Arts on Main

Community Arts Center in Gloucester, Virginia

Watercolor Workshops with Jan Finn-Duffy

September 16

October 14

November 11

December 2

9:30 am – 4:00 pm

   

These watercolor workshops are open to artists of all skill levels, from novices to those who want to expand upon their watercolor painting experiences. The atmosphere of each workshop is that of a creative and stress-free learning environment, where students will learn the techniques and tricks of watercolor. It is a launchpad to encourage people to paint on their own after the workshop is over. For those with more watercolor experience, it is an opportunity to work through troublesome areas through thoughtful critique and discussion of ideas for technique. Watercolor, for many, is a life-long love, and the painting exercises are planned so that the skills learned will help artists pursue this beautiful medium.

Dates: as specified below for each workshop

Cost: $110 per student, per class. 

Supplies: Bring your own supplies (a supply list is available from Arts on Main), or rent all supplies except watercolor brushes from the instructor for $15 per workshop (all students must bring their own set of brushes). Students who are renting supplies may pay the instructor directly the day of the workshop. The instructor will not have extra brushes to rent. Recommended brush sizes may be found on the general supply list.

Food and Beverage: Please bring your own lunch, snacks and drinks, or plan to get a fast lunch from a local establishment. A refrigerator is available to keep your things cold. There will be a 45-minute lunch break, and snacks may be eaten at your workstation throughout the day.

Reference photos: The instructor will provide photo or painting references from which to paint in each workshop, but students may bring their own theme-related references. An excellent source of copyright-free photos may be found at www.morguefile.com. Students may bring printed copies of what they want to paint, or bring an iPad from which to reference as they paint. (Neither Arts on Main nor the workshop instructor are responsible for loss or damage to electronic devices or other supplies.)

CELEBRATE THE BAY

September 16 (Thursday) from 9:30 am – 4:00 pm

Learn or expand upon your watercolor skills while creating paintings of our favorite scenes from the Chesapeake Bay. We will learn to paint water, reflections on the water, and wildlife. Feel free to bring your own photos of the bay, but photos from which to paint will be provided. Instructor demonstrations will get you started on the path to your own successful bay scene.

AUTUMN LANDSCAPES

OCTOBER 14 (Thursday) from 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Celebrate the vibrant colors of autumn by painting fall leaves and landscapes. This workshop will touch on negative painting, special effects, and color mixing. Reference photos will be provided, but feel free to bring your own photo of fall foliage. (Try to choose a pictures that are simple enough to paint during the workshop.

CREATIVE CHRISTMAS BOOT CAMP

NOVEMBER 11 (Thursday) from 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Paint your own unique and beautiful Christmas cards, printable holiday invitations or notecards, and frameable festive art to decorate your home. Basic watercolor techniques will be covered and instruction will be given on how to mass produce your finished pieces. Holiday art to inspire and copy will be provided, but students are welcome to bring photos of their own liking from which to paint. This workshop is being done in November to give you ample opportunity to have your paintings printed as cards for mailing or framed for decorating.

BIG THINGS COME IN SMALL PACKAGES

DECEMBER 2 (Thursday) from 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

This workshop will stir excitement over small paintings, whether intended to grace the shelves around your home or to be given as gifts over the Christmas holidays. Small paintings are an excellent opportunity to work your dry-brush techniques. There will be an emphasis on the painting of still life compositions, but students may break out of still-life confines to paint whatever they want (bring your favorite photo references). Please bring a couple small frames with you to use for your final paintings. (Suggested mat opening sizes can be 5” x 7” down to 3” x 5”, or you may prefer a square opening of 8” x 8” down to 4” x 4”. Do not feel you have to mat these pieces, so any small frame (no smaller than 3” x 5”) that suits your personality will do. TJ Maxx, Home Goods, Michaels, and Hobby Lobby are excellent sources for small frames). Please make sure you have a couple small size watercolor brushes (such as No. 4 round and No. 1 round).


