Saratoga Arts - Arts Center | Arts Council

Workshops with Nationally Known Instructors

Painting Flowers in Watercolor
with Robert J. O'Brien, AWS, NWS

Learning how to successfully capture the delicacy of petals as well as the gentle play of light and shadow of your favorite blossom can be frustrating, but watercolorist Robert J. O’Brien can teach you tricks and techniques to help you along. Students will learn basic floral painting techniques, with an emphasis on values and composition. Layering and blending color into soft edges will also be taught, with a gentle critique and discussion at the end of the session. The course will focus on painting from close-up photo references of flowers in an artistic setting and is a wonderful opportunity for students of all levels to bring their watercolor practice to a new level.

Wednesday, May 3, 2017: 10am - 4pm
$120 members / $130 not-yet-members

Robert J. O'Brien has been painting in the watercolor medium for over 40 years. Since moving to Vermont in 1977, he has focused his work on landscape and architectural studies. Vermont, with its distinct four season climate, provides the artist with a wealth of subject matter and every changing light effects. The artist finds beauty in the ordinary, subtle reminders of everyday life in rural New England. Robert has exhibited and taught throughout the United States as well as in Provence, France, and will be exhibiting with some of the world's best watercolor artists in Watercolor International III. For more about Robert visit his website at www.robertjobrien.com.

Springtime Farmscapes in Pastel
with Robert Carsten, PSA-MP, IAPS-MC

True to the season, and working from photos of this time of year, this workshop will concentrate on imbuing a sense of atmosphere and spring into our landscapes. Barns or other farm buildings add interest, but the real subject will be the “feel” of spring. We’ll conduct small studies and then concentrate on a larger pastel painting, with demonstration, critique, and lots of painting time. Some reference photos will be provided but please bring some as well. All levels welcome. A suggested supply list can be found on our website.

Wednesday, May 17 & Thursday, May 18, 2017: 10am - 4pm
$240 members / $260 not-yet-members

An enthusiastic promoter of the pastel medium, Robert K. Carsten is a master pastelist in the Pastel Society of America and a master circle pastelist (2013) in the International Assoc. of Pastel Societies (IAPS). He is an elected member of the Board of Governors of the Pastel Society of America and is a signature member of the Pastel Society of America, the Connecticut Pastel Society, and an Honorary Lifetime Member of the Southwest Florida Pastel Society. Learn more at www.robertcarsten.com.

The Impressionist Still Life - Concept to Finished Painting
with Ann Larsen, AWAM, AIS, RMPAP, OPS

The weather doesn’t always cooperate when you’re painting in plein air, and capturing the light and color that draws you to a particular landscape can be difficult once you’re back
in the studio. Using your plein air color studies, sketches, and/or photographic references Ann Larsen can teach you how to create stunning studio paintings. Emphasis will be on loosening your style, brushwork, capturing light, color, and the emotional moment while understanding how to work from reference materials. Concept, composition, value, color, and edges will be explored. One-on-one attention and demonstrations will be provided. Oil is the preferred medium for students, but acrylic and pastel are also welcome. For intermediate - advanced skill levels. A supply list can be found on our website.

Sunday, April 30, 2017: 10am - 5pm
$125 for members / $135 for not-yet members

Ann Larsen says of her work: “There is nothing more powerful in painting than a well composed, reserved, and solid statement. Such a painting can stir your soul and take your breath away!” Ann is a Master Signature Member of American Women Artists and Past President;  Signature Member of Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters, Signature Member American Impressionist Society; member Oil Painters of America and Laguna Plein Air Painters.   She is represented by Sorelle Gallery, Albany, NY; Saunders Gallery of Fine Art, Glens Falls, NY; Shavano Fine Arts Gallery, Salida, CO;  TrueNorth Gallery, Kennebunkport, ME and Davis & Blevins Gallery, Saint Jo, TX. Ann has been in over 20 gallery and museum exhibitions and most recently the Booth Museum of Western Art Museum and the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. Visit Ann’s website at www.annlarsen.com.

