NEW ULM — Watercolor artist Robyn Sand Anderson once had doubts about the value of art.

“I went through a period of time in my 20s where I thought, ‘What good is painting a pretty picture? What’s that going to do for the world?’ What I’ve come to figure out is that it does make a difference in the world. Even if it is just a pretty picture. It brings people’s attention to beauty ... to ordinary things.”

A professional watercolor artist living in New Ulm, she never expected to become an artist, but when she took an opportunity for nine months during the 1983-1984 school year to do it full time, six hours a day, every day, she was hooked.

She wanted to be a stay-at-home mother and if she could paint in her home studio, she felt it would be easier for her to continue her work as an artist.

Anderson takes commissions to paint “restored images in watercolor,” where she re-creates old black and white photographs into new watercolor paintings. Her paintings include sacred works, florals, landscapes and people. She also has painted large murals for the Putting Green Environmental Adventure Park in New Ulm.

“I’ve just always been excited about color,” Anderson said. “You know I never thought I’d be an artist, so it’s funny how that all kind of played itself out. It’s like, ‘Oh yes, I guess that makes sense,’ I’ve always really liked color, beauty...”

Anderson has been awarded three grants from the Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council and the McKnight Foundation. In 2004 she received a grant allowing her to frame up an exhibit for a series of six (and counting) psalms from the Bible. The show will be at Central Lutheran Church in Minneapolis in mid-January through February.

“So that was the first time that I was able to paint what I want to paint,” Anderson said. “It’s kind of like it’s finally come around full circle for me ... as far as finding what I think is my purpose for my art.”

Anderson attended Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, and received a bachelor of arts in art and art education in 1979. She taught at the New Ulm Public High School for three years in 1998-2001 and from 2001-2003 she taught fourth grade through adults drawing and painting classes in her home studio.

“Teaching at the high school really helped me actually, in learning how to teach better because you learn how to break it down.”

Now Anderson teaches watercolor workshops in her home studio.

“I think I have a gift of bringing it down to a basic level,” she said.

In her workshops she focuses on teaching one art concept and one art technique. A student could take one or all of the workshops because each one is a lesson unto itself.

“This class is for beginner beginners. I don’t want people to feel intimidated, and I tell people it’s very nonthreatening,” Anderson said. “I try to make it real simple, but I want them to walk away with a painting at the end of the day. It’s kind of the goal. I think it’s a blast, myself, so I try to share that. It brings me a lot of joy.”

Pat Johnson, who has been a resident of New Ulm for 33 years and who is also a student in Anderson’s watercolor workshop, took the classes last year when recovering from a hip fracture. And so far, she has taken three watercolor workshops from Anderson.

“I was a lady of leisure,” Johnson said, “It was a chance for me to do something for me. I thought it would be restful and soothing. She’s (Robyn) clear in what she’s teaching. She’s very affirmative. Everybody in the class does something good ... she finds something good in every student.”