Past Workshops - 2005

See also:
Upcoming workshops

Watercolor tips and techniques
Instructor: Bruce Jones

Watercolor students have convinced Bruce Jones to share his practical knowledge of watercolor painting. This is a workshop of basic information plus extra tips and techniques to get that special look you want.

Course Outline:

• How to plan watercolors: wet-on-wet to dry brushing, background to foreground, etc.
• Discussion of things you can do with watercolor that you can't do so easily with pastel or oil.
• Discussion of getting the degree of abstraction you want.
• Selecting paper (manufacturer, weight, hot or cold press) and alternatives for attaching it, and whether to use an easel or not.
• Use of chemical tricks like salt and alcohol, plus exacto knives and sandpaper.
• Wet on wet and dry brushing techniques.
• Use of ink, watercolor pencil, and pastel over watercolor.
• Use of scrub brushes for lifting color, developing textures and softening hard lines.
• Ways of dealing with drying time.
• Mixing for special purposes: greens, grays, darks, skin colors.
• Good/bad times to use staining and sedimentary colors.
• Some ways to go about painting convincing rocks and water.
• Tricks for showing distance.

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Pyrography - Drawing with Fire
Instructor: Jim Grenwelge

Jim Grenwelge will share with you a wide range of techniques he has developed for decorating gourds and wooden objects. If you didn't learn it in summer camp as a youngster, now is the time to develop your skills with the simple wood burning tool. In this workshop, students will learn the design possibilities of working with dyes and paint to create historical visions. Jim has a long history of working with native American Indian artists and will share his many insights. We suggest you sign up early as this class will fill quickly.

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Making Pine Needle Baskets
Instructor: Gerda Randolph

Join this two day workshop and learn to make beautiful coiled baskets out of pine needles. Using Canary Island pine needles, you will be taught how to weave beautiful swirling stitches that are identical on both sides of the basket. You will also learn how to begin a basket around a walnut slice and with a thread wrapped center. This workshop is appropriate for beginners and advanced basket makers wanting to learn new techniques. Materials for your basket are covered by the fee, but please bring a small pair of sharp scissors and a pair of needle nose pliers. Gerda is presently helping to form a local basket weaving group at Gualala Arts. This would be a great opportunity to get to know everyone interested in this fascinating art. Gerda can be reached at (707) 785-2206 or randolph@mcn.org.

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Photography
Discover the Hidden Landscapes of Northern California's Redwood Coast
Instructor: Ralph Lee Hopkins

The focus is on exploring each participant's creative vision and the elements of light, color and composition, using classroom sessions and field trips to challenge and expand photographic skills. Emphasis on one-on-one instruction exploring each participant's creative vision through light, color and composition. Film photographers are welcome but overnight processing is not available in the area. Digital cameras are recommended. A digital workstation is available at Gualala Arts but students are encouraged to bring their laptop and be familiar with downloading and image-editing software such as PhotoShop or Elements.

A geologist by training Ralph travels regularly as a photographer, leads photo expeditions for Lindblad Expeditions and teaches workshops for Arizona Highways, National Geographic Expeditions and Santa Fe Workshops. His images are published worldwide and are represented by the National Geographic Image Collection and Lonely Planet Images.

Participants will be sent information on lodging, directions and suggested equipment prior to the workshop. Fee covers workshop only; does not include food, lodging, and transportation. More information about Mr. Hopkins at www.wilderlandimages.com

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Culinary Arts
Instructors: various (see below)

 

September 22		Japanese Noodles: Udon and Soba with Akiko Docker
September 29		Soufflés with Paddy Batchelder
October 13		Apple Pie with Phil Graf
October 20		Deep-fried Turkey with Jim Grenwelge
Later		A special surprise with René Fueg

Call Gualala Arts at (707) 884-1138 to register.

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About Pastels!
Instructor: Mira M. White

Key words for this versatile and almost limitless medium are luscious, strong and vibrant.

Take a mini-vacation and immerse yourself in discovery and the adventure of creative play! This workshop is a perfect introduction to pastels for artists just beginning in this medium. Emphasis will be on developing techniques that will give a solid foundation for the expression of form directed toward landscape and still life. We will work with value and a controlled palette. A thrilling way to learn about color possibilities.

Mira M. White, MFA, CWA, NWA, artist and teacher, exhibits widely in the Bay Area and is represented in collections in both the US and in Europe. Mira is a drawing and painting instructor at a variety of Art Centers and community colleges.

More information about Mira at www.miraMwhite.com

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Silver Jewelry made from PMC
Instructor: Hetty Herman-Minsk

Satisfy your creative urge to make your own silver jewelry, in this two day workshop you will learn how to make jewelry from an exciting new material that utilizes reconstituted silver in a clay like form. It is easy to manipulate with just your hands and requires no heavy equipment, toxic chemicals or major strength. Just a few household items and a good teacher. Handouts will explain the step-by-step methods for working with this unique silver. On the first day you will make a few pieces of jewelry, such as pendants, earrings or silver buttons. Hetty will take the pieces you have made home and fire them turning them into pure silver. The second day you will learn several simple metal smithing techniques and skills needed to finish your jewelry so that you will be able to wear a beautiful piece of jewelry home.

Hetty Herman-Minsk has been an artist and educator for over 30 years. Her work is in private collections throughout Europe and the United States. Starting as a ceramist and weaver, her fascination with what the hand can create lead her to the study of jewelry.

