A Little About Claudia by Claudia

          My father ran an office supply and printing company.  The endless possibilities of pens, papers, paints and inks captivated my imagination for as long as I can remember.  It was a place of great wonder.  I walked the aisles, touching the crayons and paint tubes, dreaming about all the creative possibilities.   The smell of newly printed ink on paper and the sound of the printing presses always lured me to the back rooms where the printers did their work.  I loved watching the images magically appear with each pass of the press arm.  I learned to love the power of images, color and pattern.  I always knew I wanted to create art.

               After school I would sit among the stacks of picture books at the Public Library.  I would loose myself in the images on the pages.  I was loved the magic of the old drawings of artists like Palmer Cox, Harrison Cady, Hilary Knight, Amy Millicent Sowerby, Beatrix Potter, Cicely Mary Barker, Bessie Pease Gutmann, Jessie Wilcox Smith, Ruth Mary Hallock, Margaret W. Tarrant, Kasha Tudor and many others.  I spent most of my free time drawing.  My parents were very supportive since I was otherwise a very active child.  I think I was only quiet when I was drawing.  I was a child full of questions, possibilities, and ideas.  I learned visually and I always knew that if I continued my education it would be in the field of art.  I went to college thinking I would go into commercial art and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in art.  I married and raised a family shortly after graduation and I never stopped drawing with and without my children. 

             My work became child and home oriented and sold throughout the United States and Canadian gift markets. It was featured on the covers of Leisure Arts: The Magazine and Celebrations, and on materials published by the National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse. I opened Rohling Studios, where I oversaw the production, distribution, and creative development of my work as prints and greeting cards. My dream was always to do a children’s book that helped children to believe in themselves.  The results are the award winning children’s books, “Just Because I Am: A Child’s Book of Affirmation”,  “A Leader’s Guide to Just Because I Am: A Child’s Book of Affirmation”, “We Can Get Along: A Child’s Book of Choices”, and “A Leader’s Guide to We Can Get Along: A Child’s Book of Choices”.   In addition, I now work as a psychotherapist in Racine, Wisconsin. 

 My work now includes a speaking and consulting service which offers training, workshops, and seminars on a variety of topics including healing and art, creative parenting, self-esteem for children, tapping into your creativity, creativity and women, change as a creative challenge, stress management, and many others.  I have the best of both worlds.  I am still the active child I was so many years ago.  I still find my quiet time takes me to the drawing board, which will always be my first love.  And, I am still childlike, full of questions, possibilities, and ideas. I enjoy working with people and helping them to tap into their own creativity.

About five years ago I took a trip out West.  The rocks, canyons and caves held the images that Native American Indians created centuries ago. These petroglyphs tell the ageless stories of their spirit and truths and have been passed to us through time. It moved me deeply that these simple images were a part of their everyday life stories.  Today we create images on subway walls, streets, fences, magazines and books.   There are images everywhere we look.  We still strive to tell our stories through art.  In our cities we may call it graffiti, advertisement, or decoration.  In our museums we call them paintings, sculpture or jewelry.  In our souls we call it art.  Art is story telling.  Art is a process.    In my art I have tried to tell my stories by linking images of my heart with the images of the past and present.  I thank you for sharing in my process.

             Warmly,

           Claudia Rohling, MSW.                        

Information on Claudia’s Author and Artist Visits

Credentials:

Claudia has been a speaker for numerous local, regional, state, and national conferences.  She is a working artist and a psychotherapist with a Master’s Degree in Social Work and she has worked in both hospital and private settings to provide educational and therapeutic groups.   Claudia has been a frequent speaker within elementary schools, teacher in service programs, and trainings.  She offers topics within her books, “Just Because I Am: A Child’s Book of Affirmation”,  “A Leader’s Guide to Just Because I Am: A Child’s Book of Affirmation”, “We Can Get Along: A Child’s Book of Choices”, and “A Leader’s Guide to We Can Get Along: A Child’s Book of Choices”.  Parents, children, teachers, and counselors find her workshops to be informational, motivational and experiential. Her lectures to professional groups have reportedly increased productivity and helped to tap into creativity.  Her Women’s Empowerment Groups have been presented at Homeless Shelters, Hospitals, and Women’s Clubs.   

Fees:

Claudia’s fees are $1500 per day plus travel expenses, meals and lodging.  Expenses can be shared by organizations, or by bookstores to reduce costs so long as time expectations are reasonable.  Often bookstores will also work to bring authors, illustrators and speakers to the community.  For instance, if she is going to be within a city the travel expenses, several schools or groups can share meals and lodging.

Equipment and Supplies:

Claudia uses power point in large presentations.  For smaller experiential groups she will advance a list of supplies to be provided by you at the time of the presentation.  The list and cost of supplies will be agreed upon in advance. 

Taping or Recording of Presentations:

Taping or recording of presentations must be contracted before the day of the event.  Permission is sometimes granted dependent upon future use of tapes and recordings. 

Ordering and Autographing of Books:

Claudia will be happy to autograph books, bookmarks or posters.  This can be done within a school setting or through the local bookstores.  All books can be ordered at a discount in advance through Free Spirit Publishing.  Free Spirit is an award-winning publisher of books and other learning materials for children and teens, parents, educators, counselors, and everyone else who cares about kids. Book fairs are also available.  Their Web site gives you a fast and easy way to learn more about them, explore their catalog, order their books, meet their authors, and get the latest news. If you have questions along the way, send them an email or drop them a note. Happy exploring!  Arrangements for unsold books and posters must be made with Free Spirit Publishing.

Do You Have Any Stories About Ways You Have Used The Books?

You are one of kind and unique!  Tell us about yourselves. Send us your stories, artwork and class pictures and projects for inclusion on a page that is coming soon!!!!  Claudia will respond to your email as soon as possible.  Send attachments to Claudia@RohlingStudios.com

CLAUDIA'S WEB HOME

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