The Shiawassee Arts Center will be offering the following new art classes this summer and fall. If you have been wanting to learn something new, fall is a great kick off time to get started.
*Open Oil Painting with Philip Ruehle, artist/instructor, 1 to 3:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Aug. 26 through Sept. 30. Receive one-on-one instruction while exploring the oil painting genre of your choice (still life, landscape, portraiture, non-objective abstract, etc.). This is a great opportunity to experiment with something new, or to improve upon something with which you currently find challenging. Students will need to bring their own supplies. Mineral spirits will be provided. Cost: $95 for a SAC member; $105 non-member. New session will follow.
*Nature Drawing on the Terrace with Barb Holmer artist/instructor, 2 to 5 p.m. four weeks on Thursdays, Aug. 20 through Sept. 10. Start your nature sketchbook while drawing at a leisurely pace on the terrace or porch of the Arts Center. Use pencil, colored pencil and/or watercolor to sketch subjects or views of nature while improving drawing and observational skills. Students should bring a sketchbook and supplies to the first class. In the event of inclement weather, class will be indoors. Cost, $64 for a SAC member; $72 non-member.
*Pottery on the Wheel with Linda Ruehle, SAC staff, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays, Sept. 15 through Oct. 27. (No class on Oct. 13). Also, 6 to 9 p.m. Thursdays, Oct. 29 through Dec. 10 with Master Potter Jim Reinert.
*Six weeks of beginning to intermediate level pottery. Various techniques of wheel throwing, hand building and glazing will be taught. Bring your tools, a notebook, an old towel and apron (optional). Individual development is of primary importance. Come experiment with clay! Includes 25 pounds of clay, glazes and firings. In every bag of clay, there is a pot! Dress for mess! Cost, $135 for a SAC member; $155 non-member.
*Serious Beginners Watercolor Painting with Anita Saviko, artist/instructor, 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays, Sept. 8 through Oct. 6. Each week a different basic technique will be featured to help the student practice basic watercolor skills by painting in class. Anita will do a step-by-step demonstration at the beginning of each class. The student will have the balance of the class to work on a painting hands-on with gentle suggestions from the instructor. The instructor will provide sketches and reference material for each class plus printed notes on techniques used for each painting. You can apply the techniques you learn to your own paintings. Do plan on painting a couple of hours at home during the week. This is a fun and relaxed way to learn the basic techniques you will need to paint watercolors successfully. Supply list available upon request. Cost is $125 for a SAC member; $135 non-member.
*Tea Dye Exercise Workshop with Cindy Evans, artist/instructor. 10 a.m. to noon Sept. 11, preparing paper, then 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sept. 12 for painting (30-minute lunch break). At times an artist might find themselves a little uninspired, slightly blocked and in need of a little “spark” to get them started again. The tea dye exercise is a great way to begin. Tea dying works much like the long time tradition of tie dying; only instead of ink you can use watercolor paper and tea. It creates wonderful soft patterns that you can interpret in any way you want, and allows you to use your imagination to find imagery and develop a painting.
In this workshop we will provide step-by-step instructions for artists who want to jump-start their creative process, walking through this tea dye process, renewing our pursuit of the joy of painting. See class supply list on line. Cost: $65 for a SAC member; $75 non-member.
*Beginning Fundamental of Blacksmithing with Arthur Johns 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Sept 15 through Oct. 13 (four students per session). This five-week course will offer a comprehensive, hands-on, overview of the art of Blacksmithing. Students will be introduced to basic forging and metal working techniques. These will include stock manipulation (both bar stock and sheet metal forming), basic tool making, traditional joinery and finishing techniques. Students will be making some of their own tools, functional objects and designing/building their own individual projects. Students are required to furnish for themselves proper safety gear (safety glasses, hearing protection, gloves and appropriate footwear). Arthur is an artist/blacksmith with a Master of Fine Arts degree and primarily works in forged iron or steel. Cost is $220 for a SAC member; $235 non-member.
*Water Base Ink/Hand Press Printmaking with Joan Larsen, artist/instructor, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24. In this fast-paced workshop you will learn the basics of the monotype process. Participants will be working with water based ink monotypes. This is a hands-on workshop and students will be printing their own monotypes during class. See supply list.
About Artist Joan Larsen: She is an award-winning artist whose artwork has been exhibited both locally and in statewide competitions. Joan holds a degree in Art Education (K-12) from Western Michigan University (emphasis in painting) and has taught a variety or art classes to all to all age groups. Cost is $65 for a SAC member; $75 non-member.
*Jacqueline Sullivan Workshop, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 13, fee is $85 for a SAC member; $95 non-member ($15 supply fee payable to Jacqueline for what she is providing). Pre-registration and payment required.
*Forged Metal Artist Book. This great artist’s book looks like it is forged from a piece of old steel, but in reality it is created using a fairly simple texturing technique done with metal tape, textural elements and acrylic paint. This technique could be applied to many book forms, but in this class we will concentrate on the Japanese Stab binding book form. Students will create “content” for their books with various media, including powdered paints and gesso. See supply list and photo on website. Registration and pre-payment is required for all classes. The Shiawassee Arts Center is at 206 Curwood Castle Drive, Owosso. Persons may call (989) 723-8354 for further information and registration.
