Adult Classes

Wed, Jul 9 -- 30, 9 am – noon (4 Sessions) | Studio School, 2nd floor
MARIA REARDON

Explore drawing and painting the landscape from direct observation. With guidance from the instructor, students will develop a more fluid response to painting on location. Students need to provide their own plein air painting easel, stool and painting supplies. Prerequisite: basic drawing and painting skills. 

$145 (VMFA members $125)

Wed, Jul 9– 30, 7–10 pm (4 sessions) | Studio School, 2nd floor
JOAN ELLIOTT

This is a good painting class for beginning or intermediate level oil painters who want to develop their own personal painting style and approach to imagery. Through individual guidance, students explore painting strategies and working methods. Prerequisites: basic drawing skills.

$145 (VMFA members $125)

Mondays, July 7–28, 7–10 pm (4 sessions) | Studio School, 2nd floor
JOAN ELLIOTT

Explore drawing and painting from direct observation, photos, or sketches and depict various subjects including the still life, human figure, and landscape. Students develop a more personal approach to imagery, drawing, and painting styles by examining the formal and expressive aspects in their work and that of classical to contemporary artists.

$145 (VMFA members $125)

Sat, Jun 28, 10 am–4 pm (1 session) | Studio School, 1st floor
KAREN EIDE

Encaustic painting is an ancient process using molten, pigmented beeswax to create layered and luminous art. Designed for both new and experienced painters, the instructor 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. Some materials included.

$105 (VMFA members $90)

Sat, Jun 28, 10 am–4 pm (1 sessions) | Studio School, 2nd floor
MARTHA PRIDEAUX

Explore new ideas and creative approaches to your artwork by experimenting with the techniques that the Surrealists pioneered. The instructor will lead the class through several Surrealist methods for making art and show the work of Surrealist artists. This fun, experimental, and playful workshop is for beginning to advanced artist who are interested in exciting new ways of making art by tapping into the subconscious.

$90 (VMFA members $85)

Sat & Sun, Jul 12 & 13, 10 am–4 pm (2 sessions) | Studio School, 1st floor
PAM FOX

This workshop explores the use of photography with mixed-media applications. Students combine photographic materials (digital or traditional prints, photocopies, found imagery or old photographs) with oil paint to produce new and exciting imagery. The instructor demonstrates a variety of approaches, including surface supports and preparation, gluing techniques, surface alterations, paint application, varnishing, cold wax, and other surface treatments. Open to all levels of experience.

$145 (VMFA members $130)

Sat & Sun, Jul 12 & 13, 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.

$145 (VMFA members $130)

Sat, Jul 19, 10 am–4 pm (1 session) | Studio School, 2nd floor
MARTHA PRIDEAUX

Experiment with new techniques, materials, and more to make innovative collages. The teacher will demonstrate ways to design, mount, and present your artwork in this workshop designed for all levels of experience.
 
$90 (VMFA members $75)

Sat & Sun, Jul 19 & 20, 10 am–4 pm (2 sessions) | Studio School, 2nd floor
MARIA REARDON

This is a great workshop for intermediate drawing students to practice their portrait drawing skills. Working from a live model, students will learn how to capture a likeness and expression in their portrait drawing. The workshop will include demonstrations and one on one guidance. Pastel techniques and materials will be discussed. Prerequisite: intermediate drawing skills 
using soft pastels

$140 (VMFA members $125)

Sat & Sun, Jul 26 & 27, 10 am–4 pm (2 sessions) | Studio School, 2nd floor
DAWN FLORES

Draw, paint, or collage artwork in response to Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. This workshop will include a slide lecture and visit to the exhibition Frida: Beyond the Myth at VMFA. Students should bring the medium of their choice, one they feel proficient in. Participants will have access to a library of books and photographs to use as reference material. The instructor will provide guidance on creative choices. There will be group discussions and critiques. Appropriate subjects to focus on in the workshop could be the still life, botanical imagery, portraits of animals and/or people, symbolism, or social commentary. Intermediate and advanced students are required to supply the artmaking materials of their choice.  Prerequisite: intermediate and advanced 
level students

$145 (VMFA members $130)

Sat, July 19, 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 happen to one again.” Ernest Hemingway wrote, “Memory is hunger.” This class merges these two notions: 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.

Tue, Jul 1– 22, 10 am–1 pm (4 sessions) | Studio School, 1st floor
RANDY TOY

This fast and fun experimental process yields unique prints every time—guaranteed! Learn how to use large inking rollers to create striking abstract prints without a press. The unpredictable nature of this technique keeps things exciting and can yield beautiful images that you could not anticipate. No experience required.

$145 (VMFA members $125)

Sat, Jul 12, 10 am – 4 pm (1 session) |Studio School, 2nd floor Conference Room
DIANA DETAMORE

Create your own unique handmade book by simply folding paper.  The instructor will guide students in constructing accordion style books, which provide excellent vehicles for collections of photographs, collage, drawing, or text. The instructor will share her collection of handmade books as examples of how these simple formats can be transformed into personal and imaginative books and journals. No experience necessary.

Sat, Jul 26, 10 am – 4 pm (1 sessions) | Studio School, 1st floor
JULIA E. PFAFF

No quilting experience is necessary in this fast-moving and fun workshop. Students will learn a quick and contemporary construction technique. Foundation quilting allows an entire project to be sewn together and quilted at the same time. A materials fee of $15, payable to the instructor at the beginning of the workshop, covers quilt backing, batting, and a 14-inch pillow form. A materials list of what students need to provide will be provided on the VMFA website.