Classes & Workshops Open to All Media

Dyamic Design in All Media
with Takeyce Walter

Learn the fundamentals of creating dynamic design and captivating composition in your paintings. Artist and instructor Takeyce Walter will teach you techniques and tools to reveal striking and interesting design to help lead the viewer through, and keep them coming back to your painting. With lots of demonstrations, critiques, exercises, and assignments to help you grow your skills, you will be guided with one-on-one instruction. Reference material and assignments will be provided. Open to all levels and media.

Saturday, April 29, 2017: 10am - 4pm
$70 for members/$80 for not-yet-members

Landscape Painting in All Media
with Tom O'Brien

Capture the quality of light and vibrance of the outdoors in your paintings and drawings! Learn how to capture the basic elements of design and composition inherent in a variety of different landscapes, as well the basic rules for color mixing and techniques for applying paint and preparing the paper. This class is open to all levels and media. Visit our website for supply list and bring lots of photographs for reference.

Mondays, 10am - 12pm
April 24, May 1, 8, 15, 22, June 5, 2017. *No class on May 29*
$85 for members / $95 for not-yet-members

Painting on the Small Scale in All Media
with Takeyce Walter

Calling all artists: Get ready for our annual 10x10 exhibition with Takeyce Walter! This relaxed, fun workshop focuses on working on a small scale while making sure your pieces make a big impact. Concentrating on images, color, and a variety of painting techniques, students will complete a small scale painting in either pastel or oils with lots of one-on-one help from artist Takeyce Walter. This workshop is open to students of all levels and media, and no experience is required. Visit our website for supply list.

Saturday, June 17, 2017: 10am - 4pm
$70 for members / $80 for non-members

Understanding Values in All Media
with Takeyce Walter

There’s an adage in painting: “Value does all the work and color gets all the glory.” Without a strong foundation, and understanding of values, your paintings can appear flat, albeit colorful. Tonal values add volume, dimension, and depth to our artwork. In this workshop, we will focus on how to identify values, tones, and shades in our paintings. Takeyce Walter will provide demonstrations, critiques, exercises, and assignments to help you grow your skills. We will work from life and/or reference images, and you will be guided with one-on-one instruction.

Saturday, May 13, 2017: 10am - 4pm
$70 for members / $80 for non-members

All Media Costumed Portrait
with Corey Pitkin

Draw or paint a live model in full period costume during this exciting workshop! Instruction will be provided on lighting, staging, and historical accuracy as well as the use of photography and basic Photoshop techniques used to compose a scene. Paint along with the Corey Pitkin’s guidance to create a historically inspired portrait. Open to all media and students with a basic understanding of portraiture. Students are encouraged to bring a digital camera. Registration includes model fee.

Saturday, May 20, 2017: 10am - 4pm
$85 for members / $95 for not-yet-members

Oil painters, please bring: oil paints - at least a red, a blue, a yellow and a white, a 11”x14” or larger canvas or panel, a mix of brushes (the larger the better), odorless mineral spirits or other oil painting medium (no turpentine), a palette, and palette knife; pastelists, please bring assorted pastels, multiple sheets of colored, textured paper, a kneaded eraser, and masking tape. If you are working in a different medium bring what materials you are comfortable working with.

Exploring Abstract Realism
with Tom O'Brien

From portraits to landscape to still life, all realistic art contains some abstraction. Learn to loosen your approach to your artwork and explore the abstract and how it can be incorporated in realism, by simply organizing the composition, shapes of colors and values on the way to hyper realistic painting or a stylized picture as an end in itself. Bring reference photographs from portraits to nature or work from the still life setup provided. Open to all levels and media.

Thursdays, 10am - 12pm
May 4, 11, 25, June 1, 8, 15, 2017. *No class May 18*
$85 for members / $95 for not-yet-members

Framing Artwork on a Budget: Tools for the Artist
with Jennifer Anstey

Perfect for artists interested in solutions for framing work for submission or those who need economical solutions for displaying their collection, this workshop will help teach you how to properly and creatively mat and frame your artwork without breaking the bank. Bring a piece of artwork that you are interested in finding a framing solution for. *Please note that this workshop will take place off-site and not at Saratoga Arts*

Sunday, April 23, 2017: 1 - 4pm
JDH Framing Studio, 23 Ashley Drive, Ballston Lake NY
$35 for members / $40 for not-yet-members

Introduction to Digital Photography
with Harry Wirtz

Do you have a digital camera but are unsure of all those dials, buttons, and settings? Do you want to take your photography from the every day to the extraordinary? Photographer Harry Wirtz will help you explore your camera’s adjustments and controls to work with light, time, and subject matter to make creative images - as well as teach you how to use basic photo editing software techniques to refine those images. This is a perfect workshop for those who are looking to bring their photography to the next level. Bring your camera, instruction manual, and lots of questions!

