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Monthaven Arts & Cultural Center

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Art After School Winter/Spring 2023

Mix it Up Media - Mondays

$357

with Jessica Lewis

Calendar Current session started Jan 9, 2023 at 4:30 pm, runs for 17 weeks

Students ages 10-15 will build a solid foundation as they learn about the elements of art and principles of design through different mediums like graphite, watercolor, clay, acrylic, and mixed media. They’ll take inspiration from art history and have fun experimenting with traditional art materials.

New projects are added each semester and students are challenged to think outside the box and problem solve. Creating art is a continual process of problem solving and learning through our successes and failures. We will wrap up each project with a critique and discussion.

Weeks 1-3: Introduction to the Elements of Art and Principles of Design. These are skills students will practice throughout the semester. It gives a firm foundation to build on and introduces art terms. The instructor will begin each semester with a review of these concepts and a heavy dose of drawing. Previous students will be able to expand upon their skills with new assignments.

Weeks 4-5: Clay sculpting using terra cotta clay. Sculptures will be left to dry and then painted.

Weeks 6-7: Students will examine the work of Frida Kahlo with watercolor. 

Weeks 8-10: Students will use mixed media to create sculptural portraits based on musicians like Dolly Parton, Taylor Swift, Johnny Cash etc. 

Weeks 11-13: Students will study different printmaking processes and learn how to make a repeat pattern. They will combine different techniques to make a larger art piece. 

Weeks 14-15: Students will take their work outside, weather permitting, and will create paintings en plein air! The invention of tubed paint allowed artists to begin working outdoors with much greater ease. Students will learn about the history of plein air painting and use acrylic paint to study the landscape outdoors.

Week 16: Students will wrap up any previous projects and prepare work for display.

Week 17: Final show and reception!

 Please note that we will not hold classes during Spring Break (March 13-17) as well as on April 10th.

Member Discount: 15 percent

Full Course

ArtXtravaganza - Wednesdays

$378

with Mariah Leggett

Calendar Current session started Jan 11, 2023 at 4:30 pm, runs for 18 weeks

*Note: If your child has taken this class before, the previous projects will not be repeated and the students will continue to build on their art skills.

In this mixed media art class, children ages 5 – 9 will embark on techniques in drawing, painting, collage and sculpture. The process used to teach each project is a step-by-step method that will inspire and delight students into creative action and help them think outside the box!

This process involves observing, following instructions, and creating until the student is happy with the outcome. We strive to expose students to the elements of art (line, space, color, balance, etc.), while letting them run a little wild with their own imagination.

Week 1: Focusing on lines and showing perspective

Week 2: Exploring the color wheel/mixing colors/complimentary colors

Week 3: Focus on composition

Week 4: Drawing from references - people and animals

Week 5: Sculpture pt.1 

Week 6: Painting our sculptures 

Week 7: Shading/light

Week 8: Shadow project

Week 9: Explore patterns 

Week 10: Painting with different mediums!

Week 11: Collage

Week 12: Abstract Acrylic Project

Week 13: Nature Art

Week 14: Clay Art

Week 15: Finish Clay Art

Week 16: Painting Project

Week 17: Start Final Project

Week 18: Finish Final Project/reception

Please note that we will not hold classes during Spring Break (March 13-17) as well as on April 10th.

Member Discount: 15% 

Full Course

Adventures in Mixed Media - Tuesdays

$315

with Kathryn Garcia

Calendar Current session started Jan 31, 2023 at 4:30 pm, runs for 15 weeks

With the lens of creativity and experimentation, students ages 7-11 will gain skills in a variety of media and try out new techniques.  Throughout this mixed media class, students will use a variety of materials including pens, watercolor, acrylic, clay and metallic paints to design. This fun-filled experience is the perfect opportunity for young students to explore their artistic instincts in the world of visual art!  At the end of the course, family and friends will be invited to join us for an end of the semester art show, where your child will show off their work. 

Please note that we will not hold classes during Spring Break (March 13-17) as well as on April 10th.

Member discount: 15 percent

Manga & Anime - Beginner - Wednesdays

$252

with Mariah Leggett

Calendar Current session started Feb 22, 2023 at 6:30 pm, runs for 12 weeks

Students ages 10 and up will learn the techniques of professional anime illustration such as shading, perspective, figure drawing, and proportion while using the highest quality markers, pens, and inks. They will also learn about character development, and they will receive instruction in how to plan out their compositions using elements and principles of design. Most importantly, they will get practice through significant repetition with the help of guided instruction.

