The Arts
Sewing Basics I
Come sew with us! Begin or refresh your knowledge of the essentials of sewing. The course introduces you to operating a sewing machine, essential tools, fabric types and preparation, basic stitches, reading patterns, and cutting fabric. Apply this knowledge to create simple projects in class. You will also learn about seam allowances, various seams, hems, and finishes. Start with the basics and prepare yourself for more advanced techniques.
Instructor: Zoee Frazier
Sewing Basics II
Ready to advance your sewing skills to the next level? Master more advanced techniques and intermediate projects in this course. Learn techniques for sewing smooth curves, sharp corners, pivoting, applying interfacing, installing zippers, creating bias tape, and adding style to your garments with pockets, pleats, and gathering. Additionally, this course will cover creating templates for size consistency in projects and provide instructions for sewing various professional seams. Basic sewing skills are required.
Instructor: Zoee Frazier
Beginning Ukulele
The ukulele is a hot instrument to play! In Beginning Ukulele, you'll learn its history, parts, tuning, basic playing techniques, strumming or picking styles, chord variations, and tips for playing with others. You’ll also practice songs and learn to transpose them using different chords or a capo. The instructor will cover different ukulele types, songbooks, accessories, and online resources. Don’t have a ukulele? No problem! The instructor will provide guidance on finding one and has a few "loaner ukes" for class use.
Intermediate Ukulele
Advance your ukulele skills in this Intermediate course. Explore chords beyond major, minor, and 7th, and learn various music styles. The course covers ensemble playing, basic music theory, and improvisation. You’ll understand music faster, gain a musical vocabulary, and feel confident playing with others. Designed to meet students’ needs, it emphasizes basics while exploring new topics. Basic uke chords and strumming comfort are required.
Intro to Songwriting
Songwriting is a unique and expressive art form that blends creativity with a deep understanding of musical principles. In Intro to Songwriting, you will embark on a journey to explore the essential elements that make up a song, including its form, function, structure, and various patterns. This course will guide you through the intricacies of crafting melodies and teach you how to discover different melodic designs that can elevate your songwriting. You will also delve into the development and arrangement of lyrics. Finally, you will learn how to seamlessly connect the words of your lyrics with the harmonious chords.
Instructor: Jenna DeMartino
Beginner Guitar
Start with the basics of learning to play a guitar. Learn how to hold, tune, and strum your guitar. Then explore fretwork and how it creates different sounds. Lessons will also cover basic notation, musical symbols, open notes, and chords. Understand the fundamentals of playing a guitar and practice learning a new song.
The required textbook, Guitar Method Book 1 by Hal Leonard, is available for purchase on the Hal Leonard website. A guitar (6-string electric or acoustic), a tuner, and picks are required.
Instructor: Jenna DeMartino
Nature’s Birdhouses
Discover the trend of using gourds as birdhouses and birdfeeders nationwide. Attract birds to your yard with a beautifully decorated and natural birdhouse made from a gourd. In Nature’s Birdhouses, choose a gourd to craft your own natural bird sanctuary. Gourds are prepped and ready for assembly; we provide paint supplies, just bring ideas and inspirational pictures for painting your gourd — as well as a paint shirt. Have fun and enjoy seeing and hearing birds in their new natural and decorated gourd home.
Springtime Birds
Go crazy with gourds! This fun, creative art project will inspire your creative self to make a bird of your imagination. In Springtime Birds, you will transform two small gourds into artistic birds. Make them silly or make them realistic. You will be provided two 4 to 6-inch cleaned gourds to decorate. The course will provide paint supplies, colorful wire, dowel rods, feathers, and bases for the birds. Just bring ideas and inspirational pictures for painting your gourd — as well as a paint shirt. Invite a friend or two and have fun bringing your silly gourd birds to life.
Tree of Life
The Tree of Life has emerged in multiple art forms. Create your own Tree of Life on a natural gourd. Learn about its history along with the history and functions of gourds. Then, use wire to form the tree structure and adorn with natural stones. Finish your creation with a treated pine needle rim. The course will provide a stained gourd, wire, stones, a rim, and supplies.
Seasonal Ornaments
Create hand-painted gourds just in time for the holidays. Learn about the fascinating history of gourds. Then, draw and paint a seasonal character onto two 4 to 6-inch gourds. You will have two unique ready-to-hang ornaments to give away or add to your holiday decorations. The course will provide two small gourds, embellishments, paint, and supplies. Examples will be displayed for inspiration; just bring a paint shirt.
Watercolor Fundamentals
Start with the fundamentals of painting with watercolor in this beginner-level course. Learn about the tools including paper types and weights, pigments, and brushes. Understand key techniques for brush control, water control, transparency, texture creation, wet-on-wet, blooms, blending, laying, dry brush, gradients, and washes. Practice painting compositions. Build your confidence and apply creative problem-solving skills while developing your individual style.
Instructor: Roseann Egidio
Watercolor Intermediate
Explore more advanced methods in watercolor techniques and materials to refine your artistic style. Build on fundamental skills with techniques like glazing, wet-on-wet, dry brush, layering, texture, and managing light and shadows. Experiment with various papers and water-based media, including tubes, pans, gouache, pencils, pastels, and markers; learn how to apply these materials in complex and expressive ways. Gain confidence painting landscapes, seascapes, still-lifes, and abstracts. Cultivate a unique artistic voice through the exploration of techniques, paint properties, color, composition, and content. Watercolor Fundamentals or foundational knowledge of watercolor is required.
Quick Watercolor Projects with Pen and Ink
Explore the fluidity of watercolor with the line work of ink to yield beautiful and expressive results. This course combines pen and ink with watercolor washes in quick small projects (such as cards, miniatures, bookmarks, etc). You will learn how to apply watercolor and ink in multiple formats. You will utilize basic watercolor and ink techniques, learn to apply the fundamentals of color theory and composition, and experiment with textural techniques. Develop your creative style and celebrate your artistic individuality. This course will help you break through your fears and help you observe objects in your environment for inspiration. No drawing experience is required! Each class includes an open exchange with the instructor and students, in-class exercises guidance on painting two to three works, and additional assignments for practice at home.
Watercolor Pastels and Pencils
Explore applications and techniques of water-based pastels and pencils in your watercolor artworks. This course introduces you to the tools and materials of watercolor pastels and watercolor pencils. You will learn basic watercolor techniques using dry and wet pastels and pencils, apply fundamentals of color theory and composition, and experiment with textural techniques. Develop your creative style and celebrate your artistic individuality. This course will help you break through your fears and help you observe objects in your environment for inspiration. No drawing experience is required! Each class includes an open exchange with the instructor and students, in-class exercises, guidance on painting two to three works, and additional assignments for practice at home.
Watercolor in Textures and Granulations
Experiment in this watercolor workshop with textures and granulation. Learn how to create a textured surface appearance through granulation, a technique that produces areas of darker and lighter color on the paper. Understand how to incorporate texture in artworks from natural scenes to abstract. Students will work on two to three watercolor paintings during class with additional assignments provided for practice at home.