Saturday, May 6 & Sunday, May 7, 2017: 10am - 4pm
$140 for members / $160 for not-yet-members

Silk Painting: Sun Catchers & Cover Ups
with Mary Francis Millet

Let the color flow in this fabulous, fun-filled workshop! Painting on silk is a wonderful way to bring color and low pressure spontaneity into your life - as
well as into your wardrobe! Learn how to apply resist and vibrant silk dyes to create your very own design on a 12” stretched silk sun catcher as well as create a beautiful drip dye swimsuit cover up/caftan. This is a wonderful and relaxing workshop is open to all and no experience is necessary. A $25 materials fee is due to Mary Frances at the beginning of class.

Wednesday, April 26, 2017: 6 - 9pm
$35 for members/ $40 for not-yet-members

Crafting Enamel Jewelry
with Matt BalintThis fun and exciting class is an introduction to powder enamel techniques and the basic skills necessary for fusing glass to copper and silver. Students will learn to use a kiln and torch and have the choice of creating several projects such as earrings, ring, or pendant. This class is open to all levels and no experience is necessary! All supplies and tools will be provided. Class size is limited to 10. A $30 materials fee is due to Matt at first class.

Tuesdays, 6:30 - 9pm
May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, June 6, 2017
$90 for members/$100 for not-yet-members

The Creative Habit: Making Time to Write
with W.B. Belcher

Writers write, but sometimes they need a nudge. This workshop, led by W.B. Belcher, critcially acclaimed author of Lay Down Your Weary Tune, is designed to jump-start your writing through class discussion on effective storytelling, directed exercises, and group workshopping in a supportive and generative environment. Participants will learn to embrace the writing process, feed their creative habit, and increase their productivity. The class is open to all levels and interests, but instruction will focus on fiction and creative nonfiction.

Wednesdays, 7 - 9pm
May 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, June 7, 2017
$85 for members / $95 for not-yet-members

W.B. (Bill) Belcher is the author of the novel Lay Down Your Weary Tune, which was published last year by Other Press. He has published work in Entropy, Post Road,  an other literary outlets. His latest story is forthcoming in The Papercuts Anthology, Volume 2 (Cutlass Press) and he's a contributing writer for The Alt, The Capital Region's alternative newsweekly. As a teacher, he's led workshops in fiction, memoir, and grant writing for Inkberry, The Sage Colleges, Saratoga Arts, and Grub Street. For more information visit his website, wbbelcher.com.

Weaving
with Nancy Sharples

Both the experienced weaver and the curious beginner will have the chance to work on a 4-harness floor or table loom to create a wall hanging, scarf, table runner, or small rug in this hands-on class. Please bring a good pair of scissors. A materials fee of about $15 (depending on project) will be due at first class. Class size is limited to 9. Saratoga Arts’ Weaving Studio is open daily to all registered weaving students to work on their projects outside of class hours during the following times: M-F, 9am - 4:30pm and Sat, 11am - 4:30pm.

Wednesdays, 1 - 3pm
May 10, 17, 24, 31, June 7, 14, 2017
$85 for members / $95 for not-yet-members

Silversmithing & Metal Fabrication
with Matt Balint

Learn the basic techniques of silversmithing and create a piece of original jewelry or sculpture in sterling or fine silver. This class is a fun and laid back environment where students will receive an introduction to a number of techniques and approaches to two and three-dimensional design as well as establish a foundation for the fabrication of jewelry. All of the necessary tools will be provided. Class size is limited to 10. There will be $30 materials fee due to Matt at the first class.

Wednesdays, 6:30 - 9pm
May 17, 24, 31, June 7, 14, 21, 2017
$90 for members/ $100 for not-yet-members