Class Options



ABOUT THE ARTIST

“I have been making art instinctively and passionately since I was a child. Every artistic endeavor has been a learning experience, each building on the next to bring me to the point where I am today. I have learned how to paint from university classes, from extensive independent study, from artist-friends, from workshops, but mostly from trial and error and trial and triumph. It is one of the biggest joys in my life. In the words of Albert Einstein, which I have borrowed to apply to my view of art, each painting is a way of “opening up yet another fragment of the frontier of beauty.”
 I paint in my studio, display my art in Virginia galleries, enter regional and national juried shows, and teach watercolor classes to both adults and children. God has blessed me with the ability to paint, and it is a privilege to share what I have been given with others who also love art.” –Jan Finn-Duffy

Watercolor Workshops with Jan Finn-Duffy

September 16

October 14

November 11

December 2

9:30 am – 4:00 pm

   

These watercolor workshops are open to artists of all skill levels, from novices to those who want to expand upon their watercolor painting experiences. The atmosphere of each workshop is that of a creative and stress-free learning environment, where students will learn the techniques and tricks of watercolor. It is a launchpad to encourage people to paint on their own after the workshop is over. For those with more watercolor experience, it is an opportunity to work through troublesome areas through thoughtful critique and discussion of ideas for technique. Watercolor, for many, is a life-long love, and the painting exercises are planned so that the skills learned will help artists pursue this beautiful medium.

Dates: as specified below for each workshop

Cost: $110 per student, per class. 

Supplies: Bring your own supplies (a supply list is available from Arts on Main), or rent all supplies except watercolor brushes from the instructor for $15 per workshop (all students must bring their own set of brushes). Students who are renting supplies may pay the instructor directly the day of the workshop. The instructor will not have extra brushes to rent. Recommended brush sizes may be found on the general supply list.

Food and Beverage: Please bring your own lunch, snacks and drinks, or plan to get a fast lunch from a local establishment. A refrigerator is available to keep your things cold. There will be a 45-minute lunch break, and snacks may be eaten at your workstation throughout the day.

Reference photos: The instructor will provide photo or painting references from which to paint in each workshop, but students may bring their own theme-related references. An excellent source of copyright-free photos may be found at www.morguefile.com. Students may bring printed copies of what they want to paint, or bring an iPad from which to reference as they paint. (Neither Arts on Main nor the workshop instructor are responsible for loss or damage to electronic devices or other supplies.)

CELEBRATE THE BAY

September 16 (Thursday) from 9:30 am – 4:00 pm

Learn or expand upon your watercolor skills while creating paintings of our favorite scenes from the Chesapeake Bay. We will learn to paint water, reflections on the water, and wildlife. Feel free to bring your own photos of the bay, but photos from which to paint will be provided. Instructor demonstrations will get you started on the path to your own successful bay scene.

AUTUMN LANDSCAPES

OCTOBER 14 (Thursday) from 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Celebrate the vibrant colors of autumn by painting fall leaves and landscapes. This workshop will touch on negative painting, special effects, and color mixing. Reference photos will be provided, but feel free to bring your own photo of fall foliage. (Try to choose a pictures that are simple enough to paint during the workshop.

CREATIVE CHRISTMAS BOOT CAMP

NOVEMBER 11 (Thursday) from 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Paint your own unique and beautiful Christmas cards, printable holiday invitations or notecards, and frameable festive art to decorate your home. Basic watercolor techniques will be covered and instruction will be given on how to mass produce your finished pieces. Holiday art to inspire and copy will be provided, but students are welcome to bring photos of their own liking from which to paint. This workshop is being done in November to give you ample opportunity to have your paintings printed as cards for mailing or framed for decorating.

