Fine Arts

Capturing Landscape and Wildlife Photographs with an Aesthetic Difference (ONLINE)

Wednesday, June 23, 2021 | 10:00-12:00pm

This series has started.  Registration is now closed.

Six Wednesdays from  June 16-July 21 

This six-week online photography class will help you learn and apply aesthetic decisions during the process of shooting photographs. These decisions will help you achieve more dramatic, dynamic and interesting photographs. Technical decisions, such as proper exposure, sharp focus and white balance, are important and are the areas of concentration for most photography instruction. This class, however, will concentrate on artistic qualities and principles that can make the difference between just technically good photographs versus visually strong and interesting images that attract the viewer. These qualities include such important principles as composition, quality of light, format, angle of view, tonality, contrast, use of color versus black and white, and timing. Lecture time during the class will focus on these aesthetics with images of the instructor and those from your weekly shooting assignments that will be presented and discussed by the full class (Participation limited to 12-15 persons). 

Join Ben and other photography enthusiasts to learn the differences between technical and aesthetic photography decisions, to recognize the opportunities to apply artistic principles to your photographs and to capture images that reflect the important decisions you make during the process of shooting and processing your images.

About The Instructor:

Ben Greenberg is a lifelong resident of Virginia. He has photographed scenic vistas in Virginia, the mid-Atlantic area and many locations in the United States for more than fifty years, the last forty-five as a professional photographer. His carefully crafted images have won local and national awards and competitions. Ben's photographs have been exhibited in numerous individual and group shows, featured in diverse publications and purchased by thousands of Virginians.

Ben's first photography book, Natural Virginia, celebrates the natural beauty of Virginia with 122 panoramic landscape photographs from throughout the state. Natural Virginia highlights dedicated state organizations committed to preserving Virginia's fragile environment for future generations. It is dedicated to all who take pleasure in these scenic locations. A veteran photography teacher and lecturer for camera clubs, OLLI, the Charlottesville Photography Initiative,and other organizations, Ben has two websites showcasing his landscape and wildlife images www.bengreenberg.com and his book www.naturalvirginiabook.com.

Open to all.

Location: Online

Friday Art Group (On site)

Friday, June 25, 2021 | 9:30-11:00am

Fridays, 9:30am-11:00am

If you like to draw or paint, you are invited to join the Friday Art Group. No matter what your medium or skill level, you will enjoy the creative, pressure-free environment of a colorful group of novice and experienced artists. You can work from your own photos, pictures or illustrations or bring your own still life. There is no formal instruction, but plenty of help and advice from others if you need it. No registration necessary.

Members only.

Location: The Center

Contact: David Reynaud 434)293-5494

Painting Landscapes/Seascapes with Oil for Beginners (ONSITE)

Friday, June 25, 2021 | 2:00-4:00pm

This class is currently full.

Every Friday for eight weeks - May 14-July 2

Local award-winning artist Ann Cheeks will instruct this 8-week class in oil painting for beginners. Working from photographs (your own or ones provided) you will set up your palette, learn to mix color, simplify shape, and create the illusion of depth while discovering the luscious feel of oil paint. Odorless mineral spirits will be used, which eliminates the harmful agents typically associated with oil painting. At the end of the class, you will have 2 or more finished paintings. Class fee: Prime members free, Standard Members and Guests 80.00. Materials fee $20.00 for all, payable to instructor at the first class. 

A graduate of VCU and former graphic designer, Ann has been painting and teaching art for over 20 years to adults and children. Her award-winning landscapes have been exhibited throughout the US and are in multiple corporate and private collections.

Open to all.

Location: The Center

Advanced Beginners Guitar Class (Onsite)

Monday, June 28, 2021 | 1:00-2:00pm

Mondays, June 7-August 2 (8 weeks), 1:00-2:00 pm (will not meet July 5)

This series has alreday started.  Registration is now closed.

If you can play a few guitar chords and strum, this class is for you!  In this class you will learn more advanced chords, fingerpicking and strum patterns while having funs and with familiar songs. Join accomplished musician and instructor, Mike D’antoni for this class. BYOG (bring your own guitar!) This class is open to all! Prime members $40 for the 8-week session; Standard members and guests $64.

Open to all.

Location: The Center

New Class! Beginners Guitar Lessons (Onsite)

Tuesday, June 29, 2021 | 3:00-4:00pm

This series has already started.  Registration is closed.

