Newport Visual Arts Center Announces Fall Art Classes. Creative opportunities include painting, drawing, photography, printmaking, after-school art, and more.
Oregon Coast Council for the Arts will offer eight new learning opportunities at the Newport Visual Arts Center this fall. Registration is now open.
Adults 18 and over will have an opportunity to study Painting the Figure with award-winning artist Jordan Essoe from September 5 – October 10. In this six-week course held on Thursdays from 6 pm – 9 pm, participants will learn the basics of painting the human figure, including fundamental color theory and mixing, brush technique, rendering light and shadow, and understanding human anatomy. All instruction will be done in watercolor, including demonstrations and warm-up exercises. The central 2 hours of each class will be dedicated to making one painting, alternating between working from photo reference and live nude models.
Adults and youth ages 16 and over (or 13 and over with a participating adult) are invited to take part in Beginning Drawing with Carol Shenk, October 1 - November 5. This six-week course, held on Tuesdays from 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm, will provide a friendly environment where students can learn to draw what they see. Participants will use traditional drawing exercises and experimental approaches to consider basic drawing concepts such as space, weight, line, perspective, shadow, movement, and composition.
On Wednesday afternoons from 3 pm - 5 pm, beginning October 2, a new after-school Art Day Drop-In will give youth in grades 2-8 the opportunity to get creative each week. A rotating list of instructors will lead art activities so students can experience something different in each class (drawing, painting, printmaking, ceramics, cyanotypes, sculpture, music, and more).
Astrophotographer Jeremy Likness, whose work is currently on exhibit in the VAC’s upstairs gallery, will lead a special Intro to Night Photography workshop from 5 pm – 9 pm on Friday, September 13, and Saturday, September 14. This two-evening course for adults (and youth 16 and over with a participating adult) will cover everything you need to know to plan, take, polish, and present beautiful pictures of nighttime targets. Likness will cover specific strategies for galaxies, meteors, nebulae, the Milky Way, the moon, wide-angle star fields, star trails, time-lapse planetariums, planets, and even the sun. Dinner each night is included.
Adults and youth ages 8 and above (with a participating adult) can take part in Fancy Fall Foliage led by Rose James on Tuesday, September 10, from 5 pm – 8 pm. In this relaxing one-night class, students will use acrylic paint markers on prepared dried leaves and explore a variety of lines, circles, textures, and patterns to create a pleasing composition. Beachy Cards: Intro to Watercolor, led by Catherine Hingson on Saturday, October 12, from 12 pm – 4 pm, will give adults and youth ages 12 and above (with a participating adult) the opportunity to create hand-made cards with a beach theme while learning watercolor techniques such as lifting out clouds, color mixing, and salt interactions. These classes are part of the VAC’s “Passport to Art” series, offering one-day introductory workshops designed to introduce new mediums or styles in a fun, low-stress environment (with snacks included).
Sign Painting for All, led by Khara Ledonne on Saturday, September 21, from 1 pm – 4 pm, offers adults and youth ages 10 and above (with a participating adult) a chance to learn accessible techniques for making a stellar sign, with room for play and personal style. The afternoon will begin with no-pressure cardboard and markers; then, participants will try out a pounce wheel and chalk transfer and practice strokes with various brushes. Each student will leave with their own hand-painted sign.
On Tuesday, September 24, from 6 pm – 8 pm, Cheryl Horton will lead Printmaking 101 for adults and youth ages 13 and above. Participants will learn various printmaking techniques and try their hand at block printing. The class will begin with the basics of how to draw or trace a design – taking positive/negative space, mirror image, and relief into consideration – then students will transfer and carve their design onto a “speedy carve block.” Everyone will leave with a block and at least two prints.
Tuition for these classes ranges in price from $55 - $450. (Scholarships may be available.) Those interested are encouraged to register early, as class sizes are limited. To learn more, visit www.coastarts.org/education
Scholarships may be available through Oregon Coast Council for the Arts. If funds are a barrier to learning, students may apply for scholarships using links provided in each class listing.
The Newport Visual Arts Center was built by the City of Newport as a space for public art exhibition and art education programs. It is maintained by Oregon Coast Council for the Arts.
Oregon Coast Council for the Arts is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization developing, promoting, and celebrating community arts on the Oregon Coast. Learn more at www.coastarts.org