Prompted by the need for recycling by-products of technology, Mitsubishi Materials Corporation in the early 1990's developed a process for recovering silver, gold and platinum from computers, medical instruments and photography supplies. The result was a new material that would revolutionize the jewelry world. A method was devised of suspending microscopic particles of silver, gold or platinum in a clay-like substance. This marvelous, flexible material is called Precious Metal Clay (PMC). When heated in a kiln between 1470 and 1650 degrees Fahrenheit, the water and binder disappear leaving 99.9 percent solid silver, gold or platinum. Because of malleability it can be easily patterned, sculpted or carved. It allows the artist a great range of design possibilities. Each piece is hand formed and detailed to create timeless, flowing organic pieces.

More about Hetty at www.hettyh.com

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Stone Sculpture
Instructor: Robert Milhollin

Robert Milhollin received his B.F.A. in sculpture from Virginia Commonwealth University and has studied in Carrara and Pietrasanta, Italy. He is offering a five-day course in stone carving by hand with hammer and chisels. This class will also offer power tools and more advanced techniques. Students will create initially, an abstraction, at which point they will be encouraged to open their minds and "see" into the stone in order to bring out the figures that are waiting to emerge. Anatomy and carving in the round will then be taught. Tool sets available for purchase at $40. Stone available for purchase at 75 cents per pound. Contact instructor at 937-3075 ASAP.

More information about Robert at www.holliedesigns.com/robert/.

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Watercolor Class
Instructor: William Hewson

Discover the spectacular coastline of northern California with William as he demonstrates how to capture the explosive energy and power of the Pacific in watercolor. We'll spend the first day in the studio to learn a simple drawing technique that creates a visual map, which frees up your painting. William will demonstrate how to complete a painting in one sitting. You will learn how to make dramatic color combinations with bold brushwork. William's splashy, dynamic approach is perfect for the beginner, as well as the more advanced painter. Be swept away as we immerse ourselves in a watercolorist's paradise the California coastline.

An artist reception for Mr. Hewson's exhibit will be Thursday, July 28, 5 to 7PM at Gualala Arts Center.

William Hewson has been painting and teaching for ten years in the Pacific Northwest. A student of Charles Reid, he has studied in Paris and Stockholm as well as The University of Houston. He teaches at The Kirkland Arts Center and The Blue Heron Art Center on Vashon Island.

"When we are able to free ourselves of preconceived images, we can truly see the beauty of the world." William leads his students away from the analytical into abstraction... to see shapes. He begins with contour drawing as a map for painting, followed by a direct painting approach that avoids washes and creates direct, dramatic color passages. William offers his students thrilling color work. "I do a lot of my mixing on the paper and let the accidental quality of watercolor take over. It's a great practice in surrendering control."

William grew up in the southwest where he pursued a career in graphic design. "There was always a part of me that knew there was something else I was supposed to do, but I didn't really get up the nerve until I was 45. When I found the Northwest, I found painting."

His diversity of work includes portraiture, still life and landscape. Watercolor has also informed his approach to oil. "I believe in the sensual immediacy of art as expressed by the impressionists and post-impressionists. It is toward the glittering world of Pierre Bonnard that I wish to move - into the rich continuum of the visual field."

More information about Mr. Hewson at www.williamhewson.com

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Silk Painting, beginning and intermediate
Instructor: Joy-Lily

In this two-day workshop learn everything you need to know to get started in this very satisfying fiber art technique. The specifics of steam-setting silk, choosing dyes and mixing colors, resist and non-resist techniques, will be covered. If you've already tried silk painting you will discover effective, inexpensive strategies for preparing the silk for painting, new painting and resist techniques, and the freedom of playing with color on silk. More about Joy-Lily at www.joy-lily.com

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Cement Sculpture
Instructor: Diane Cochran

Local artist, Diane Cochran, will be teaching 2 one-day workshops in the art of sculpting with soft-set cement (mortar) outdoors at Gualala Arts among the redwoods. This is your opportunity to create that sculpture you have been visualizing in your garden! Diane has been teaching this popular class for more than 10 years. Previous artistic experience is not required, nor is it necessary to have a definite idea of the sculpture you want to create. This is a fun class and spontaneity is encouraged. Setup will begin at 9am. Carving will begin about noon and continue until 4 or 5 pm. Materials are included in the class fee and students will be asked to bring a few simple tools (spoons, table knives, spray bottle, a box, etc.) Dress appropriately.

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Beginning Glass Blowing
Instructors: Fred Cresswell & Leslie Moody

These classes are offered to the glass enthusiast and/or collector who would like to have hands on experience working with hot glass. This class will be taught at the Timber Cove Studio. Camping & lodging available onsite for a fee.

The class will include hot shop basics for the beginner, tools, techniques, and safety as well as demos and hands-on experience. Hand-outs will include a Hot Glass Safety Outline and handbook; Beginning Glassblowing by Ed Schmid. The students will come away with many of their own creations.

The studio is a state-of-the-art glass blowing shop that Fred has been operating since 1974. He has 40 years experience and has taught glass blowing for many of those years. Leslie Moody has over 25 years glass blowing experience and also has taught many students. Website: www.seaviewartglass.com

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See also:
Upcoming workshops