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Professional and Lifelong Learning
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The Arts

Watercolor Workshop & Studio series

Become inspired and develop your individual creative style in this Watercolor Workshop and Studio series. Each month, the workshop focuses on a different subject matter. From landscapes to abstracts, learn about techniques, materials, and colors to create dynamic and expressionist works. Students will work on two to three watercolor paintings during class with additional assignments provided for practice at home. Whether you are a beginner, struggling to complete an unfinished watercolor, or seeking to rescue an artwork, gain new knowledge of materials and develop problem-solving skills. Join us each month for topics in landscapes, still-life and fruit, seascapes, flowers and flora, and abstract.

Instructor: Diana Dempsey

Colorful watercolor painting

Woman's face watercolor drawing

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.

Instructor: Diana Dempsey

Register for Quick Watercolor Projects with Pen and Ink

Colorful pastel drawing

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.

Instructor: Diana Dempsey


Register for Watercolor Pastels and Pencils

Marble-like texture created with watercolor

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.

Instructor: Diana Dempsey

Register for Textures and Granulations

Sunflower painting with gouache

Watercolor and Gouache Workshop

Discover gouache and techniques for adding it to your watercolor paintings. Learn how to manage it with watercolor to add color, layers, and dimension to artworks, or learn how to use gouache on its own. Experiment and create through hands-on exercises before painting two to three artworks during class. Continue practice at home with additional assignments. Develop your creative style and celebrate your artistic expression.

Instructor: Diana Dempsey

Register for Watercolor and Gouache Workshop

Gourd birdhouse and feeder

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.

Instructor: Linda Vacca

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Silly gourd birds

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.

Instructor: Linda Vacca

Register for Two Silly Gourd Birds

Tree of Life gourds

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.

Instructor: Linda Vacca

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Christmas ornaments made with gourds

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.

Instructor: Linda Vacca

Register for Two Seasonal Gourd Ornaments

Woman concentrates on sewing fabric using a sewing machine

Sewing Basics

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

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A close-up of a wooden ukulele

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.

Instructor: Ken Connors

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Singing songwriter

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

Register for Intro to Songwriting

Acoustic guitar

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

Register for Beginner Guitar