Tuesdays, June 1-July 20 (8 weeks) 

It’s not too late to learn a new instrument! If you’ve never touched a guitar or only know that it has strings, this class is for you! It’s also a good refresher if you played many moons ago and might need a do over. Join accomplished musician and instructor, Mike D’antoni for this class. It’s BYOG (bring your own guitar!) Open to Center members. Prime members – $40 for the 8-week session; Standard members- $64. Space is limited. Please register below.

Members only.

Location: The Center

Monotype and Block Printmaking (ONSITE)

Tuesday, July 6, 2021 | 10:00-12:00pm

Tuesdays, July 6-27th, 10:00am-12:00pm (4 weeks)

These two simple methods of printmaking are easy to learn and fun to make. You will walk away with a lot of work at the end of this class! Monotypes are fast, involve lots of play and experimentation.  Block prints are slower to create with a meditative process.  – one soft, one crisp, both gorgeous. Ann Cheeks, instructor. Prime Members free, Standard Members and Guests $40.00, Materials fee $20.00 for all, payable to instructor at time of class. 

Open to all.

Location: The Center

Painting Landscapes/Seascapes with Oil for Beginners July-August (ONSITE)

Tuesday, July 6, 2021 | 2:00-4:00pm

Tuesdays, July 6 - August 24th (8 weeks), 2:00pm-4:00pm

Working from photographs (your own or ones provided) you will set up your palette, learn to mix color, simplify shape, and create the illusion of depth while discovering the luscious feel of oil paint. Odorless mineral spirits will be used, which eliminates the harmful agents typically associated with oil painting. At the end of the class, you will have two or more finished paintings. Award-winning local artist Ann Cheeks is the instructor. Open to all. Prime members free; Standard members and Guests $80. Materials fee is $30 for all, payable to instructor at the first class. 

Open to all.

Location: The Center

Watercolor Techniques - All Levels (ONLINE)

Thursday, July 8, 2021 | 11:00-12:30pm

Four Thursdays - July 8, 15, 22, 29

Jane Skafte offers a judgment-free opportunity to explore watercolor in this four-week online Zoom class. Learn a wide variety of watercolor techniques while using related drawing mediums in this course for beginning and experienced watercolor artists. Students work from a variety of photographic subjects: still life, landscape, and urban scenes with discussions of color theory and watercolor masterworks offering inspiration. Prime Members: free, Standard Members and Guests $45. 

Closer to the class, Jane will email you with the Zoom link.

Supply list:

• Watercolor paper 140lb, size 12″ x 16″ or similar
• Pencil
• Painting palette for watercolor paints 
• Water container
• Paper towels or a rag
• Brushes: there is a pretty good synthetic set at Michael’s, Artist loft set: 
• Wash brush (1")
• Flat brushes (sizes 10, 6)
• Round brushes (sizes 10, 3, 5, 1)
• Filbert brushes (sizes 6, 4, 1)
• Winsor & Newton® Cotman® Watercolors Sketchers' Pocket Box  OR: if you have paint already or want to add to your supply: (The individual colors are suggested, don’t worry if you have another brand that calls the color by another name. You need the primary colors in both warm and cool (e.g. warm blue is purplish and cool blue is greenish)
• Two reds:  for example, Alizarin Crimson and permanent red or Cadmium red
• Two blues: for example, Cobalt Blue or Ultramarine and Cerulean blue 
• One or two greens: for example, Hookers green or sap green
• Two yellows: for example, Lemon yellow and Gamboge
• Nice colors to have (can be added later): Raw sienna, burnt umber, ivory black, paynes gray, quinacridone rose
• Nice to have: watercolor pencils

Open to all.

Location: The Center

Wet Felt a Bowl/Vase (ON SITE)

Friday, July 9, 2021 | 12:00-4:00pm

In this introduction to wet felting, you will learn the basic techniques of creating a dimensional object. Create a bowl or vase to hold treasures on your dresser, as an attractive accent piece, or to hold a small bunch of posies. Please bring two bath towels and an apron is also recommended for some good, clean fun. Class fee: Prime Members: free, Standard Members and Guests, $20.00. Materials fee: $10.00 for all participants, payable to instructor at time of class. 

Fiber artist Donna Markey has studied and played with fiber for years. She loves teaching and sharing this creative art form with people of all ages, and to see the joy in peoples’ faces as they create their own masterpieces. No experience necessary.

