This class will be a gently guide you into watercolor painting. We'll cover the basic stuff like how to do a wash, what kind of brush, what kind of paper and what kind of paints to use. We'll also cover more advanced and stylized skills in this class. Drawing skills are not needed. Learn how to mix colors and how to understand the color wheel. Each week or two we'll create a masterpiece suitable for framing. Instead of just looking at the scenery around the island, you can express what you see in watercolor. There is a materials fee (included in the total fee already) of $8.00 to cover the paint, paper and brushes.

No classes on Feb. 18 or March 3.

In this class we will explore the history of American art and how many artists either were born in Maine or found their way there at some point in their career. Artists like the American Modernist painter Marsden Hartley, Andrew and son Jamie Wyeth, Rockwell Kent, Edward Hopper and Winslow Homer just to name a very few. In this class we’ll explore these artists, their styles and their connection to Maine. We will be focusing on a select few artists, understanding their style and how they created their works, resulting in the class recreating some works as well as producing original art based on the artist’s style. Also, because of the intimate connection between this island and the art world. We’ll explore some well-known artists who reside on MDI. When you’re done this class, you’ll truly be a “Down Artster”. There is an $8 materials fee included in the cost of the class.

This is a class for those watercolor artists that are beyond the beginner stage and want a little more challenge. We will experiment with different techniques, learn color theory and learn to tighten our control. We’ll explore how light effects color and how the color wheel becomes crucial to a successful painting. This class is only 4 weeks long as we focus on one or two large paintings. There is a $10.00 material fee (included in the cost of the class) for the higher-grade art supplies that we will use. Beginner artists are encouraged to take the watercolor for beginner’s class. No class on Feb. 17th.

Have you ever wanted to 'throw a pot' - that is, use a potter's wheel? This extremely popular beginner's class will cover hand building techniques, forming on the potter’s wheel, surface decoration and treatments. Make functional handcrafted products to use and enjoy or give as holiday gifts! Material costs ($50) are included in the fee.

NOTE: No Class Feb. 18.

NOTE: The March 3 class will be held on Wednesday March 4th. Any snow dates will be made up the next day, Wednesday.

This is a class where we explore the various media of art like painting; sculpting with clay and other materials; drawing and pastels; pen and ink, just to name a few. Aside from exploring these different art media, we will also highlight a well-known or famous artist during this exploration. This will include Georgia O’Keefe, Nikki De Saint Phalle. Keith Haring, Hokusai and more. This class will reveal the unlimited potential of art by exploring the artists that use the materials that we have before us. There is an $8 materials fee already included in the cost of the class.

This class will be for beginners and will focus first on the basics then expand to how to draw people and animals, as well as learning perspective, tonal value and pen and ink. To learn and understand drawing, we must start with the basics like understanding line, form, value and shading. Any drawing will have in it at least one of those elements so it is important to learn how to apply them to a drawing. Learning shading helps understand form. Learning to use lines and shapes help define a drawing. Henri Matisse once said: “A line is simply a dot that went for a walk.”

There is no material fee, however students are asked to bring at least one drawing pad no smaller than 9X12 preferably bigger, drawing pencils HB, 2B and 4B or whatever is available ( an HB pencil is like your #2 pencil from school. 2B, 3B or 4B means that it is a shading pencil, the higher the number the darker the shade) and an eraser preferably a kneaded eraser and a white eraser (no pink erasers).

Explore both wet and needle felting as we create a vessel or luminary. The first will class be spent constructing our vessel and learning how to use wet felting techniques to transform wool fibers into beautiful three-dimensional, free standing objects. The second class will be spent learning the basic technique of needle felting as we add design elements to the vessels we have created. 

Students will need to bring an old towel to be used to cover our work surface. Optional: Students may also want to bring something to stuff inside the finished vessel to hold its shape as it dries... this can be small pieces of cloth, recycled plastic grocery bags or wash cloths.

NOTE: Class 1 runs 5:30p-8:00p    Class 2 runs 5:30p-7:00p

Batik is the traditional fabric of Indonesia. In this class you’ll learn this skill plus adventure into a new realm of creativity!

Using hot wax as a resist to the dye penetrating the fabric, beautiful, multicolor designs and affects can be created. Natural fibers (muslin, canvas duck, silk, etc.) will be used to practice applying the hot wax using a tjanting tool. When the wax is cooled the fabric is submerged in a dye bath, and the waxed areas will resist the dye. The fabric is then dried before the process is repeated with more wax adhered followed by submersion. Applying the dye with brushes will also be explored. Some possibilities for completed project to consider include dinner napkins, tablecloths, wall-hangings, or just yardage for throw pillows or clothing. Students may be asked to bring some materials yet to be determined. No Class on 4/21. There is a $40 materials fee to be paid directly to the instructor on the first night.