Studio School

Sat & Sun, Sep 22 & 23, 10 am–4 pm (2 sessions)| Studio School, 2nd floor
Marjorie Perrin

Beginning artists and those wanting to brush up on their skills will discover the basics of drawing, including pattern and composition, light and shade, proportion, three-dimensional form, and perspective. Learning through demonstrations, class discussions, and individual instruction, students complete multiple drawings working from the still life and landscape images. Soft vine charcoal (assorted sizes), 18" x 24” sketch pad, and a kneadable eraser required.

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$145 (VMFA members $130)

Sat, Sep 22, 10 am–4 pm | Studio School, 2nd floor
Karen Eide

Encaustic painting is an ancient process using molten, pigmented beeswax to create layered and luminous art. This workshop, designed for both new and experienced painters, teaches classic encaustic techniques and ways to combine them with contemporary painting techniques and mixed media. Discover collage, incising, texturizing, surface embellishment, and relief work, as well as how to combine oil paint, pastels, inks, watercolors, and gouache with the encaustic. Returning students may begin exploring larger scale works. Some materials included.

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$105 (VMFA members $90)

Sat & Sun, Sep 29 & 30, 10 am–4 pm  (2 sessions)| Studio School, 2nd floor
Dawn Flores

This workshop provides step-by-step instruction on a variety of watercolor techniques, including special effects, glazing, wet on wet, washes, and more. Working from colorful photographs or still lifes of flora and fauna, students explore the full range of watercolor painting. Prerequisite: basic drawing skills.

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$145 (VMFA members $130)

Sat, Oct 6, 10 am – 4 pm (1 session)| Studio School, 2nd floor
KENDRA WADSWORTH

This workshop will focus on new and unexpected ways to make marks and incorporate varied materials into your drawing.  Students should bring a cordless drill, a variety of carbon and graphic pencils, Prisma colored pencils, glue, and a variety of materials that can be attached to heavy mixed-media paper. A fee of $10, payable to the instructor at the beginning of the workshop, will cover 2 pieces of heavy drawing paper. Prerequisites: basic drawing skills

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$90 (VMFA members $75)

Sat, Oct 6,  10 am – 4 pm (1 sessions)  | Studio School, 2nd floor Conference Room
LAURA PHARIS

Altered book “Junk Journals” are a personalized keepsake that can function as a diary, art journal, scrapbook, travel album and more. Students will see examples of Junk Journals, then create their own using a hard cover book that they provide and are willing to cut up. Participants will carefully remove about half the pages in the book, then add visual ephemera, color, texture, and pockets to create an inviting space to journal, draw, or collect.  Students will create their own Junk Journal to treasure or give as a special gift.

$90 (VMFA members $75)

Sat, Oct 6,  10 am – 4 pm (1 sessions)  | Studio School, 2nd floor Conference Room
ALYSSA SALOMON

Start to finish make a strong, useful, lay-flat, hard-cover book for use as a sketchbook, journal, diary, or anything else your heart desires. You’ll learn how to sew a book together using linen tape, French linked stitch and kettle stitch. A fee of $20 payable to the instructor at the beginning of class covers all materials.  

$90 (VMFA members $75)

Sat, Oct 13, 10 am – 4 pm (1 session)| Studio School, 2nd floor
Sara Clark

This workshop will help you generate ideas, choose subjects, and explore different media to channel your creativity.  Explore a variety of papers and combinations of media–pencils, crayons, pastels, inks, and paints. You will leave this workshop with a portfolio of studies and drawings, and new ways to develop ideas for future works.

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$90 (VMFA members $75)

Sat & Sun, Oct  20 & 21, 10 am-4 pm (2 sessions) | Studio School, 2nd floor
MATT LIVELY

Start by exploring a variety of cloud paintings by other artists. Then, with guidance from the instructor and working from photographs, learn to create accurate, detailed, or expressive painting in oil or acrylic paint. Prerequisites: basic drawing and painting skills.

Sat & Sun, Oct 27 & 28, 10 am–4 pm (2 sessions)| Studio School, 1st floor
Aijung Kim

Through demos, handouts, and short drawing exercises, this workshop covers the most basic and important elements of children’s book illustration. Topics include character design, composition, storytelling, and page layout.Bring your favorite children’s book(s) and a fable, poem, or short story (or you can use one that the instructor provides) for practice and creating your illustrations.Prerequisite: Basic drawing skills

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$145 (VMFA members $130)

Sat & Sun, Nov 3 & 4 , 10 am – 4 pm  (2 sessions)| Studio School, 2nd floor
Sally Bowring

Paint a large-scale painting or several smaller paintings to work as a set in acrylic paint. Expand technical and critical skills and learn to develop new ideas and imagery. Collage other materials on to your paintings if you wish, wallpaper, photos, and decorative paper are also options. Prerequisites: basic drawing and painting skills

Sat & Sun, Nov 17 & 18, 10 am - 4 pm (2 sessions)| Studio School, 2nd floor
Matt Lively

Start by exploring a variety of animal portraits by other artists. Then with guidance from the instructor and working from photographs, learn to create accurate, detailed or expressive portraits of your own pet using drawing materials and oil or acrylic paint. Prerequisite: basic drawing skills.

