Vinny Mraz, playwright, teaching artist, theater maker in NYC, and Lifetime Arts Trainer, takes a brush to canvas to paint portraits of some of his students while reflecting on his classes during quarantine.
Vinny Mraz
Playwright, teaching artist, theater maker in NYC, and Lifetime Arts Trainer, Vinny Mraz, was offering the third series of his program, “Comedy Workshop,” to his students at the Wartburg in Mt. Vernon, NY, when the COVID-19 crisis forced the class to disband. During quarantine, Vinny has thought a lot about his students and the characteristics and talents that each of them bring to class. To share his continued appreciation, he decided to pick up his paintbrush and create these portraits of some of his students that he shared on his Instagram. “I think I’ll continue to paint their pictures and share them as a reminder to keep our most vulnerable in mind as we keep moving forward!” said Vinny.
“Carol. She always wanted to do dance or physical improvisations, and loved to take collage classes (her earrings were made by her friend in one of those classes). She’s funny, charming, and strong and is a caretaker for her husband.”“This is a portrait of Clyde who is a really funny woman, storyteller, teacher, and just genuinely lovely and kind person.”“Terry. A lovely man who asked to FaceTime me from his parked car to go over how certain games worked and to ask how to remember what to say in a scene.”“Rosemary. She came the second year and was immediately folded into the group. She worried about her accent, but was consistently down to play and try something new. She also spoke so quietly in her scenes, but when she sang, was proud and confident.”“Vivian. She had catchphrases like, ‘oh la de dah,’ that she would throw out there when she didn’t know what to say, and said it all in a Georgia Engle kind of voice. She was a firecracker and I never knew when she would go off!”“Iris. If there was a wild card I think it was her. She was such a great physical player and quick-witted. But I never knew who she would be in her scenes or what kind of thread she would pick up!”
