot, Engineer for the F16

Since we were small boys jettisoning paper airplanes from our tree house, my brother and I have been consumed with the love of jets. I became an engineer for the F16 so when I learned to draw, I wanted to recapture a memory; the night my brother and I took the jet up for the last time on his final flight in the Air Force.

BEFORE

When I draw, I am there again; I can smell the jet fuel; feel the cinch of the canvas belt, and the pulsation of 9G’s. Thank you Sandra.

Pictured: Fred DeGroot’s first drawing and the portrait he drew of his brother a few weeks later.

AFTER

Before and After by Doris Martin, School Teacher

When I started Art with Sandra, my drawing skills were pretty pathetic, but I had always wanted to pursue art so I stuck with it. Very quickly, I began to develop such great skills that I started to draw everything around me.

BEFORE

When my son sent me a bouquet, I painted it and shrunk the painting down into a greeting card so that I could say ‘thank you’. I drew photos of us hiking the mountains together, and many more memories from my family album. I am using art to create a legacy for my grandchildren.

Doris Martin, Retired School Teacher

AFTER

For over 10 years, I have been

recommending Sandra’s drawing

program for my clients. I have seen

dramatic life changes as I combined art

with other methods of therapy.

Breakthroughs happen swiftly and have

long lasting effects, spilling over to other

areas of their lives. Now that I’m retired,

I called Sandra to buy her system for

myself. I want to see what drawing can

do for me!

Dr. Robert Reed, Psychologist,

Wheaton, Illinois

Dramatic improvement by 70 year old Nita Draut, Retired Secretary

I started art with very weak skills at 70 years old. Now, I’ve completed more than 500 lifelike portraits. Art is my passion and gives me new challenges daily.

BEFORE

I once heard a phrase that sums up my experience… When you are green you are growing: when you are ripe, you rot. Art keeps me green because there are always new vistas to conqueror. I’ll be 84 in May and I still draw daily, completing 2-3 portraits weekly.

AFTER

Nita Draut, Retired Secretary, Rancho Bernardo, CA

Kathy Napier Uses Art to Take Mini Vacations Without Leaving Home

Three years ago my husband was diagnosed with cancer and suffered a severe stroke resulting in the loss of the use of his right hand, arm, & leg.

BEFORE

The following year, I was diagnosed with breast cancer and went through surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation and lost all of my hair. On a whim, I decided to enroll in Sandra’s art class and she taught me how to draw.

AFTER

Daily escapes into the serenity zone helped me face my health challenges and regain self-confidence. The ensuing pleasure, tranquility, and satisfaction make my life rich and full. As of 6 months ago, I am cancer free, I have hair again and I am so relaxed.

Kathy Napier, Mother, Caregiver, Former Teacher, San Diego, CA

“The first drawing pencil I ever held was in Sandra's class. She was the one who taught me how to use it and now my work is in the Smithsonian. I can't believe it!”
Marsha Vanetsky
Retired Research Scientist

"At age 70, I signed up for Sandra’s drawing class. My art was really bad but in just a short time I was drawing like a pro. I am so hooked on art that I have drawn more than 300 lifelike portraits, and I’m only 80, so I have plenty of time to do more. Art has changed my life. "
Nita Draut
Retired Secretary

"Drawing is very relaxing for me, a de-stresser."
Sandra Trent
Executive Assista

"Sandra is just amazing. I learned more from her in one class than I did in a whole semester elsewhere!"

"I bought this book and… In literally 2 hours I went from near stick figure drawing to duplicating complex & beautifully executed likenesses of Sandra's original drawings. It's like the "drawing fairy" has come to live within me. I love the process that Sandra teaches and I love what I'm able to do with it."

Sandy Mclennan
Realtor

I have looked at a lot of drawing books and this is the easiest to follow. You work in the book, do every
exercise and you will be amazed at what you can do. You will see progress right away. I am so glad I found
this book.

"I’m earning a handsome living as a full time artist now, traveling the globe painting to my heart’s content. Thanks, Sandra."
Grant Pecoff
Professional Artist

"Don’t hesitate on buying Sandra Angelo’s books, videos, or tools. Her approach to teaching drawing has opened a whole new world for me. I’ve nearly completed the “So You Thought You Couldn’t Draw” book … and I’m completely astounded at my progress… Sandra’s videos are a must … Sandra clearly describes her techniques, gradually moving the student through a series of exercises that quickly shows results. The tools Sandra recommends and sells are proven and the best quality for a reasonable price. It took the pressure off of me to decide what tools would produce the best drawing."
Mary Worley
Proposal Specialist SAIC

Larry Rello, Print Broker uses art to unwind after a day of business.

My wife wanted me to join an art class and I reluctantly complied. Little did I know this would be a wonderful new way to siphon off work related stress. My job can be crammed with tension at times. I use art to unwind by escaping into a zone where the day’s angst can’t reach me. I can’t even believe how rapidly my skills have progressed. I look at my art and I’m amazed. I didn’t know I had that in me!

Larry Rello, Print Broker, Rancho Penasquitos, CA

Sandy Skillern, OR Nurse uses art to destress after a long day in the operating room.

For 12 years, I’ve been studying with Sandra Angelo, not only learning classical foundations in art but a whole new way of seeing the world. My husband and I travel to all kinds of exotic locations 5-6 times per year and I take my drawing along; capturing a sunset on the Grand Canal in Venice, painting in English gardens, drawing whatever surrounds me.

BEFORE

Instead of just snapping pictures and moving on, art allows me to slow down and savor the scenery. To pass tedious hours on the airplane, I pull out my sketchbook and disappear into the serenity zone.

AFTER

Art has amplified my senses and even enhanced my scrap books. Remembering the principles of composition that Sandra taught me, I take photos from a fresh perspective instead of the boring mug shots that you see in most albums. Before Art, life was vanilla. Now it’s 31 flavors!