Week 1: Using references provided, work on facial proportions and          features 

Week 2: Work on body proportions/ correct anatomy/ explore different    poses pt.1

Week 3: Focus on character building/ continue poses

Week 4: Details in expression, hair, and clothes

Week 5: 4 panel manga - sketch/ draw

Week 6: 4 panel manga - finish/color

Week 7/8: Manga- b&w (Shading/ hatching) pt.1

Week 9/10: Manga- Color (markers/ paint) pt.1

Week 11: Character Building pt.2 

Week 12: Sketches and ideas for our own manga

Week 13-15: Create our own manga

Week 16: Cover for comic

Week 17: start final drawing

Week 18: finish drawing/ reception

Please note that we will not hold classes during Spring Break (March 13-17).

 Members:  15% Discount 

Draw, Paint, Create! - Thursdays

$252

with Sandy Kandros

Calendar Current session started Feb 23, 2023 at 4:30 pm, runs for 12 weeks

In this class, students will master the basics of drawing and painting. This class is designed for beginner to intermediate learners. Guided lessons will teach students ages 8-13 how to set up a composition and will emphasize and incorporate the use of art elements and principles of design. Special emphasis will be on light, value, and shading techniques. Gain an understanding of different drawing and painting tools and how to properly use them.

Week 1: Materials

Students will be introduced to and experiment with various drawing and painting materials, such as graphite, charcoal, watercolor, acrylic, as well as different types of paper and common tools. Students will work on a piece of art that incorporates 3 or more materials.

Week 2: Color Theory

Students will be introduced to the color wheel and color mixing methods with drawing and painting materials, as well different types of color pallets used in famous art. Students will create a color wheel using the materials of their choice.

Week 3: Composition/Principals of Design

Students will learn about the principles of design and will create a simple drawing or painting focusing on one or more principle

Week 4: Light, Value, Shading

Students will learn how to incorporate light, value, and shading into a work of art to create depth and space.

Week 5: Perspective

Students will learn about a few types of perspective used in art, how to use a view finder, and practice drawing spaces

Week 6: Drawing Methods

Students will be introduced to different methods/techniques commonly used with drawing materials such as graphite, charcoal, and colored pencil

Week 7: Painting Methods

Students will practice different methods/techniques used with watercolor and acrylic paint

Week 8: Inking

Students will practice working with pens and ink

Week 9: Planning a work of art/Sketchbooks

Students will dive more into the previous week’s lesson on composition and discuss how to keep track of inspiration and planning a drawing or painting

Week 10: Creating from Life

Students will do a still life drawing with the class

Week 11: Creating from Nature

Students will used methods learned in class to create a work of art representing nature.

Week 12: Creating from the Imagination

Students will discuss creating abstract art or fantasy art and work on a drawing or painting that does not reference the real world.

Week 13: Abstract Art

Students will receive an introduction to abstract art and practice creating nonrepresentational images

Week 14: TBD

Week 15: Illustration

Students will learn how to tell a story through illustration

Week 16: Mixed Media

Students will incorporate multiple materials to create a mixed media drawing/painting

Week 17: Finishing a work of Art

Students will learn about matting drawings, as well as different materials that can be used to seal/finish paintings and drawings.

Week 18: Presentation

Students will have a chance to finish drawings/paintings from the term and then will share their favorite paintings or drawings with the class.

Please note that we will not hold classes during Spring Break (March 13-17).

Member discount: 15 percent. 

Mixed Media for Kids with High Sensory Needs - Ages 7+

$200

with Rae Balmuth MA, RDT

Calendar Current session started Mar 7, 2023 at 6:30 pm, runs for 8 weeks

This course is designed for the art student ages 7 and up who desires a highly structured environment in which tools are provided to activate, but not overwhelm, the five senses. Each class meeting will focus on a new medium – students will explore clay, theatrical props, acrylic paint and more.

Each 8 week course focuses on a different theme, where the project for the day will explore a topic sentence related to that theme and discussion will center around making real-life connections to our topic. Outcome goals include learning the basics of several artistic media, increasing impulse control, providing sensory stimulation, and building recognition of theme/main idea to be applied in both conversation skills as well as reading comprehension. 

Students welcome in the class may, but do not need to be experiencing, one of many developmental challenges such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, Sensory Processing Disorder, ADHD, Down Syndrome, or Traumatic Brain Injury. 

