Hailing from Toronto, Ontario, Anne-Marie was accredited as a gifted artist from an early age. In 1978, she received the Etobicoke Board of Education Art Award. A former cartographer, technical illustrator and co-owner of a marina, she is also an avid boater and educator of safe boating practices to children.

She has developed many new ideas for the use of modelling clay art and has produced two books related to boating safety as commissioned by the Canadian Coast Guard. Anne-Marie teaches modelling clay art and hosts workshops for students of all ages and abilities.

Her career has had her travel to Canada's Arctic, the Maritimes, the West Coast, U.S.A. and the Caribbean. These adventures have provided valuable insight and inspiration for her work.

As she has been teaching clay illustration classes for nearly 18 years and doing the art for over 20, she was beginning to think the time had come to stop teaching. It has been 8 years or more since there was a spontaneous feedback of children doing the art on their own.

With technology increasing and capturing the time students have to create illustrations with their hands, she prayed to the Lord Jesus wondering if it was time to stop.

Recently, she was at Legacy Elementary School, in Markham where she taught kindergartens with a friend – Shirley. The students were so engaging and eager to participate in the clay workshops. And it was here that prayer was answered.

A young pupil named Jeran showed her an illustration the next morning of a sun, road grass, bushes and birds that he made that night at home with the left over clay. He smoothed the clay on a piece of cardboard and lovingly created another illustration all by himself.

His art was beautiful and he touched her heart so much! This is what a teacher waits a lifetime to see and experience. What he showed her was an expression of his mind put down in the art form, a window of opportunity to experiment with a new medium and have a lovely art masterpiece created.

He and his classmates inspired Anne-Marie to continue teaching this clay medium as long as there are hearts open to creating with their hands and minds. The measure of spontaneous creating is more important to her than any monetary benefits. This is why she loves to teach this art medium! Anne-Marie praises the Lord and thanks Him for teachers, EA's, parent volunteers and students like Jeran.

For more information or to book a session,
please contact Anne-Marie Hendry at:
705-733-1819
info@yarecruising.com.

Yare Cruising™! is a registered trademark of Yare Scene Inc. and is used by Yare Scene Inc under licence.
All illustrations are copyright of Yare Scene Inc. All rights reserved.