BIG THINGS COME IN SMALL PACKAGES

DECEMBER 2 (Thursday) from 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

This workshop will stir excitement over small paintings, whether intended to grace the shelves around your home or to be given as gifts over the Christmas holidays. Small paintings are an excellent opportunity to work your dry-brush techniques. There will be an emphasis on the painting of still life compositions, but students may break out of still-life confines to paint whatever they want (bring your favorite photo references). Please bring a couple small frames with you to use for your final paintings. (Suggested mat opening sizes can be 5” x 7” down to 3” x 5”, or you may prefer a square opening of 8” x 8” down to 4” x 4”. Do not feel you have to mat these pieces, so any small frame (no smaller than 3” x 5”) that suits your personality will do. TJ Maxx, Home Goods, Michaels, and Hobby Lobby are excellent sources for small frames). Please make sure you have a couple small size watercolor brushes (such as No. 4 round and No. 1 round).


Class Options



ABOUT THE ARTIST

“I have been making art instinctively and passionately since I was a child. Every artistic endeavor has been a learning experience, each building on the next to bring me to the point where I am today. I have learned how to paint from university classes, from extensive independent study, from artist-friends, from workshops, but mostly from trial and error and trial and triumph. It is one of the biggest joys in my life. In the words of Albert Einstein, which I have borrowed to apply to my view of art, each painting is a way of “opening up yet another fragment of the frontier of beauty.”
 I paint in my studio, display my art in Virginia galleries, enter regional and national juried shows, and teach watercolor classes to both adults and children. God has blessed me with the ability to paint, and it is a privilege to share what I have been given with others who also love art.” –Jan Finn-Duffy

Bringing in the Magic: Oil and Cold Wax from Start to Finish with Mary Montague Sikes

Working in oil and cold wax is one way to develop texture and form, using your own unique personality to create artwork. Learn the basics of cold wax painting and experiment with a variety of materials with this fun method. Develop design skills and create starts that will become paintings that “speak to you”. During this workshop, Monti will demonstrate basic methods and leave you with lots of time to explore the possibilities in your own work.

Bring lots of enthusiasm and a readiness to learn new techniques. All skill levels are welcome! Each class will build upon the previous day. A supply list will be provided at registration.

This 3-day workshop will meet October 27, 28, & 29 from 1:00pm – 4:00pm. Cost is $200 for the 3-day workshop.

About the Instructor

Since she was a young child, Mary Montague Sikes has been an artist. After studying art at the University of Mary Washington and the College of William & Mary, she earned her MFA in painting and printmaking from Virginia Commonwealth University. Since then, Sikes has taught art to students of all levels, from kindergarten to adult. She has been featured in numerous one-person exhibitions, including shows at Virginia Commonwealth University, the University of Richmond, Piedmont Arts (Martinsville, Virginia), Glen Allen Cultural Arts Center, Creative Arts Center in Yorktown, Moya Gillett in Toronto, Ontario, and more. Her award-winning work is in public and private collections throughout the United States and abroad.

An oil and acrylic painter most of her life, Sikes, in recent years, has developed a love for working in oil and cold wax on cradled board. She, also, enjoys painting with watercolor on Yupo, Arches paper, and canvas.

“Color and experimentation with various art media are my passion. Watching vivid watercolors spread on Yupo, Arches paper, and stretched canvas takes me in new directions each time I place a brush or plastic card against a surface. I am a colorist and an expressionist with an imagination that conceives exotic places and unique beginnings. Many of my bright new paintings depict my imaginary planet, Xanadu, where there is no war and love and understanding prevail.” – Mary Montague Sikes



Bringing in the Magic: Oil and Cold Wax from Start to Finish with Mary Montague Sikes

Working in oil and cold wax is one way to develop texture and form, using your own unique personality to create artwork. Learn the basics of cold wax painting and experiment with a variety of materials with this fun method. Develop design skills and create starts that will become paintings that “speak to you”. During this workshop, Monti will demonstrate basic methods and leave you with lots of time to explore the possibilities in your own work.

Bring lots of enthusiasm and a readiness to learn new techniques. All skill levels are welcome! Each class will build upon the previous day. A supply list will be provided at registration.

This 3-day workshop will meet October 27, 28, & 29 from 1:00pm – 4:00pm. Cost is $200 for the 3-day workshop.