Week 1 – Student and teacher introductions, review classroom rules, introduction of theme for session, brainstorming collage

Week 2 – Experimenting with Marker, crayon, and colored pencil, discuss sensory experience with each medium

Week 3 – Pastels – exploring how to use the same medium in different ways

Week 4 – Clay (Model Magic) – exploring how sculpture is different than 2D art

Week 5 – Watercolor to introduce final project

Week 6 – Charcoal continuation of final project

Week 7 – Tempera paint to complete final project

Week 8 – Review of final project and present to families

Member Discount: 15%

Digital Intermediate/Advanced - Mondays

$176

with Jess Duke

Calendar Current session started Mar 20, 2023 at 4:30 pm, runs for 8 weeks

Are you ready to take your drawing style and experience to the next level? Learn how to digitally draw and paint on an iPad using the app Procreate and an Apple Pencil.

This class teaches students ages 12 and up the universal language of digitizing art and the translatable terms and concepts. Tablets and digital drawing pens are provided. Students are able to bring their own preferred device. Must have prior experience with Procreate.

Week 1: Introduction and Understanding Perspective - During this session, we will begin by learning about one-point perspective. Learning Perspective is one of the most useful tools when trying to make a piece look believable and realistic. Everyone will create a landscape, room, or imaginary space. 

Week 2: Shading and Understanding Light Sources - This week's lesson will allow students to learn how to use different layer settings and tools to help them create a clear light source. This will help students place believable shadows and create depth in their pieces. I will also show them several different shading styles based on the look they want to achieve. 

Week 3: Begin Stylized Portrait - During this project, everyone will take or choose a reference photo of themselves or someone else in a dynamic pose to draw. Once their portrait is done, they will use what we have learned previously about perspective and shading to illustrate a background.    

Week 4: Learning how to use Animation Tools - In the first portion of this class, students will finish developing their portraits from last week. Then, we will use Procreate to animate some of the elements in our background. Each student will choose which part they want to animate or they can create a simple character and animate that. 

Week 5: Finish Animation and Begin Next Project - Our next project will be a poster to advertise either a product or an original character. This project will allow students to learn the importance of visual hierarchies and typography. Each student will create a typeface in Procreate or use an existing typeface to brand their project. 

Week 6: How to Create Custom Brushes - This week, students will learn how to create a custom digital brush. This will allow students to expand what they are capable of drawing on Procreate. This class will also allow for one-on-ones to gage the students’ progress and what they’d like to do for their final project.  

Week 7: Final Project - This class will be devoted to developing their ideas for their final project. I will provide each student with feedback on ways they can improve on their ideas and help them choose and create a cohesive color palette in Procreate.

Week 8: Final Project - During the first half of our class, I will teach the students how to have a positive and insightful critique. Everyone will be given the opportunity to share their work and receive feedback from their peers. This will not be mandatory, but encouraged! After this period, the students can finish working on their projects and make any last-minute changes. 

Member discount: 15 percent

ArtXtravaganza - Tuesdays

$189

with Dr. Priscilla Eichler

Calendar Current session started Mar 21, 2023 at 4:30 pm, runs for 9 weeks

*Note: If your child has taken this class before, the previous projects will not be repeated and the students will continue to build on their art skills.

In this mixed media art class, children ages 5 – 9 will embark on techniques in drawing, painting, collage and sculpture.

The process used to teach each project is a step-by-step method that will inspire and delight students into creative action and help them think outside the box! This process involves observing, following instructions, and creating until the student is happy with the outcome. We strive to expose students to the elements of art (line, space, color, balance, etc.), while letting them run a little wild with their own imagination.

This class encourages creativity in each student. Young artists will be encouraged to see the beauty in ever-changing nature, in objects around them, and in their own imaginations.

Each month, each season unravels new opportunities for creation and imagination! For example, January is a chance to think about new beginnings! “In this new year, I will ___. February is the month of love and we’ll look at who and what we love.

All of the thoughts of each month and holiday will be depicted through various media—colored pencil, acrylic paint, watercolor, sculpting in clay, montage, and collage.

The goal of instruction is for students to see the world around them with new eyes and to create what they see! Each young artist will be encouraged to be creative in the exploration of his/her skills, imaginings, and love of life!

Please note that we will not hold classes during Spring Break (March 13-17) as well as on April 10th.

Member Discount: 15% 





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