Canceled: Please see Experimental Painting II if you are interested in the class.

Students will enjoy this introductory level course designed to teach basic experimental painting techniques. A variety of exercises focusing on painting from direct observation will take place during the studio sessions. Emphasis will be placed on conceptual and technical skill development through presentations, lectures, demonstrations, critiques, experiments and intensive studio practice.

Thursday – Friday, July 18 – 19
9:00 am – 2:00 pm

Instructor: Mahedi Anjuman
Ages: Adult (15+) / All Levels

Supply List:

– General’s charcoal Pencils (soft)

– Acid Free Artist Tape ½”

– Watercolor Brushes: flat 1″ and round 5 (not Synthetic)

– Canvas boards 5- 9 x 12” or 11 x 14” inch

– Water color 12 oz (12 color set)

– Clear Resin and glue

– Transparent tracing paper

-Sack lunch or snack

This three-day workshop will present lessons and demos on mountains, clouds, and sky’s that are the hallmarks of Northern Nevada.  Learn to capture the essence of the amazing mountains and cloud formations that are unique our region. Students will learn the skills to show the beauty of nature this area has to offer.

Friday- Sunday, June 21- 23
9 am – 2 pm

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

Supply List:

    -Watercolor pallet including your favorite blues
    -Watercolor brushes including a 1” OR ½” flat and a #6 OR # 8 round brushes
    -Graphite or mechanical pencil
   -Rubber eraser
   -2 plastic water containers
    -Tablet of Arches cold press 140 lb watercolor paper (9”x12” or larger)
    -Roll of paper towels
    -Sack Lunch

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

A Painting is a Picture That is Also A Built Object: Painted Surfaces, Supports, and Still Lives. In this three day workshop, we will be discussing the physical construction of painting supports, including how to build and stretch canvasses to make your own paintings. Considering the object of a painting much like a sculpture, we can become more aware of the formal qualities of the painting support–such as scale, size ratios, choice of fabric or panel, surface quality, and more. Finally, we will have some fun experimenting as we make some paintings on our new supports. No prior experience necessary, and all skill-levels welcome.

Monday – Wednesday, July 8 – 10
9:00 am – 2:00 pm

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

Supply List:

-Sack Lunch

-Canvas making materials will be provided. Please bring painting supplies for whatever medium you work in (oil or acrylic). Some painting materials can be provided upon request if you are new to painting or wish to experiment with new materials.

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

Witness your child’s first painting with no mess at home. Your little one will make a creative keepsake for the family to cherish. Not only is finger painting tons of fun, it is also an excellent feeling (kinesthetic) experience and is fantastic for the development of all the big and small muscles in your growing child’s fingers, arms, shoulders, neck and back. Finger painting is wonderful for the development of color recognition, experimentation and color mixing and is terrific for developing creativity.

Dress for a mess! Messy play for babies and toddlers is crucial to healthy sensory development. Messy activities provide important foundational building blocks, sensory experiences and muscle and brain growth, all of which prepare children for later success and learning.

Sunday, November 17
10:45 – 11:45 am

Instructor: Tiffany Hoffman
Ages: 6 months – 3 years

Supply List: Change of clothes/diaper and a towel

Witness your child’s first painting with no mess at home. Your little one will make a creative keepsake for the family to cherish. Not only is finger painting tons of fun, it is also an excellent feeling (kinesthetic) experience and is fantastic for the development of all the big and small muscles in your growing child’s fingers, arms, shoulders, neck and back. Finger painting is wonderful for the development of color recognition, experimentation and color mixing and is terrific for developing creativity.

Dress for a mess! Messy play for babies and toddlers is crucial to healthy sensory development. Messy activities provide important foundational building blocks, sensory experiences and muscle and brain growth, all of which prepare children for later success and learning.

Sunday, November 17
9:30 – 10:30 am

Instructor: Tiffany Hoffman
Ages: 6 months – 3 years

Supply List: Change of clothes/diaper and a towel

Witness your child’s first painting with no mess at home. Your little one will make a creative keepsake for the family to cherish. Not only is finger painting tons of fun, it is also an excellent feeling (kinesthetic) experience and is fantastic for the development of all the big and small muscles in your growing child’s fingers, arms, shoulders, neck and back. Finger painting is wonderful for the development of color recognition, experimentation and color mixing and is terrific for developing creativity.

Dress for a mess! Messy play for babies and toddlers is crucial to healthy sensory development. Messy activities provide important foundational building blocks, sensory experiences and muscle and brain growth, all of which prepare children for later success and learning.

Saturday, September 28
10:45 – 11:45 am

Instructor: Kyra Petersen
Ages: 6 months – 3 years

Supply List: Change of clothes/diaper and a towel

Witness your child’s first painting with no mess at home. Your little one will make a creative keepsake for the family to cherish. Not only is finger painting tons of fun, it is also an excellent feeling (kinesthetic) experience and is fantastic for the development of all the big and small muscles in your growing child’s fingers, arms, shoulders, neck and back. Finger painting is wonderful for the development of color recognition, experimentation and color mixing and is terrific for developing creativity.

Dress for a mess! Messy play for babies and toddlers is crucial to healthy sensory development. Messy activities provide important foundational building blocks, sensory experiences and muscle and brain growth, all of which prepare children for later success and learning.

Saturday, September 28
9:30 – 10:30 am

Instructor: Kyra Petersen
Ages: 6 months – 3 years

Supply List: Change of clothes/diaper and a towel

Witness your child’s first painting with no mess at home. Your little one will make a creative keepsake for the family to cherish. Not only is finger painting tons of fun, it is also an excellent feeling (kinesthetic) experience and is fantastic for the development of all the big and small muscles in your growing child’s fingers, arms, shoulders, neck and back. Finger painting is wonderful for the development of color recognition, experimentation and color mixing and is terrific for developing creativity.

Dress for a mess! Messy play for babies and toddlers is crucial to healthy sensory development. Messy activities provide important foundational building blocks, sensory experiences and muscle and brain growth, all of which prepare children for later success and learning.

Saturday, July 27
10:45 – 11:45 am

Instructor: Tiffany Hoffman
Ages: 6 months – 3 years

Supply List: Change of clothes/diaper and a towel