Join us for summer drawings in ink wash inspired by poetry. Find parallels between the black ink of the printed word, and the rich images contained inside. In this workshop we will experiment with drawing in ink wash while finding inspiration through reading poetry. No prior experience necessary, and all skill-levels welcome.

Saturday and Sunday, August 10 and 11
9 am – 2 pm

Instructor: Austin Pratt
Ages: Adult (15+) / All Levels

Supply List:

Recommended Materials:
– 2oz+ India Ink (any Higgins or Speedball brands etc)
– A set of various assortment small paint brushes
– A Sumi-Ink brush
-Some water-color paper to use (a range is best):
   – Water-color paper pads (10″ x 14″ or 9″ x 12″) (recommended 2 pads of 12 pages each)
– Newsprint pad – 9″ x 12″ or larger
– Pencil set
– Feel free to bring any old or crusty paint brushes as well! Great for experimental approaches. Even large house painting brushes!
– Sack Lunch

Tonal Range and Basin: Exploring Value in Drawings from Photographs of Nevada through Black & White Drawing Media. Using a wide variety of photographs from in and around Nevada as sources of study and inspiration, we will focus particularly on the element of value and tone in art work, gaining some skills and strategies of better understanding the nuanced relationships between light and dark in your drawings. No prior experience necessary, and all skill-levels welcome.

Monday, June 24
9:00 am – 2:00 pm

Instructor: Austin Pratt
Ages: Adult (15+) / All Levels

Supply List:

The following are suggested basic supplies – all media are welcome, so please bring whatever supplies you need for whichever media you are using.

– Drawing board – 20”x 26” or larger (light-weight masonite works best)
– Newsprint pad – 18”x 24” – rough surface recommended
– Bull dog clamps or similar to attach pad to board
– Medium and Support Items:
– Vine charcoal, thin and fat pieces
– Choice of conte crayon, 6B graphite pencil or sticks, china marker, compressed charcoal, carbon pencils, or any suitable medium for drawing on newsprint
– Large kneaded eraser
– Pink pearl eraser
– Portable pencil sharpener or utility knife (best for soft/medium pencils)
– Clean small rags
– Sandpaper pad for sharpening drawing mediums
– Stumps for blending (optional)

-Sack lunch

Please see future classes by Austin Pratt

Seeing is Forgetting: Insights from Meditation for Better Observational Drawing. Focusing on the importance of “practice” in both drawing and meditation, we will be comparing important lessons from both disciplines as we engage in perspective-shifting techniques of observational drawing, as well as sitting in guided meditations. No prior experience necessary, and all skill-levels welcome.

Sunday, June 16
9 am – 2 pm

Instructor: Austin Pratt
Ages: Adult (15+) / All Levels

Supply List:

The following are suggested basic supplies – all media are welcome, so please bring whatever supplies you need for whichever media you are using.

– Drawing board – 20”x 26” or larger (light-weight masonite works best)
– Newsprint pad – 18”x 24” – rough surface recommended
– Bull dog clamps or similar to attach pad to board
– Medium and Support Items:
– Vine charcoal, thin and fat pieces
– Choice of conte crayon, 6B graphite pencil or sticks, china marker, compressed charcoal, carbon pencils, or any suitable medium for drawing on newsprint
– Large kneaded eraser
– Pink pearl eraser
– Portable pencil sharpener or utility knife (best for soft/medium pencils)
– Clean small rags
– Sandpaper pad for sharpening drawing mediums
– Stumps for blending (optional)

-Sack lunch

The art of seeing your everyday world through the lens of beauty, line, and shadow. You will never see your urban setting the same way again after taking this class. Learn to truly see what hidden treasures lie all around you, and then commit them to paper in a satisfying and unique way. Improve your drawing skills and explore a variety of techniques in this fun and encouraging class.

Saturday and Sunday, June 29 – 30
9 am – 2 pm

Instructor: Reena Spansail
Ages: Adult (15+) / All Levels

Supply list:

Suggested Supplies: The following are suggested basic supplies – all media are welcome, so please bring whatever supplies you need for whichever media you are using.

-Sketchpad of any size that you are comfortable carrying around. 

Medium and Support Items:
– Vine charcoal, thin and fat pieces
– Choice of conte crayon, 6B graphite pencil or sticks, china marker, compressed charcoal, carbon pencils, or any suitable medium for drawing on newsprint
– Large kneaded eraser
– Portable pencil sharpener or utility knife (best for soft/medium pencils)

Improve your drawing skills and explore a variety of media in this fun and encouraging on location class. The instructor will be present to coordinate and offer individualized instruction upon request. Weekly demonstrations will encourage individuals to work through drawing challenges and explore their media of choice in this open format class. Students will focus on drawing buildings in perspective, drawing water, drawing plants and foliage as well as drawing people in motion. Students will work primarily on location at nearby Idlewild Park. The first day students will meet in front of the California Building located within Idlewild park. (75 Cowan Dr.)

Wednesdays, August 7 – 28
1 – 4 pm

Instructor: Jerry Stinson
Ages: Adult (15+) / All Levels

Supply list:

Suggested Supplies: The following are suggested basic supplies – all media are welcome, so please bring whatever supplies you need for whichever media you are using.

– Drawing board – 20”x 26” or larger (light-weight masonite works best)
– Newsprint pad – 18”x 24” – rough surface recommended
– Bull dog clamps or similar to attach pad to board
– Vine charcoal, thin and fat pieces
– Choice of conte crayon, 6B graphite pencil or sticks, china marker, compressed charcoal, carbon pencils, or any suitable medium for drawing on newsprint
– Large kneaded eraser
– Pink pearl eraser
– Portable pencil sharpener or utility knife (best for soft/medium pencils)
-optional: portable easel

Students will enjoy this course designed to teach basic drawing techniques with a specific emphasis on drawing shape and form. Students will improve their observational drawing skills by first working on rendering basic shapes, working later towards creating compositions on the page and realistically drawing more complex objects, forms and textures while referencing staged still life displays. This class is designed to provide a strong introductory foundation for beginning drawing students and a refresher for more advanced students.

Monday – Wednesday, July 29 – 31
10 am – 2 pm

Instructor: Reena Spansail
Ages: Adult (15+) / Beginners Welcome!

Required Supplies:

• Charcoal Pencils or Sticks 2B-6B Soft & Medium, 1 White Charcoal Pencil
• Graphite Pencils HB, B, 2B, 4B, 6B, 8B
• Pencil Sharpener
• Kneaded Eraser, Pink Eraser
• Newsprint Pad
• Heavyweight White Drawing Paper
• Optional: Drawing Board

Students will enjoy this introductory level course designed to teach basic drawing techniques while focusing on line work, value scales and composition. This class is designed to provide a foundation for drawing, teaching students how to realistically draw objects within an environment. Each class will focus on different drawing techniques and strategies, beginning with value scale exercises and moving towards rendering and shading three dimensional objects in an engaging composition.

Monday – Wednesday, July 15 – 17
10 am – 2 pm

Instructor: Reena Spansail
Ages: Adults (15+) / Beginners Welcome!

Required Supplies: 
• Charcoal Pencils or Sticks 2B-6B Soft & Medium, 1 White Charcoal Pencil 
• Graphite Pencils HB, B, 2B, 4B, 6B, 8B 
• Pencil Sharpener 
• Kneaded Eraser, Pink Eraser 
• Paper Blending Dowels (Various Sizes) 
• 18 x 24″ Newsprint Pad 
• Heavyweight White Drawing Paper