Open to all.

Location: The Center

Piedmont Pastelists (Onsite and Online)

Monday, July 12, 2021 | 1:00-3:00pm

2nd Monday of each month, 1:00pm-3:00pm

Join a congenial group of artists who gather to practice their pastel painting skills. Each may bring a work in progress for a constructive group critique. 

History

Noting the lack of a chalk pastel society in Virginia, in August 2001, Dick Carpenter invited Charlottesville regional artists in that media to meet at Michaels Arts and Crafts store at Barracks Road shopping center. Many were members of the Central Virginia Watercolor Guild, which had long admitted pastel as a water compatible “mixed” medium, but not as a feature of the CVWG activities. The result of the meeting was, quite purposefully, an “un-organization” with NO membership requirements, bylaws, officers, dues, agendas, minutes, quorum, name-tags, committees, etc. Just like-minded people enjoying meeting to exchange ideas and experiences about pastel materials and techniques, constructive criticism, and “show and tell.” The format is a mutual critique -- an examination, not fault-finding. Suggestions for overcoming problems are a part of critiquing. The choice of subject and style of a painting are not topics of critique. Some elements of Critique: 1. Overall Composition - Division of space. 2. Shapes and values 3. Form –shadows-placement of each of the elements 4. Perspective- Illusion of depth 5. Color harmony 6. Paths for the viewer’s eye 7. Center of interest - 8. Principles of Design. Assuring that there is a “message”. All attending artists are active producers, serious about their work, open to criticism, willing to present “work-in-progress," and constructive in their comments and suggestions. Although pastels are the featured media, other problem-paintings may be introduced.

Click here to join the meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82839488707

Open to all.

Location: The Center

Paint Party (July 15th) (ONSITE)

Thursday, July 15, 2021 | 5:00-8:00pm

Join local artist Tamara Murray as she walks you through a step-by-step painting lesson designed to help you learn to differentiate between positive and negative space, to practice mixing colors, and to sharpen your manual dexterity.  Participants will leave with new skills and your very own masterpiece!  Prime members 15.00, Standard Members and Guests 30.00 (includes materials).

Open to all.

Location: The Center

Leather, Beads, and Wire - Oh My! (ONSITE)

Tuesday, July 20, 2021 | 10:00-12:30pm

Charlotte Beagle has been fashioning beaded jewelry for over 30 years and is excited to share with you how to make a one or two strand memory wire bracelet. Learn about memory wire and have fun combining glass beads and leather to create a one-of-a-kind bracelet that will fit most anyone. Prime members free, Standard Members and guests 15.00. Materials fee $10.00 per person, payable to instructor at time of class.

Open to all.

Location: The Center

Faberge: Imperial Jeweler to the Czars

Tuesday, August 3, 2021 | 2:00-3:30pm

Between 1885 and 1917 Russian jeweler Carl Faberge made 50 large Easter Eggs for the Russian Royal family.  Opulent and highly personal, these eggs are now among the world’s most valuable treasures.  What was the inspiration? What made them so special?  Why are they valued so highly today?  Join Center Member Karen Oganowski who was a Master Docent at the Houston Museum of Natural Science where she regularly interpreted museum collections including one of the largest Faberge collections in the U.S.  Free and open to all. Please register.

Open to all.

Location: The Center

Paint Party (August 12th) (ONSITE)

Thursday, August 12, 2021 | 5:00-8:00pm

Join local artist Tamara Murray as she walks you through a step-by-step painting lesson designed to help you learn to differentiate between positive and negative space, to practice mixing colors, and to sharpen your manual dexterity.  Participants will leave with new skills and your very own masterpiece!  Prime members 15.00, Standard Members and Guests 30.00 (includes materials). 

Open to all.

Location: The Center

Sea Glass Earrings Workshop

Tuesday, August 17, 2021 | 5:30-7:30pm

Create one-of-a-kind summer earrings in a simple, beautiful design (pictured above). Choose from a variety of crafted sea glass colors and make two complete pairs - keep a pair and give one as gift if you like. Charlotte Beagle has been fashioning beaded jewelry for over 30 years and delights in teaching her craft to others. Prime Members: free, Standard Members and Guests: $10.00. Materials fee $10.00 for all participants, payable to instructor at time of class.

Open to all.

Location: The Center