About the Instructor

Since she was a young child, Mary Montague Sikes has been an artist. After studying art at the University of Mary Washington and the College of William & Mary, she earned her MFA in painting and printmaking from Virginia Commonwealth University. Since then, Sikes has taught art to students of all levels, from kindergarten to adult. She has been featured in numerous one-person exhibitions, including shows at Virginia Commonwealth University, the University of Richmond, Piedmont Arts (Martinsville, Virginia), Glen Allen Cultural Arts Center, Creative Arts Center in Yorktown, Moya Gillett in Toronto, Ontario, and more. Her award-winning work is in public and private collections throughout the United States and abroad.

An oil and acrylic painter most of her life, Sikes, in recent years, has developed a love for working in oil and cold wax on cradled board. She, also, enjoys painting with watercolor on Yupo, Arches paper, and canvas.

“Color and experimentation with various art media are my passion. Watching vivid watercolors spread on Yupo, Arches paper, and stretched canvas takes me in new directions each time I place a brush or plastic card against a surface. I am a colorist and an expressionist with an imagination that conceives exotic places and unique beginnings. Many of my bright new paintings depict my imaginary planet, Xanadu, where there is no war and love and understanding prevail.” – Mary Montague Sikes



Bringing in the Magic: Oil and Cold Wax from Start to Finish with Mary Montague Sikes

Working in oil and cold wax is one way to develop texture and form, using your own unique personality to create artwork. Learn the basics of cold wax painting and experiment with a variety of materials with this fun method. Develop design skills and create starts that will become paintings that “speak to you”. During this workshop, Monti will demonstrate basic methods and leave you with lots of time to explore the possibilities in your own work.

Bring lots of enthusiasm and a readiness to learn new techniques. All skill levels are welcome! Each class will build upon the previous day. A supply list will be provided at registration.

This 3-day workshop will meet October 27, 28, & 29 from 1:00pm – 4:00pm. Cost is $200 for the 3-day workshop.

About the Instructor

Since she was a young child, Mary Montague Sikes has been an artist. After studying art at the University of Mary Washington and the College of William & Mary, she earned her MFA in painting and printmaking from Virginia Commonwealth University. Since then, Sikes has taught art to students of all levels, from kindergarten to adult. She has been featured in numerous one-person exhibitions, including shows at Virginia Commonwealth University, the University of Richmond, Piedmont Arts (Martinsville, Virginia), Glen Allen Cultural Arts Center, Creative Arts Center in Yorktown, Moya Gillett in Toronto, Ontario, and more. Her award-winning work is in public and private collections throughout the United States and abroad.

An oil and acrylic painter most of her life, Sikes, in recent years, has developed a love for working in oil and cold wax on cradled board. She, also, enjoys painting with watercolor on Yupo, Arches paper, and canvas.

“Color and experimentation with various art media are my passion. Watching vivid watercolors spread on Yupo, Arches paper, and stretched canvas takes me in new directions each time I place a brush or plastic card against a surface. I am a colorist and an expressionist with an imagination that conceives exotic places and unique beginnings. Many of my bright new paintings depict my imaginary planet, Xanadu, where there is no war and love and understanding prevail.” – Mary Montague Sikes



Beginner Pine Needle Basketry with Becky Butler

October 8 & October 15

1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Learn to create a beautiful, one-of-a-kind, pine needle basket! In this class, beginners can learn the basics of pine needle basketry and complete their own small basket, choosing from a variety of centers, dyed and natural pine needles, and a rainbow of threads. More advanced students can expand their skills by learning different stitches or adding beads.

The class will meet on two days, October 8 and October 15, from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm. The second class will build upon the first class.

Cost of class is $95. This includes both days and supplies.




 

ABOUT THE ARTIST

“One of the things I love about coiling is that I feel like I am working with the materials. Pine needle baskets have their own “voice.” I may start out with a definite plan, but eventually the materials tell me what they want to do, and the final product feels like a collaboration. As a pine needle artisan, my goal is to work with a variety of natural materials and textures to create a surprising work of art which can be both practical and transporting.”