Sat, Oct 13, noon–4 pm (1 session)| Studio School, 2nd floor Conference Room
Frank Saunders

Are you interested in collecting art but don’t know how to begin? This workshop offers invaluable information to get you started with confidence. The instructor will provide insight on the local art market, working with galleries and artists, and buying art online. Also learn ways to display and take care of your artwork when you get it home so you can enjoy it for years to come. 

$65 (VMFA members $50)

Sat, Sep 29,  10 am – 4 pm (1 sessions)  | Studio School, 2nd floor Conference Room
Amy Ritchie Johnson

The journal is a creative space of pure potential. This workshop will focus on various kinds of journal writing as well as visual elements such as collage, drawing, coloring, and ephemera in a journaling practice. Students will complete in-class writing assignments and play with crafting materials. Participants should bring a journal, a writing utensil, scissors, glue, colored pencils and/or markers, crayons, and old magazines to cut up.

$90 (VMFA members $75)

Sat, Oct 20, 10 am–4 pm (1 session)| Studio School, 2nd floor Conference Room
Douglas S. Jones

Willa Cather wrote, “Some memories are realities, and are better than anything that can ever happen to one again.” Ernest Hemingway wrote, “Memory is hunger.” This workshop merges these two notions to demonstrate that memories are heightened experiences and that they make us hunger for more. The instructor offers students encouraging feedback and specific writing prompts to help develop ideas.

$90 (VMFA members $75)

Sat, Nov 3, 10 am–4 pm (1 session)| Studio School, 2nd floor Conference Room
Amy Ritchie Johnson

Learn about blog themes, how to set up a blog, and even blog marketing. Through valuable writing exercises, discover ways to keep up the momentum of your posts and improve your creativity.

$90 (VMFA members $75)

Mon, Oct 22 – Nov 26, 10 am – 1 pm (6 sessions) | Studio School, 1st floor
Regula Franz

This class helps students refine both technical and creative photographic skills. Through discussions, class critiques, and weekly assignments, participants solve problems with exposure, low-light situations, and creative ennui, and learn time-saving methods for an effective digital workflow. A digital SLR is recommended but not required. Prerequisite: digital photography skills.

$175 (VMFA members $155)

Mon, Oct 22 – Nov 26,  7 – 10 pm (6 sessions) | Studio School, 1st floor
Regula Franz

This class helps students refine both technical and creative photographic skills. Through discussions, class critiques, and weekly assignments, participants solve problems with exposure, low-light situations, and creative ennui, and learn time-saving methods for an effective digital workflow. A digital SLR is recommended but not required. Prerequisite: digital photography skills.

$175 (VMFA members $155)

Sat, Nov 17, 10 am – 4 pm  | Studio School, 1st floor
Regula Franz

Explore visual storytelling, which helps you document your journey more effectively. Through slide lecture and discussion, the instructor shares some of her experiences photographing people and places all over the world. The workshop also covers technical problems in travel situations, equipment, and effective digital-workflow ideas. Students have the opportunity to share their own travel shots. Prerequisites: basic digital photography skills

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$90 (VMFA members $75)

Sat & Sun, Oct 20 & 21, 10 am – 4 pm (2 sessions) | Studio School, 1st floor
Mary Holland

The Gelli plate is a wonderful tool for creating monotypes simply. With stencils, stamps, and transparent paints, as well as some planning, complex artwork results. Explore color theory and composition and enjoy using your own "printing press." Collage techniques will also be covered. On day two, participants will learn to make simple accordion books using the Gelli prints for covers and collages inside the book. Students must provide their own Gelli plate and other materials.

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$145 (VMFA members $130)

Sat & Sun, Oct 6 & 7, 10 am – 4 pm (2 sessions)| Studio School, 2nd floor
Heidi Field-Alvarez

Learn how to decorate jeans, caps, or shirts with embroidery or turn your embroidery into a patch to apply to clothes. We will use basic decorative embroidery stitches to create personalized, one-of-a-kind clothes.

Sat & Sun, Oct 13 & 14, 10 am – 4 pm (2 sessions)| Studio School, 2nd floor
Shelley Jones

Explore felting techniques with merino wool to give dimension to your work. Attach felted shapes to a small felted bag made with the use of resist. Embellishing with hand-stitched threads, cords, and beads will also be covered. This workshop is suitable for beginners as well as seasoned filters. You will need to get your hands wet and soapy to be able to manipulate the wool with your hands in a repetitive motion. A fee of $10 payable to the instructor at the beginning of the workshop will cover materials. All other tools will be provided for use in class. Please bring two old towels and felting tools if you have them.

Sat & Sun, Oct 27, 10 am – 4, & Oct 28, noon – 4 pm (2 sessions) | Studio School, 2nd floor
Sarah Hand

Explore sculpting with papier-mâché to create masks. The instructor will demonstrate the use of armature sculpting, traditional newspaper and paste papier-mâché, and painting. She will also share examples of masks across cultures. Students will then design and create their own masks and will learn to paint and embellish. The instructor will guide participants through every step of the process. Most materials included.

Sat, Nov 3, 10 am – 4 pm (1 session)| Studio School, 2nd floor
Mary Swezey

Cut, stitch, and embellish colorful felt flower pins. Use beautifully carved Indian blocks to print a set of two tea towels. Make marbled paper greeting cards and gift tags in this fun gift sampler workshop. Leave the workshop with several one-of-a-kind gifts and the know-how to make more at home. No experience necessary. A fee of $20 payable to the instructor at the beginning of class covers all materials.